Hagen & Hyde, Balham, SW12

This place doesn't look particularly promising from the exterior but was surprisingly good once inside. The front area has the bar, then the area splits into a lower floor with a mezzanine area over. The front area has a slightly raised side section with an exposed stock brick wall containing a number of framed floral prints. There is a bit of an Antic style to it with old domestic sideboards and wall units, there are a few board games on a low round table and a few 70s album covers pinned to a sofa cushion fixed to the wall. The former bar counter layout is visible on the overcoated wooden floor. The lower area seems to be mainly for dining while the upper carpeted section is plainer with routine furniture, a rear terrace is accessed from up here. TVs were showing Soccer Saturday muted while a Bob Dylan CD played. There is a secondary keg only bar up here, so I assume this area could be easily hired separately if needed. The main bar had a reasonable selection, Castle Rock Harvest Pale, St Austell Tribute, Thornbridge Jaipur and Thwaites Lancaster Bomber. A couple of Meantime beers featured among the keg fonts. Not a bad spot, worth a look in.

From a distance, the facade would pass for a regular high street shop rather than a bar. However, the split-level interior is lighter than one might expect and certainly looks like pub (albeit one refurbished rather unimaginatively with plain furniture). There is a small mezzanine at the rear and a patio beer garden/roof terrace out the back which was OK in the sun, but noisy due to the neighbouring air conditioning units. Four real ales from the Marston's stable on handpump - Brakspear Oxford Gold, Ringwood 49er, Banks's Bitter and a rare southern sighting of Banks's Ruby Mild. Overall, better than I expected.