Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 2 and Version 1 of Balham Bowls Club, SW12 8QX

Despite its name, this is a pub, open to the general public. It used to be a lawn bowls club, and much of the decor still reflects that - right down to the notice in the main entrance that visitors need to be signed in by a member.

There are four rooms, including one with two full-size snooker tables, some tables out the front and out the back too. The bar is somewhat small, but at least on a mid-week evening service was quick and there was no queueing. There's only one real ale, but it's Timothy Taylor's Landlord, and is well-kept. Other reviews do indicate that service isn't as good on busier Friday and Saturday nights though. The staff are very friendly. Food is tapas-style, so if you just want a snack with your beer it's good value, but if you want a meal you're better off going elsewhere as enough dishes to satisfy will be quite expensive.

The furniture throughout is, umm, eclectic, appearing to be a mixture of stuff left over from the original bowls club, plus bits and pieces salvaged from junk shops and other pubs - perhaps this is where everything from Balham's other pubs, most of which have gone rather up-market, has gone.

This is a games-friendly pub. As well as the snooker tables, there is a small selection of board games behind the bar, and there is a regular Monday evening chess club. The South London go club has also started meeting here on Thursday evenings (but please contact them before showing up, as meetings still don't happen with metronomic regularity)

There is a small step up to get into the pub, but otherwise everything is on one level, although I didn't check the toilets.

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