Balham Bloke
@thingsyoudontneed.bsky.social
Another random man lost in the Gateway to The South.
Isn't there any interest in someone else taking it on ?
January 31, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Isn't there any interest in someone else taking it on ?
It's an ALDI version of Kings Road.
January 27, 2026 at 12:40 AM
It's an ALDI version of Kings Road.
Bonkers isn't it ? I live in Balham now. Three commons (Tooting, Clapham, Wandsworth), Tesco, Waitrose, M&S, ALDI, Sainsburys, The Grove and Devonshire Pubs, three tube stations, bus stops - all within walking distance. Take that to 25 and you are in Clapham Junction. Clearly a Marxist dream.
January 27, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Bonkers isn't it ? I live in Balham now. Three commons (Tooting, Clapham, Wandsworth), Tesco, Waitrose, M&S, ALDI, Sainsburys, The Grove and Devonshire Pubs, three tube stations, bus stops - all within walking distance. Take that to 25 and you are in Clapham Junction. Clearly a Marxist dream.
Disagree. This is on Burnham.
January 25, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Disagree. This is on Burnham.
Technically it's "Burrish" and the locals call themselves "Burrishers".
January 25, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Technically it's "Burrish" and the locals call themselves "Burrishers".
And at a stretch Theresa May...
January 24, 2026 at 9:08 PM
And at a stretch Theresa May...
Well they did for Boris Johnson and John Major.
January 24, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Well they did for Boris Johnson and John Major.
Is that why they have dug the car park up ?
January 16, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Is that why they have dug the car park up ?
I would have got it and I'm "only" in my 50s. That said it was one of my Dad's favourite things and he used to bang on about when I moved here. Balham should celebrate it a bit more, but there is a small hotel called The Gateway.
January 16, 2026 at 8:34 AM
I would have got it and I'm "only" in my 50s. That said it was one of my Dad's favourite things and he used to bang on about when I moved here. Balham should celebrate it a bit more, but there is a small hotel called The Gateway.
It's where the Salvation Army now is, on the corner of Oldridge Road (Grove Pub). Long gone :(
January 16, 2026 at 2:24 AM
It's where the Salvation Army now is, on the corner of Oldridge Road (Grove Pub). Long gone :(
As suspected that row is long gone, replaced by the salvation army in the 70s. If you Google 26 Balham High Road you will see it. My only connection is I live very very near. Fascinating I stumbled on this. Thank you.
January 16, 2026 at 2:23 AM
As suspected that row is long gone, replaced by the salvation army in the 70s. If you Google 26 Balham High Road you will see it. My only connection is I live very very near. Fascinating I stumbled on this. Thank you.
As a Balham resident can't be because the shop is on a corner and that address isnt. This site has the address www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/history.htm, but that has been long knocked down and I suspect the side road has gone as well.
Mmmm intrigued... I'll found out.
Mmmm intrigued... I'll found out.
Watkins Guitar World - History
www.watkinsguitars.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 1:05 AM
As a Balham resident can't be because the shop is on a corner and that address isnt. This site has the address www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/history.htm, but that has been long knocked down and I suspect the side road has gone as well.
Mmmm intrigued... I'll found out.
Mmmm intrigued... I'll found out.
Lovely shop a few minutes from where I live. Buy a coffee there.
January 4, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Lovely shop a few minutes from where I live. Buy a coffee there.
If you did know this existed you need to know now.
Another hot sauce ?
No liquid Spanish paprika joy and I'm addicted.
brindisa.com/cdn/shop/pro...
Another hot sauce ?
No liquid Spanish paprika joy and I'm addicted.
brindisa.com/cdn/shop/pro...
November 21, 2024 at 10:42 PM
If you did know this existed you need to know now.
Another hot sauce ?
No liquid Spanish paprika joy and I'm addicted.
brindisa.com/cdn/shop/pro...
Another hot sauce ?
No liquid Spanish paprika joy and I'm addicted.
brindisa.com/cdn/shop/pro...
And a great choice of bread. Panini / Small ciabatta sliced in half to allow the butter and eggs to fall in. When the eggs have gone, the egg / butter drenched bread is the best bit.
November 20, 2024 at 2:55 PM
And a great choice of bread. Panini / Small ciabatta sliced in half to allow the butter and eggs to fall in. When the eggs have gone, the egg / butter drenched bread is the best bit.
Beautiful food, beautiful photos. Scrambled eggs IS my my favourite food.
November 20, 2024 at 2:51 PM
Beautiful food, beautiful photos. Scrambled eggs IS my my favourite food.
Nothing wrong with that. To make it easier to carve, get a good sharp knife and let the chicken rest for half an hour covered in foil.
November 20, 2024 at 2:48 PM
Nothing wrong with that. To make it easier to carve, get a good sharp knife and let the chicken rest for half an hour covered in foil.
.. or jump on the 155 bus to take you to Balham :) The stop is on the other side of the road. Alternatively the G1 bus by the station which takes you direct to Clapham Junction.
November 20, 2024 at 2:36 PM
.. or jump on the 155 bus to take you to Balham :) The stop is on the other side of the road. Alternatively the G1 bus by the station which takes you direct to Clapham Junction.
As a local (who incidentally grew up in Sussex), you have a number of options if this happens again. Best to go South to avoid crowding, Balham station is just down the hill. From there you can get a train to London Bridge. Alternatively, get an overland to Clapham Junction and then to Waterloo.
November 20, 2024 at 2:28 PM
As a local (who incidentally grew up in Sussex), you have a number of options if this happens again. Best to go South to avoid crowding, Balham station is just down the hill. From there you can get a train to London Bridge. Alternatively, get an overland to Clapham Junction and then to Waterloo.
John Kipling (Rudyard's son) very famously remembered on it.
November 18, 2024 at 10:00 PM
John Kipling (Rudyard's son) very famously remembered on it.
Same here, but I think the gentrification has come from over the river and not so much from the "NW" i.e. Clapham. It flowed "down" Northcote Road.
November 18, 2024 at 7:40 PM
Same here, but I think the gentrification has come from over the river and not so much from the "NW" i.e. Clapham. It flowed "down" Northcote Road.