please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This place is now an Antic pub. It was first of 3 Antic pubs in South West London I visited on Sunday evening. It is tucked away on a side street near Balham mainline station and Balham tube. The layout is certainly intriguing with a large entrance room and a few other large rooms, all with interesting decoration. One guy was playing the piano (not very well) in the main bar area. Volden Session Ale appears to be always on. Guests were Twickenham Winter Star & Grandstand & Saltaire Blonde. Probably the nicest of the 3 Antic pubs I tried, from an aesthetic point of view.
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I've had some excellent pints and good food here over the past couple of years. However I went in last night and it really is starting to look very, very tatty (yes I know it's shabby chic but there is a limit!). I might go back if I become a tramp but otherwise will steer clear.
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This used to be a great bar and very friendly, now a victim of its own success. Last time I was here the glass collector knocked a drink over which they refused to replace.
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Well I love the bbc, it has something for everyone.
I have been a local in Balham for over two years now and i'm very proud to call this my local.
The staff are always so friendly even when they look rushed off their feet.
I had dinner with my friend there last week and I must say it was super tasty.
I like what they have done with the place and it looks as though there are more things to come from this place.
I hope they improve the loo's, there is always a queue for the ladies when it's busy.
But over all I love it and it just keeps getting better and better.
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This place is different to your usual boozer, It's quirky, individual and atmospheric. This is turn makes it popular with the locals and it's always pretty busy. BUT, it could be a whole lot better.
You see, whilst the staff are perfectly friendly, they're not the most efficient and there rarely seem to be enough of them. Beers are forever off (I've lost count of the times Guinness has been unavailable) and the glasses are invariably filthy. It's also quite expensive, which given the state of the place isn't really acceptable. There are weeds growing above the front door, furniture is broken, sofas are missing cushions and the whole place just has an air of being on the wrong side of "rough round the edges". OK, so it's shabby/your own front room/slice of the 1970s. Yes, it's a time warp, but it's looking tired, needs a bloody good clean and a lick of paint.
All in all, it's still a place I like, and go to often. It's got a great laid back atmosphere and it's not your run of the mill indentikit London pub. However, with a little more TLC it could move from A pub in Balham to THE pub in Balham. Must try harder.
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had a very good evening, food was good as was the service, cheers
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The manageress is quite a hottie!
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Don't believe the reports of bad staff. They've never been anything other than friendly and speedy for me. Maybe try smiling back at them and not tutting at them whilst waving your �20 note at them as you've been standing there for a whole 2 minutes.
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I don't know where to start with this place, but the barstaff are a good place, I guess. I go here about 2 Saturdays a month. Every week, the number of people trying to buy drinks seems to take the barstaff and management by surprise. You can easily spend 20 minutes at the bar, waiting for slow and surly barstaff to serve you. No particular sense of urgency, no energy. The clientele is a weird mix of ageing Indie-kids, Fulham rejects, rugby lads, women dressed as if they have fallen into a dressing-up box, Emos and the fat and past-it. It's a bad pastiche of the kind of place that Nathan Barley would have gone to. Avoid.
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A lovely setting, very homely and does good food. However, staff are a bit surly and slow at serving. I was there for the pub quiz last night (which we won!) and, having spent a very pleasant evening there buying plenty of drinks and ordering food, then spending our quiz winnings on 'one for the road', the bar man literally stood over us and made us drink up so that we'd leave the pub.
Yes, it was after closing time and I'm sure he wanted to get home, but a little patience and a lot less intimidation would've worked just fine. I'll go back one more time, to give the place the benefit of the doubt, but any more bad attitude from the staff and I'll go elsewhere. (I will hold off rating the pub till then).
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Came here on a Saturday night and quickly concluded that I would never do so again. It's a big place with just one tiny bar staffed by a small overworked team who have to deal with food orders as well. I spent about 20 minutes at the bar before I got served. If I wanted to do that every night I would go to an after-hours West End night club or a students union not my local boozer. My advice to the management - install another bar and employ more staff.
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Visited the pub/bar ?? on a Sunday afternoon.
Good range of beers.
Menu looked good
But, a smell coming from the kitchens of old cooking oil is not appealing.
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Really good place. It offers so much and has a really cool decor. Wothout the right atmosphere it could feel like a gentlemans club (think Botherby's not Spearmint Rhino) but it does have the right atmosphere so good on it.
A few comments about the bar staff making the heinous crime of calling you 'mate'. Well maybe it's just me but that strikes me as friendly and a much welcome change to being called 'sir' which I suspect the previous reviewers are hoping for Overall I found them friendly and efficient.
The food is an eclectic mix of overpriced (though the only pub I've found cheap food in in Balham is The Moon Under the Water) tapas and gastro style food and cheap cornish pasties and sausage rolls (both of which are excellent) though the last time I was in there they had a 'special' menu (read cut back think the chef was off sick or something) which had a great lamb burger for �3.50 bargin if only this was every week.
A decent enough selection of beers though again they're a bit pricy. Does have Groslch Weissen on tap which I love.
The people it attracts again is a bonus. Really nice friendly crowd. Went in to watch the football at the weekend and there was an atmosphere of friendly rivalry which kept me laughing all the way through. It also helps that it has different rooms so can allow the sports fans to watch whilst those who didn't want to watch to have a bit of peace and quiet.
So good food check, excellent layout and decor check, friendly staff check, good beer check, good crowd check oh also has full sized snooker tables. Hmmm sounds like all the ingredients for a damn fine pub. Could be a bit cheaper though but no real difference to the rest of the pubs in Balham
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Overall BBC is ok but there are far better pubs nearby i.e. The Clarence/Blythe Spirit.
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Hey, just read about the bbc in rise magazine, apparently the Chef was shortlisted for an Award for most innovative menu - oh and I agree, the duck pancakes are to die for!
crebs - 16 Nov 2007 17:22 |
this place isn't really my cup of tea at all but i find comments about "rude" staff surprising - i've found them to be maybe a bit scruffy and laid back, but perfectly ok overall and, if anything, perhaps a little friendlier than average.
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No relevance. It's just that sometimes I prefer not to be identified when giving a bad comment - I am resonably well-known in the area. You'll find positive comments from me by name on many Balham pubs and bars but I just happen to have had two (out of two visits!) dreadful experiences at this grim, ghastly place.
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Is it a coincidence the last 3 reviews were anonymous? I have found the staff perfectly ok, particularly the young aussie guy. Anyway, tried their new global tapas menu last week and have to say it was excellent and very reasonably priced.
crebs - 31 Aug 2007 11:53 |
The service is fine if you're between 18 and 19. For those of us who prefer 'service' to mean just that, this is the worst place in Balham. Disrespectful, negative, bad-mannered staff with an attitude that just makes you want to smash them in the face.
anonymous - 28 Aug 2007 09:19 |
I'm surprised that someone thought the service was unfriendly - I've always thought that the people serving here are great - it's a bit laid back, sure, but always friendly...
anonymous - 10 Aug 2007 20:21 |
The staff here are utterly rude, which is a real shame as it could be great. A friend, whilst seated, asked if there was a table service to which a deeply unpleasant female member of staff scoffed and replied "Yes up there" whilst pointing at the bar. Sorry but if you are going to offer table service to those dining then don't be surprised if others ask on the off chance...
There have been several other such exchanges during the two other visits to this place, I guess you might be seeing a pattern here.
It would appear that the only prerequisite for employment at the Balham Bowling Club is a Charisma bypass operation, with ideal candidates being bereft of any sense of humour or manners.
I would personally go to +Venture / The Clarence / Blythe Spirit every time over this place.
In summary then... Balham Bowling Club - Just don't bother...
anonymous - 20 Jul 2007 10:41 |
It is a shame to post such a negative comment for what could be a nice place. Unfortunately the night (3rd March 2007) was ruined by a male member of staff who had too much beer, was dominant and aggressive as he stood over my wife and I whilst we finished our drinks � yes 100% of the tables were still full � and made some derogatory remark to our backs as we left. Begs the questions why? Well, I was the only person in there with ethnic origins. Work it out for yourself.
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this is a really unique pub with a subsidised JCR vibe from years back, very pop the way it's left all the bowls paraphernalia in place.
two frustrations for me: one, the bitter (only one tap) has been off each time i've been, and the (admittedly tasty) 'supper club' price per head is way overpriced (�14 for a slice of chicken pie and veg when i went last).
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Really liked the place as it was buzzing but thought the food pricing was cheeky verging on greedy. Its a pub that serves food, not a restaurant, however big, white and square the plates are. Although the food was delicious, service was pretty shambolic with one person running a dining room with no real clue as to how to do it. Had a great evening though and if they can notch their prices down by 20% or so (and the eccentric and ill-advised food sharing nonsense)then it's a laugh.
anonymous - 15 Jan 2007 16:43 |
I am encourgaed to read the comments of ianfreeman and pink_kat: you have restored my faith in the human race. While Foxtons' semi-evolved simians are still traversing Balham in their branded Mini lifestyle machines, the BBC is a fine place to enjoy a drink in pleasant surroundings. However, once the estate agents arrive, all hell breaks lose: hooray-henry's gaffawing at each other while massaging each other's todgers. These people are so vacuous that they suck the dignity out of the BBC with every gulp of WKD. My advice: check out the clientelle before committing yourself to a pint.
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To 'anonymous' - maybe the manager has changed, it was an aggressive male on my one visit.
This bar is perfect for those youngsters who don't mind being called 'mate' or 'pal' by staff of the same age in a noisy and antagonistic environment. Those of us with a few more miles on the clock have different requirements when it comes to customer service and comfort.
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Went on a Saturday and had a great night out, really relaxed, friendly staff, a really unusual and beautiful venue. As a woman I feel smug to have been let in as until recently it was apparantly strictly men only with a tiny waiting room for the ladies in what is now the ladies loos! Looking forwadard to eating there. Don't know what the guy below is talking about as when I was there the manager was definately female and very hospitable.
anonymous - 12 Dec 2006 13:52 |
Frighteningly expensive - an amazing �5 for a double spirit (50ml)! Combine that with a sarcastic, thinks-he's-cool manager and barstaff that call you 'mate' and it all adds up to 'never again'. Balham is full of great bars and pubs - this one is definitely not one of them.
anonymous - 5 Oct 2006 13:38 |
The first time i had a drink at the BBC i loved it, chilled, all the original features, friendly bar staff.....general great pub. However i came for a drink this Saturday and it was rammed! It was full of lads playing drinking games and being extremley loud so me and my friends left.
This was a real shame as I had been singing it's praises! I will come back this Saturday and hopefully it will be like it was the first time I enjoyed a drink there and not like all of the other pubs in Balham!!
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Found this place which opened last week, its really novel and well worth a visit. Has wireless broadband + food so ideal for sitting and working if like me you need to! Has all the cool bowls stuff up very postmodern in a friendly sort of way
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