The Regent, Balham, SW12

Official site of The Regent - www.theregentbalham.co.uk

Official site of The Regent - www.theregentbalham.co.uk

The door opens into what is mainly a dining area with the bar to the left side. There is another room further along which was packed with football fans so I couldn't see if the bar extended down there, but I assume it did as the first room was fairly empty. Three weak real ales on offer. Outside area to the far right.

I noticed Timothy Taylor Landlord and Doom Bar (£3.50 a pint) on, and I believe that there was a third ale which I failed to note. From the outside it looks like a late Victorian building, but inside it’s very much a product of the 21st Century. It has only been known as The Regent for a short while, previously it was the Balham Tup, and before that The Balham Hotel. It also looks as if it has been extended into a neighbouring building on the Chestnut Grove side. But it really is a pub of two halves. As you enter through the main corner entrance, you are in the first half, furnished with normal tables and chairs, with all tables set for diners. As you move through the pub to the right, the very long bar counter is on the left, with a number of tall banquettes (or perhaps upholstered benches) against the wall on the right. This in turn leads into the second half of the pub, which has to be regarded as the bar area. This is furnished with tall stools and tables, plus a couple or so sofas with low tables topped with either pewter or aluminium in a Union Flag pattern. The dining area is the half with no TV screens, but their absence is more than made up for by bar area of the pub, that has two very large pull-down projection screens (presumably deployed for major sporting events), as well as monitors fixed to the walls. This looks as if it is a traditional Victorian pub that has been given a very modern makeover designed to attract a younger crowd. It’s not really my sort of pub, but it’s a decent example of the breed if you are looking for that sort of pub.