The Clarence, Balham

Having just undergone renovation, I thought I'd pop into one of my favourite local pubs for a quick pint last night. I'm not sure who signed off on the renovations, but I'm sure it can't have been the same person that made it the success it has been for the last 5 years.

Gone is the pub everyone loves, full of character with interesting furniture and an overall sense of warmth. In it's place is what looks like a dreadful cross between pizza cafe, student union bar (complete with dire wall mural including a joke which looks tired after 30 seconds) and soulless airport lounge. The furniture is now modern, plastic, shiny and horrifically coloured, the lighting is too bright and we now suffer an overabundance of dog lamps and statues to remind us where The Clarence took it's name from originally.

At least the staff remain friendly and helpful, and the original bar survived the slaughter mostly intact. However, what remains no longer looks or feels like a pub, and I fear Balham has now lost one of it's nicer venues to spend time with friends.

3 Mar 2011 20:55