It's been there for years: www.grovebalham.com/ I occasionally go to the Bedford as they get some good comedians upstairs. I don't know about the tapas place.

Edit: "The Grove has been around since 1877"
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:02, 2 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

I used to love The Banana Cabaret, yes.
I think the tapas place may have been called The Lounge at the time. It's opposite that dodgy Carribean bar that used to have lock-ins until...well, actually, as far as I am aware it never closed before I chose to leave. I don't think I ever did know what it was called, but it said 'Cafe Fusion Bar' in cheap transfers on the window.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:04, Reply)

Aye, that's what I saw when I googled it. It's over the other side to where I lived, so I guess I never ventured out there.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:05, Reply)

Did you ever go to The Duke?
It used to be The Duke of Devonshire but they changed it to The Devonshire. Used to be a good pub, it's "gone gastro" now which has spoilt it.

There used to be a good italian in Balham - I think it was called Bouchi's.
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:07, Reply)

Yes, lots.
It used to have that back bar that stayed open late. I got very drunk with Arthur Smith in there once, oddly.

Well, I say 'got', we were both already very drunk before I started talking to him.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:09, Reply)

talking to licking
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:22, Reply)

Well he looks like a caramel covered walnut, so do you blame me?

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:23, Reply)

hahaha

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:27, Reply)

He's a monumental cunt. I was chatting with him
in The Clachan off Carnaby Street about 10 years ago. He was asking me if I knew what it was like to have writer's block???!!

He is a smoker though, so not all bad.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:25, Reply)

He seemed nice enough, to the best of my hazy memory.
But these arty types are a bit self centred, so that sort of question doesn't surprise me.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:27, Reply)

I've met him too,
well I've seen him on telly which is nearly the same. He is a cock.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:30, Reply)

He's a Balham resident.
Who calls himself "The King of Balham".

The CUNT.
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:49, Reply)

Hahahah.
He doesn't!

He does call himself 'Night Mayor Of Balham', but in fairness, that's clearly a (shit) pun.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 26 Jan 2012, 11:56, Reply)