BITE user comments - Extropunk
Comments by Extropunk
I must agree with Joe. The Clarence has lost the awful mural. The staff are good. The beer is good. The pizza's are touch over priced but I'm cool with the Clarence again even if I preferred the previous incarnation more.
23 Sep 2012 22:44
Ran out of Heineken for the 5 weekend in a row. A pub with no beer is a lounge room. Sort it out. And start serving decent food while your at it. And would you mind serving me when I walk to the bar please. Thanks.
23 Sep 2012 21:42
I think Gingerpiston (someone that clearly embraces his prawn-ness) is bang on.
Scott...you did a great job on the original Clarence in my opinion. Loved the table top video game and the sectionalised feel of the Pub...the clock area, the table football room for those that like the back room feel, the cute little quadrangle terrace and the thrown together miss matched furniture...
But since the refurb The Clarence has lost much of what set the pub apart from the crowd in Balham, Clapham, and the up and coming area of Tooting Bec.
Mediterranean coffee shop/pizza bar meets airport lounge meets a student union bar thanks to the mural...is a pretty good sum up...
Looking at a Big Red Bus on the wall that's destined for Hangover Square makes me want to get all 7/7 on it's arse...
The pizza oven is a grand idea but the resulting decor in the back room feels out of place and desolate. Bye bye to table football...what a shame.
Where is my courtyard...? I loved that little getaway...a good place to meet smoking locals...and even a few smoking hotties..
The trend to make pubs into restaurants that serve beer is disconcerting and cynical. Everyone knows pubs make more money from food than beer, but does that mean we have to have wall to wall tables like the old Tup...now called The Regent...the BBC has traded snooker tables for a soulless eating auditorium...and now we have this at the Clarence? sheesh!!!
And do we really need the front of house table under the stairs...couldn't a grungy pinball machine or my beloved table top video game be returned.
Recently I surveyed some of my local pubs...as I was a little bored...this is what I sent to my friends...please let me know your thoughts on my ratings...especially Scot...and please note Scot...I think you have some of the best staff in the area but I think the refurb has lost it's way a little bit...
BALHAM (or nearby) PUBS AND BARS according to Extropunk
Ratings are scored by how many pints you would be happy to have in one session at the pubs below:-
Avalon - Never should have changed it's name from George Hotel but offers good beer garden, decent beers although too restauranty, plenty of smoking areas
Rating: 4 Pints
BBC � generally good, busy weekends. Top sausage rolls but sometimes a struggle to get tomato sauce with them, annoyingly the front room is almost always booked out
Rating: 6 pints
Bedford � OK pub, food not bad, potentially good gigs and comedy, has character
Rating: 5 pints
Clarence � now ruined due to refurb...previously a seven pinter
Rating: 1 pint
Devonshire � fine but lacking in character, good beer garden is summer, reliable food
Rating: 3 pints
Firefly - not a pub or a destination but beer is good, an 'en route' or 'wait for a mate' pub
Rating: 2 Pints
Regent - has no idea whether it's a sports bar, restaurant or pub...certainly is not a pub - benefits from half price food on Sunday and Monday nights
Rating: 1 Pint
Wheatsheaf - good crowd, good vibe, food yet untried
Rating: 5 pints
The Exhibit - Good chick action on Saturday Nights, over priced beer (though good quality), good fish tank, untried food but offers experience nights and has own cinema
Rating: 4 Pints
The Hope - well-to-do Wandsworthy crowd aside the pub offers good food, decent beer and a friendly vibe...good for Sunday arvo sessions
Rating: 5 Pints
16 Mar 2011 12:48
The Nightingale, Balham
It's the only proper pub in Balham.
23 Sep 2012 23:25