The Bedford, Balham, SW12

This is a massive edifice of a one-time Watney’s pub that will be a common sight to anyone who travels to, from or through Balham Train Station. The main bar room is large, perhaps on a Wetherspoon’s scale but there doesn’t seem to be much special about it. It’s mainly carpeted, but with some original looking parquet flooring. On the plus side furnishings seem to be mainly normal tables and chairs, but with a few of those large scrubbed pine type tables, and I did spot a sofa near the fireplace on the right. There is another much smaller bar on the Fernlea Rd side of the pub, but there was nobody in here during my midweek lunchtime visit so I didn’t really investigate it, although a glance through the window showed it to be a bit more basic than the main bar, with a few tables and chairs and with an attractive parquet floor. They had some pop music being played too loudly in my opinion, and although I didn’t spot a TV in the main bar, there may have been one lurking somewhere. There is also a very large function room in the middle of the building, obviously used as a music venue at times as there was a drum kit set up on the stage. They describe it as the “Shakespearean Globe Theatre”, which is pushing the bounds of credibility a bit, but it is circular, if not globular! Steve has already noted the pub’s closing times – it’s perhaps also worth noting that it doesn’t open until 3.0 PM Mon to Thurs, and 2.0 Friday. They had four ales on – Timothy Taylor Landlord, Doom Bar, Young’s Bitter, and O’Hanlon’s Yellowhammer (£3.20 a pint). I don’t think this is the sort of pub I would rush back to, as it felt a bit impersonal to me, but it did have a reasonable ale selection, and is a decent stopping off place for a pint if you’re in the area.

This large imposing pub was reasonably busy with the young well heeled inhabitants of the area during my Saturday afternoon visit. A projector screen was pulled down in front of the large fireplace and most of the crowd were watching Germany demolish Argentina in the World Cup quarter final match. It was a bit of a struggle getting to the bar as people were standing at it watching the game and rather than them moving out of the way so that access could be gained to the bar they were asking me to move out of their way so they could see the screen, maybe a little common sense wouldn’t have gone amiss! When I did mange to get served the barmaid was very friendly and I was presented with a decent pint of Guinness which came in at £3.60 which is not cheap, but is no more expensive than any Fullers pub in London. There are four hand pumps on the bar which were pulling Harveys Best, Doom Bar, HSB and Yellow Hammer and alongside a few standard draught products were Stowford Press cider, Red Stripe and San Miguel. Half of the bar area is taken up with an open kitchen which comprises an oven, grill and a couple of deep fat fryers. I didn’t spot anyone eating and the only food on the chalkboard menu above the kitchen was grilled goats cheese with something or other so I think I have a general idea of the culinary range. It was a lovely afternoon so all of the picnic tables that line the front of the pub were full. It’s not the greatest location to sit outside as the adjacent road is very busy, but there is a small enclosed garden area to the side of the pub which is a much more comfortable. This pub has extended opening hours every night as it closes at midnight Monday to Thursday, 2am on Friday and Saturday and midnight on Sunday. Regular dance and live music nights are held here in the pub and the Banana Cabaret comedy nights held here are well regarded. There is a ball room on the first floor and the Tavistock room is on the top floor and these are both available for hire. There is also a very impressive Shakespearian Globe theatre a the rear of the pub which is also available for hire when it is not being used for the comedy nights or when the big screen isn’t being used for major sporting events. I’m not sure what to make of this pub as the clientele seemed a little too pretentious for my liking, but I would have no problem returning for one of the event nights. A quite interesting fact is that in 1992 a Balham resident of the name Paul Lynch broke the world record for doing one finger press ups – ouch! This was done in the theatre area and there is a plaque up on the wall giving full details.