Until recently, Balham was overlooked as a party spot by all except the locals. However, as the house prices in Clapham have gradually forced more people out of its confines, the migration of young professionals into the area has had a positive effect on the local nightlife. This is perfectly illustrated by The Clarence, a top bar by any area’s standards.

The Venue
The Clarence is handily located up the main stretch of Balham High Road; however, despite being just a 5-10 minute walk from Balham tube and overground station, the long winding nature of the road means it will appear to go on forever. Get ready to whinge about your feet and ask ‘are we there yet?’ at least 15 times before the large bar suddenly springs into view. Persevere, however, it’s worth it.

You can’t really miss this bar – the first clue is the rather large courtyard space that juts out of its side, handily positioned just off the main road. Hordes of smokers is always a good indication that you’re nearing a watering hole. The next thing that will catch your eye is a rather disturbing sign that hangs boldly from the front of the building, depicting what seems to be a cat. Fine. Except it’s sniffing the butt of another cat. Hmm. Rumour has it Clarence is the name of the owner’s favourite pet. Other than that, the huge sign will signify that you’ve reached your destination.

Pushing through two sets of glass doors, the sprawling and attractive world of this bar opens up in front of you. You’ll notice a few comfortable leather seating areas immediately upon entering, with interesting rainbow coloured-lamps hanging low above them. Rough shod mirrors cover a section of the wall next to this area, offering a funky design touch. The large bar - complete with pretty mosaic decoration - stretches across the length of the venue, providing plenty of access for hordes of thirsty punters. On the wall above the bar is a large expanse of space covered with clocks of differing sizes and styles, all showing a different time. It’s a unique twist for the bar’s decor – if a little confusing if you’re watching the time for the last tube home. Only one of the clocks tells the correct time – make it a mission to discover which one that is.

In front of the bar, round the corner from the entryway, the venue opens out impressively into a large space filled with dining chairs and tables of various styles, all with a modern edge. These tend to fill up quickly with drinkers though, so it’s worth reserving a space if you’re popping in for food or just hate standing. The toilets are located up a handsome open stairway that overhangs the main bar, and they’re clean and well kept. In all, it’s a really modern, attractive bar with some unique touches that would make it a worthy find in any area of London – in particular, Balham.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere at The Clarence is that of a thriving bar that’s ignoring the fact there’s a credit crunch on and is ploughing onward with success anyway. It’s to its credit that it’s one of the busier bars of the area. The clientele is made up of an attractive mix of young professionals, mostly local to Balham and the surrounding areas. The occasional hint of trouble rears its ugly head, but the burly looking bouncer on the door is enough to keep any real troublemakers at bay. The bar fills quickly in the evenings – especially as you near the end of the week – and you can expect groups of friends to make up the main contingent of drinkers, all catching up over a bottle of wine or pint. The drinks flow impressively and the staff are very efficient and – importantly – pay close attention as to who’s next in the melee at the bar so arguments are kept to a minimum.

The Food
The Clarence offers Modern British grub with an upmarket twist. Rock oysters, for example, are on offer for £1.30 each or £9 for half a dozen with – rather randomly – a pint of Guinness. Mains continue this theme with such dishes as spring onion macaroni cheese (£7), red lentil burger with feta and harissa in an onion sourdough bun (£6.50), or chicken, crayfish and asparagus pie (£9). It’s a decent menu with some nice twists and a great range for veggies.

The Drink
There’s an excellent choice of drink at The Clarence with a huge choice of world beers and wine. The selection includes a few draught ales with regular guests, Adnams and Oyster. They also offer the ubiquitous Guinness and have the more impressive addition of black Budvar, which is a popular pint. The prices are reasonable, just breaking the £3 a pint mark.

If wine is more your thing then they offer a sizeable choice of white, red, rose, and a few Champagnes. However, be prepared for the frankly gigantic size of their wine spritzer glasses – and to shout stop at the huge amount of soda they try to fit into said glass. More of a bucket, it certainly helps to save the pennies as you’ll be stood drinking the one drink for at least an hour as the seemingly bottomless pit extends ever onwards.

The Last Word
The Clarence is a great bar that would stand out in any area of London. The cat-sniffing-butt sign alone is worth the trip.

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