Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Graham Mason
Submitted on Monday, 22nd September 2014
With picture contributions to 11805 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (12 more images)
Detail Pages
The Grove, Balham, SW12
SW12
SW12 8PN
Served areas
Reviews of The Grove (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Grove
Dating from the 1870s, this is a huge grand pub in an increasingly gentrified and attractive Balham backstreet, its size belying its remote location.
The interior is voluminous with a fabulously ornate ceiling and grand lantern over where once there may have been a billiard table or two. However, this is yet another example of one of Young’s awful Groundhog Day, identikit mega-makeovers, with modern floor, smoky blue walls, brown/ochre-coloured punctuations and bare brick, particularly to the bar back with its tubular steel racking; zoned styles and colour schemes rule the roost here. The rugby was on, terrible acoustics amplifying the sound of the shrieking, young professional crowd.
It's increasing clear that sarf of the Thames, Young’s has no interest in stocking the Proper Job option, making do with just London Original and Special, a pint of Oil resulting in me being robbed of £7.30.
This is now a rather tiresome place, with better – e.g. Balham Bowls Club – a shorter walk from the station.
On 31st March 2024
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Grove
Still looks like a Young's pub. Room to the right, then the bar with four hand pumps, nothing above 4.5% ABV. Walk past the bar and there is a far longer room to the left, which was hosting a private party on my visit.
On 2nd September 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Grove
Whereas the previous pub I visited on my Balham wander, the Nightingale, has been allowed to remain a traditional pub by Wells/Youngs, this one hasn't, I doubt that I have encountered such a messed up poncified pub as this ever. The proper Victorian exterior with the pomp and grandeur it once would have contained has been destroyed inside. Two booths confront you as you enter, they were bedecked with white roses so much that I thought I'd entered a wedding party, sofas, throws, cushions and pouffes, murals of venetion blinds, beyond, in what would once have been the billiards room under the skylight is now a set restaurant, I was pounced upon on arrival to check if I wanted to "scan the menu", I didn't. The bar is central in an elongated U-shaped space, every manner of seating possible apart from a standard banquette or bench with stools opposite. Parts of the ceiling are highly decorative and possibly original but everything has been painted in battleship grey or light green, the scheme of choice for gastro/yuppy pubs. A nice original fire surround has been retained to the front of the bar, stained in mid-brown, nearby is a long thick wood butcher's block style table with empty birdcages and fake berry clad branches on top.
Youngs beers, just Ordinary Bitter, Special and Bombardier, two large copper tanks at the end of the bar contained offerings from Meantime. The pub is foody as alluded too and to be fair, all smelled very good, chicken pot pie, mash and seasonal veg £10.50, The Balham Burger, £12.50. Monday is "Movie Night" with free admission and popcorn.
The front has a decked area with large white brollies heavily populated on Saturday afternoon by flip-flop wearing folk with sunglasses. Pimms £15 a jug.
On 21st April 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
View more reviews of The Grove (6)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of the Grove - www.grovebalham.com
- Grove page at the Youngs site - www.youngs.co.uk
- Facebook - The Grove Pub
- Twitter - Grove Balham
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Grove - whatpub.com
Wandsworth Common, 0.78 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Streatham Hill, 1.44 miles, 27 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 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 11 January 2009 by Moby Duck
- Jukebox : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes - Six Nations. - last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Thursdays 20.00. - last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 11 January 2009 by Moby Duck
- Real Cider : No last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 30 March 2024 by Tris C
