The epitome of quirky vintage, the Balham Bowls Club has a long history that is smartly revisited to produce a cool venue, almost too bizarre for its own good - almost!

The Venue
In 2002, Balham Bowls Club with several decades of history was restored as a pub, maintaining most of the original fixtures and avoiding that patina of shiny new that doesn’t quite fit with most revamped Victorian buildings. On the contrary, it has all the dusty allure of an old aunt’s house. Every bizarre decorative element, like the standing birdcage or the framed pair of shoes, seems straight out of a charity shop and this familiar, quirky, ultimately ironic landscape is what makes Balham Bowls Club unique and fun to be in.

Grandma couches, a fireplace and Seventies wallpaper complete the lot, together with two large snooker tables lit by faded professional lights. If it gets a bit too much for the eyes, you can still sit outdoors with a choice of a few mismatched tables towards the road or a messy but wide back garden.

The Atmosphere
Balham Bowls Club is a predictable local favourite and you will find it very busy on weekends, which means a long queue to be served at the only bar where, unfortunately, you also order your food. However, the friendly and efficient service ensures food is delivered quickly, even on busy evenings.

You’ll find people of all ages here with peaks around the twenty-to-thirtysomethings. The atmosphere is beautifully informal and you’ll even find a polite dog giving you a long pleading stare once your food is laid on the table.

The Food
The menu at Balham Bowls Club is a love it or hate it affair: the idea is to serve well presented global tapas, getting rid of main courses. If you’re starving, with most dishes priced at £5-£6, expect to pay out as you'll need at least three items to stop hearing your stomach rumble.

If dinner is not what you have in mind, however, the food at Balham Bowls Club is actually rather good: fresh and eclectic with unexpected options like field duck eggs with black truffle, chargrilled squid with lemon and oil, or calves liver with balsamic onion and pancetta. Alternatively, you can order from the very cheap bar menu (75p-£3.75), offering small portions of traditional pub favourites like Cornish pasty, mini sausage rolls, pork pie, or lamb burger in a bun.

The Drink
You have less than ten wines to choose from, a symptom that Balham Bowls Club wants to be a back-to-basics pub despite the interesting design and peculiar food menu. For whites and reds (£13.50-£16 per bottle with large and small glasses available), the choice is between the classics from the usual countries: Spanish Tempranillo and Chardonnay, Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, Australian Shiraz, Italian Pinot Grigio and - a potential bargain - a French Bordeaux Superieur for only £16.

Beer wise, there are a few highlights: Grolsch Weizen, Amstel, Soulfrod Press Cider, Becks. None of them are really cheap though, with most pints in the £3.20-£3.50 range.

The Last Word
Bizarre as much as it is fun, Balham Bowls Club is entertaining enough to make you remember your night out with a smile: you'll feel like you’ve just set foot in a Wes Anderson movie!

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