please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Braved the price of the food the other Sunday for their roast. I have to say that I was impressed and it was very good. The beer garden out the back is also very nice on a sunny day.
I'd go there for the roast again but I stand by my previous comments as a pub.
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Not one of my favourite places in Balham. The service is slow even when quiet. The manager actually called both members of staff for a 10 minute talk whilst I stood at the bar. I was the only one at the bar at the time, more joined while I waited, so would it have killed him to wait the 2 minutes for me to have been served? Also when the staff were allowed back they served the guys who had turned up after me. I was not happy.
That said the quailty of beer is ok nothing special still pricy, the food looks ok (never tried it. It's way too expensive). The music is pretty good as well and at a good volume.
I really don't like the decor though as the images of rock stars looks really try hard and out of place. That's just my opinion and others may like it but not really my thing.
Overall not bad but not great and there are far better places close by so I can't really see why you'd go in unless it's because you really want to sit down as there are always seats (normally loads and loads)
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lucy: I agree with the landlord, I'm afraid. It would have indeed been courteous and polite if you'd asked permission. It does costs money, but its more about the politeness aspect. I wouldn't do it, just like I wouldn't charge up my mobile phone, irrespective of how much I'd spent.
"Thinking nothing" of doing such a thing shows a certain lack of grace. Good manners cost nothing.
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Good for a pint of Guinness and a roast on a Sunday. Always feel relaxed in the area under the stairs, either with a newspaper or a book.
Can't agree with the mean spirit comment in a previous review. And the barman was quite right re: the laptop situation. If someone wandered into my house and just plugged something in without asking, I'd be a bit annoyed too.
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I'm feeling a bit outraged on behalf of the two posters below - and hope they both receive an apology! The only reason to go to Blithe Spirit is if you're really in need of a sit down - since it's always nearly empty you'll never have trouble finding a seat. I can't think of anywhere in Balham more lacking in any kind of atmosphere. The beer garden mentioned smells of Sainsbury's' bins in the summer - nice!
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"MEAN SPIRIT" WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE
A friend and I had gone for a Sunday roast at the blithe spirit. I used to go there a lot but I think it's changed management at some point. After my experience nothing would get me back in there. We had some work to do so had taken a laptop. We plugged it in near to our table, thinking nothing of it.
After our meal as I was about to order some more drinks, some pompous, pedantic fat-headed barman felt he needed to try to humiliate me in front of other customers by aggressively announcing that "it would have been courteous and polite if you'd asked permission before plugging in your laptop. It costs us money, you know" . He didn't even ask to make sure that he was speaking to the right person.
I would have thought that paying around £30 for a meal and drinks would have made it worth his while to overlook the .001p it probably cost for half an hour's electricity, but clearly he did not.
I decided I wouldn't finish my drinks order and left. I'll never return there, it was so unnecessary and confrontational and left me feeling insulted for the rest of the afternoon.
Asides from the petty assertion of his male pride, the meal was insipid and the coffee lukewarm.
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I have visited Blithe Spirit on numerous occasions in the last three months and up until yesterday (15th November) i thought that it was a great discovery, an oasis in the desert considering the other pubs and bars in Balham. The atmosphere there is pleasant, the croud nice, the music great and Stephen the manager a lovely and polite man.
On the above mentioned date however i went to BS with a friend of mine who is also somewhat of a regular there. When she ordered a drink from a member of staff called Jason Timms (if that in fact is his real surname) asked her for an Identification. Iana (my friend) is 22 years old and after she provided her ID Jason started raising his voice at her, telling her that with her attitude he wouldn't normally serve her. I cannot stress enough that she was not rude in any way and that the scene the barman made in front of all the customers (who later also shared their dislike of the man) was absolutely unneccesary. I was extremely disappointed that such a great place has to suffer from the actions of a single man.
After the incident when asked for his full name Jason refused to give it initially and after he finally told us what it was he refused to serve any of us (by that point there was four of us).
I am sad that i have to write this and that i will not visit the pub again unless Jason appologises personally to all of us.
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Pompous staff who specialise in looking down their noses at you - warmer than acceptable beer - so-so food at West End gastropub prices (in Balham!?) and a claustrophobic feel.
Nice beer garden though but the overwhelming feeling is one of a club you don't belong to and can't afford to join.
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Previous reviewers must have been drinking from the same cup as Mr Uppity (or is that up-themselves).
One of the better places (if not best) in Balham for Sunday lunch, lunch anyday, and a calming pint of an evening.
Rude service? Think not, it's top notch. Believe it or not, Balhamites, there is no rule which says "I must be served instantly. Anything else is rude!"...Sadly, this ethos is lost on the 'want, now!' generation.
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The worst food I have ever eaten. Went there with friends for lunch and every single meal was pretty much inedible. Absolutely rank.
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Nothing to write home about. Aussies seem to like for some reason. Very bland food.
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Blimey some of you people need to chill out! this pub is great, not too noisy, a nice crowd, friendly staff and the best nachos i have ever had, they're proper nachos you know, not Doritos!!!! Great pub, love it!
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What a shame. This place used to be owned by Wizard Inns and was a fab addition to Balham
Now it is appalling. The service is rude. It's ridiculously expensive (£3.50 for a bottle of beer - OK for a trendy bar but this a basic pub in Balham??). The food was so atrocious I was mortified that I had taken friends here - I ordered a thai beef salad and got 3 slices of process beef (the shiny stuff) and a plate of lettuce and pepper - not really what I had in mind.
anonymous - 2 Nov 2006 12:42 |
Having been here a few more times since my last comment I will say that
- the manager seems to be a great bloke plus he supports Chelsea
- the Sunday lunch is a lot better than previous posters have suggested
- with the Witherspoons over the road for the pikeys and the Tup for the braying Hoorays, the BS seems to attract a fairly decent crowd
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I love going in the blithe every day for my pint of fosters and the new giant yorkshire puddings with meat of the day and veg, and a chat with c man and wheely. Great food and good clean draught lagers-at least this place actually bothers to clean the beer lines regularly. Top pint and mint service. Cheers
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I have been to the Blithe Spirit recently, and I enjoyed everything about the place. Firstly I think that the one real ale that they have, being Pedigree, which I was informed was brewed by the owning brewery was a great well kept pint. As discussed with the Manager of the pub, if there is not much call for real ales then what is the point of having a selection of bad ones when you can maintain one good one, and if the call for real ale does increase then I was informed that they would look at getting in some guest beers and rotating them regularly.
As for the food, it was great to see fresh home made food at a regular price for the area, and certainly no more expensive then the other relavent bars in Balham. Nice staff, good decor, very comfortable great garden.
People should also check out the specials board, great toad in the hole and giant yorkshire home made meals.
anonymous - 4 Sep 2006 19:12 |
It is a bit of a shame that "because it is the only place in Balham I can usually find a seat on a Friday night" is the number one draw of this place.
They usually have one ale, which is not very well kept, plus the usual nitro keg crap. The food is extremely expensive and unremarkable. Why the hell do pub roast dinners cost about £10 these days?
Still, I don't find it as unconvincingly shallow as other bars/pubs in Balham.
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Must say having read through some of the reviews below, some of which I agree with, one over-riding fact seems to have been missed or something’s changed recently… I went into the Blithe on a Saturday night a few weeks back and was really impressed by the change in music policy – gone was the boring jazzy/housey-bar-music-norm I’d come to accept and instead was something a little different. In fact I don’t think I can even class it – it was mixed up but had a really good vibe to it plus the dj’s were genuinely friendly and said they’d play any requests if they had them which is different to the usual pretentious jocks you come across. Bottom line is: apart from the pub-like décor, the atmosphere’s good, the booze is good and the music really interesting and fun (which I can honestly say isn’t a regular thing in the Balham area!) It now all adds up to a place I regularly enjoy going to on a Sat night.
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Good food. Best for reading the paper on a Sunday. Elevator music
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glasses always dirty
areap - 18 Mar 2006 13:50 |
nice pub shame they always seem to be playing the same lounge music when i go there, The food is very good good its open late at the weekends shame they won't let you in after 11
anonymous - 24 Feb 2005 23:38 |
Very acceptable place, but very bland and boring in the extreme... Decor has been pulled from an 'Edwards' bar, circa 1996, and there's plenty more interesting places in a 2 mile radius. That said, the staff were friendly and it was empty enough to be served quickly.
gnuts - 28 Nov 2004 20:21 |
This is a very friendly pub and a great place to eat. The food is varied, good quality for a pub and reasonably priced. Getting table service is such a treat in a pub, which is a good reason to go with a few friends
Tina - 12 Nov 2004 16:45 |
About two weeks age we had to wait for ages for a meal, was continually told "sorry, it will be coming soon" and then finally that the female who had taken the order had not sent it to the kitchen. Little in the way of apologies, no offer of a complimentary drink (the bottle of wine was long finished). We left and went somewhere else to eat. We will not be using this pub in the future.
rory - 17 Aug 2004 16:18 |
Not bad, one of the better hostelries in the area. Table service is always a welcome novelty in this country. The full English is highly recommeded.
John - 29 Jul 2004 12:05 |
I really like this place, very good food, wine and beers. Nice decor and the sun terrace is excellent. Best bar in BALHAM by miles!!!!!!
Darren - 30 May 2004 20:39 |
When you have table service, it is 'common practice' to proffer the bill at the end - and then pay. (As indeed you said you did, the other day.) Perhaps not a good way to attract/impress punters by suggesting they might 'do a runner'? No, Mr Sanchez I don't look dodgy - but nice try at humour. The food was pretty good though, I will reiterate.
Jez - 17 Apr 2004 18:02 |
Jez, As you said it is a Pub, the majority of pubs in London will a ask you to pay before you recieve the food its common practise (especially if you look dodgy,which you must as i was in there yesturday and had breakfast outside and paid after my meal) i suggest if you dont want to pay before eating you maybe go to a restaurant!!!
R. Sanchez - 15 Apr 2004 18:39 |
I agree with Jez. The loss of a few quid here and there from 'runners' is probably less than the loss of custom from those of us disgusted at having to pay upfront
robert - 8 Apr 2004 16:39 |
I work in a pub in Balham and was on my break looking for a quiet place to grab a bite to eat. Saturday lunchtime during the rugby i popped over, invested in a chicken ceasar salad at normal Balham prices and a glass or two or OJ to wash down the night before. It was a pleasant experience all round. Such a turn around from the Eclipse and it's reputation. I pondered upstairs, took a seat, had nice table service and good quality food and drink. Music was appropriate and the spot lighting seemed to work very well. anyway, i've not been back since but i will, i promise!
Tom G - 22 Mar 2004 17:51 |
Not a bad pub with nice food and beer, but I objected strongly to being asked to pay for my food before it had been served: the reason given was that I was sat outside and they'd had a few 'runners' done recently - as though this made me somehow responsible! (The grumpy response to my refusal to do so has made me not want to return in a hurry, unfortunately.)
Jez - 21 Mar 2004 12:41 |
At 20 seconds walk from Balham Tube & Rail Station, Blithe Spirit is a "Lounge Style" Bar. It has an excellent Menu, and a good range of wines & Beers, including a number of unique Belgian & German beers.
It also Boasts a huge Beer Garden, and outside drinking terrace, which is soon to have a retractable canopy for extended use through the cooler days, and nights. Blithe Spirit also offers approximately 30% of it's bar area as a well ventillated No-Smoking area. It aslo offers comprehensive tables service, with no added service charge; unlike many bars. It has an excellent interior decor, with a good range of seating from sofa's to more formal dining style setaing. It also plays relaxing "Jazzy" style music during the day, with more funky music at night when the bar goes up tempo. It also has a 1am licence on Friday & Saturday night, though licencing restriction means that they cannot let anyone in after 11pm.
Stephen Garbett - 19 Mar 2004 11:24 |
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