Beth's reviews
Review of Smarty Paints
15 Apr 08, 18:12
know your arts from your elbow 
Situated on the road that has everything (a great pub, a posh curry restaurant, fatty cake shops, naughty cafes and a yummy mummy beauty salon…), Smarty Paints takes advantage of the area’s gazillion children and parents with lots of cash, and offers pottery painting in a nice atmosphere. Pop in and paint just about anything you or your kids can think of and come away with the sort of gifts that will guarantee pocket money from thrilled Grandparents for ever more.
The staff are pleasant and won’t rush fastidious children or spam-fisted adults through their artistic efforts, and you can buy basic refreshments to help you on your way. Slightly pricey, with mummies and daddies who are slightly too pleased with themselves, you’d be advised to attend before the home bell rings – the gaggle of public schools across the road mean that it’s chocker come 4 0’clock. Or, pop in late on a Thursday when Smarty Paints is open until 9pm.
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Review of Bombay Bicycle Club
15 Apr 08, 10:19
Spice World 
One of three Bombay Bicycle Club sit-in restaurants, the Nightingale Lane branch was actually the first to open, some 20-odd years ago. It’s a favourite of many of London’s top chefs and restaurant critics (with celebs ranging from Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver and Keira Knightley ordering take-out from the chain – which boasts 15 delivery-only kitchens in London and Surrey), and it’s easy to see why.
It’s delicious food in sophisticated surroundings, with lovely staff and non-annoying fellow eaters. It’s curry for the connoisseur, curry for couples on a date, curry for a special family occasion. The only downside is this – after eating a BBC curry, every other one will be a disappointment. NB Don’t go here without visiting The Nightingale pub, which is next door. It’s a lovely, cosy real ale boozer, full of character and local eccentrics.
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Review of Munchkin Lane
15 Apr 08, 10:14
kiddy portions
Proving that the Nightingale Triangle (the much-worshipped area situated between Wandsworth Common, Balham and Clapham South) is absolutely, totally obsessed with putting a roof over the heads of wealthy women on maternity leave, is Munchkin Lane. Unlike some of the area’s offerings though, this wood-floored café is lovely, run by a young family who seem to genuinely love children, rather than seeing them as a way to make money or compete with their neighbours. You can sup delicious smoothies and coffees outside, or choose to stuff your face full of paninis in the comfortable, but basic, ground floor indoors. Everything is tailored towards kiddies – the menu describes itself as nutritious and child-friendly, and downstairs is a small person’s paradise. There are loads of toys and things to dribble upon, and most days of the week see organised activities which’ll cost you a few quid to join in on, whether it’s rhymes, sing-a-longs, puppetry or general mucking about.
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Review of Nightingale
15 Apr 08, 10:07
Pubby brilliant
A brilliant, good old fashioned pub, dedicated to real ale, log fires, charitable causes and character. Crammed full of eccentrics and the sort of punter who looks like he/she has booze for blood, you’ll be the odd one out if you haven’t got a dog or a red nose which looks like it’s hung over several thousand pints. It’s ridiculously cosy and shockingly friendly – you’d never believe you were in London.
Food is, as one would expect, typical pub fare (non of that gastro malarkey here), although if this isn’t your bag (shame on you), there’s the original Bombay Bicycle Club, which serves up the sort of curry which makes grown men weep, about ten steps away over the pretty cobbled street.
What else? In the summer, there’s a lovely walled garden to enjoy, in the winter, there are delicious Christmassy drinks to get stuck into, and if you’ve just had a baby, get yourself to The Nightingale quick: when we took our three-day old in, he was showered with locals’ ‘lucky quids’. Oh, and one tip; if you’re thinking of spending a lazy, sozzled Sunday there, get in early in order to bag a table – Nightingalites tend to bed in for the day as soon as doors open.
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