The Clarence, Balham - pub details
Used to be: the Balham Arms
Address: 90-92, Balham High Rd, London, SW12 9AG [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 27989) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Balham (0.3 miles), Clapham South (0.5 miles), Tooting Bec (0.9 miles)
Balham (0.3 miles), Wandsworth Common (0.6 miles), Streatham Hill (1.2 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Food served
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> Current user rating: 6.7/10 (rated by 76 users)
> Hotels nearby: Search
> Local guide: London pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Devonshire, Balham (0.0 miles), Jackdaw and Rook, Balham (0.1 miles), Grove, Balham (0.1 miles), Dish Dash, Balham (0.1 miles), Balham Kitchen and Bar, Balham (0.1 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Clarence, Balham
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 85 shown - see all reviews
| The recent refurbishment has made little to no difference to me except its a bit cleaner. I have not tried the new pizza oven option yet. I am still a fan of the Clarence due to its location to me and the beer garden outside as a smoker. The staff are always friendly and there is a good choice of beer on tap which makes this pub an ideal meeting place before perhaps moving onto livelier venues later on in the evening. A solid watering hole.... gumbo - 16 Aug 2011 13:47 |
| Have been back since my last review and it's mollified me somewhat. The place is OK and I hope it survives as it's all right to go to. That said I'm still convinced that the new decor isn't as nice as the old style (no accounting for taste I guess) and still seems to be an attempt to solve a problem that wasn't there in the first place. The service and selection of beers are still good though so this will probably keep me coming back but where as it used to be first on the list or the place you want to close out the night in now it's just another one on the list or another stop on the road. theoneandonlyjoe - 12 Apr 2011 17:28 |
| oh and Extropunk the snooker tables in the BBC have moved upstairs if you'd missed these. Though I agree the loss of these downstairs hasn't helped the place. theoneandonlyjoe - 23 Mar 2011 02:18 |
| I went in here after the refurb and i have to say I agree with the previous posters on it, not one for the better. The idea of the pizza bar is one that I can see being great on paper but didn't work for me in practise. The backroom area was always my favourite part of the old Clarence which now feels too much like an extension of the kitchen. Gone are a lot of the more interesting furniture that seemed to be fairly unique to the Clarence (or at least not so common) in has come some more standardised pub furniture. The brightness of the lights has shot up which for me is not a good thing (insert joke here). Overall the refurb has gone further to make this feel like a restaurant that serves beer than a pub. As my biggest complaint about the old Clarence was that I occaisionally felt like this was the case this really hasn't helped my opinion of the place. I appreciate the comments from the owner on here and I'm sure the extra opening windows, air conditioning and extension of the toilets makes for an improved pub and it's good to see that you are thinking of the little things that can improve a place as well. That said I've never heard anyone say 'let's go to such and such a pub. It's got great toilets and air conditioning.' The atmosphere and feel to the place has dipped in my opinion. I'll probably be back to give this place another go but certainly first impressions did not bode well. theoneandonlyjoe - 23 Mar 2011 02:17 |
| Walked in on Saturday for a soul restoring pint, took one look at the (Harry Potter inspired?) mural on the wall and walked straigh out. Probably in no position to judge then.....but I will! The Clarence was a favourite for all drinking purooses: lazy sunday sessions, friday/saturday night drinking or a quick drink after work. Seems to have lost its atmosphere.Will have to cross ito ff my list of options - just as well Tooting is picking up on the pub front. stix - 22 Mar 2011 14:07 |
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