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Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Friday, 20th May 2011
With picture contributions to 5000 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (10 more images)
Detail Pages
The Nightingale, Balham, SW12
SW12
SW12 8NX
Served areas
@thebeehivesw11
#stjohnshill #waggledance #clapham #claphamjuction #battersea @Bluecoastbrew #london https://t.co/adwlMhsSW0
4:25 PM Jun 5th from Twitter for iPhone
Reviews of The Nightingale (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Nightingale
This place dates back to 1853, designed by one Thomas Wallis, his name and date visible to a gable; the exterior displays some lovely polychromatic glazed tiles along with pretty etched windows.
PSM and Quinno would no doubt be disheartened to know that since their visits from 2009 and 2013, the inevitable has happened, the pub having succumbed to one of Young’s utterly repetitive by-the-numbers makeovers which I can’t be bothered to outline; you can view it on their gallery or read my description from the King’s Head (SW15) which matches all their other pubs; customers were affluent locals, mixed in age.
The ale choice amounted to Special and London Original, the once drinkable option – Proper Job – replaced by the horrible ‘juicy’ Gipsy Hill’s Trail, so it was yet more Oil at £3.65 a half.
This isn’t the worst pub in south-west London, but I see no reason to return.
On 29th March 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Nightingale
An attractive looking pub in a largely residential area with a small amount of outside seating at the front, there was a good crowd in on our recent Friday evening visit and it was nice to see a couple of guys playing darts to the right of the bar counter when so many pubs in the vicinity seem to be almost entirely given over to food. Etched glass on the windows was an attractive feature.
Décor wise it is perhaps traditional with a more contemporary twist; sanded wooden boards on the floor, a dark, wood panelled bar counter that curved around in a sort of U shape to serve both the front and rear of the pub, pale wood cladding on the lower part of the walls and a deep shade of aqua blue above. White painted wooden panelling was on the ceiling, whilst seating was a mixture of regular tables and chairs, stools and some high chairs along the front in the window. A number of old pictures were on the walls, including several old black and white photographs of the locale. A TV screen was mounted up in the corner, but fortunately this was not in use on our visit.
Beers on tap were primarily from Young’s with their London Original, London Special and Drop Gold and these were joined by Sambrook’s Wandle. The solitary cider meanwhile was a rather disappointing Aspall’s. Overall though, a pretty decent local’s pub and I’d happily pop in again if passing.
On 30th October 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Nightingale
Young's pub with a bare boarded interior and a U shaped bar. 6 real ales and food served.
On 29th October 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
View more reviews of The Nightingale (12)
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- Official site of The Nightingale - www.thenightingalebalham.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Nightingale entry
- Facebook - Nightingale
- Twitter - @thebeehivesw11
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Nightingale - whatpub.com
Balham, 0.63 miles, 12 min walk (show)
Clapham Junction, 1.47 miles, 28 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 08 December 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 08 December 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes - Secret. - last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 08 December 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Function Room : Yes - According to Twitter - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 29 October 2017 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes - Six Nations. - last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 08 December 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 08 December 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : Yes - Thursdays 19.30. - last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes - Doombar - last updated 29 October 2017 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 29 March 2024 by Tris C
