Review

The Bedford Arms on Bedford Hill, Balham is well known to Londoners as the home of the Banana Cabaret, one of London's smaller but still premier league comedy clubs running on Friday and Saturday nights.

It is quite pricey though at £14 entry but there are concessions and after the comedy acts there is a nightclub with music / dancing till 2am.

The weekday crowd tend to be student / ex student types but rugger buggers pack the place when the main matches are on the telly in the pub.

The pub is busy most nights and there is live music every night. The atmosphere is relaxed and even though groups of women drink there you don't get the usual cheap suits and lager louts you normally see sniffing about when there are groups of women around.

On Tuesday nights you can try your legs at Swing dancing on the first floor and if that isn't Rock and Roll enough for you, there's a jam session going on a floor above. If you fancy a strum then don't be afraid to get up, because the regular audience will probably give you a standing ovation if you play anything contrary to the usual Jazz / Fusion that the session can often degenerate into.

If you haven't any talent then don't let that put you off, because Wednesday nights is quiz night where you can show off how much you know even if you can't do.

To sum up, the Bedford is what a good pub should be. It serves the local community by offering a range of entertainments, the staff are courteous and friendly, there's a good range of beers and the locals like it because it's trouble free.

Review by Bingo Bongo