An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham

An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House

Here’s a sneak peek of the interiors, food and art at the first-ever Soho House south of the river

Monday 8 August 2022    By Anastasiia Fedorova 

Little House Balham is the latest addition to London’s Soho House family, and it’s also our first club south of the river (not forgetting Brixton Studio, of course, which has been open since October 2021). The House covers 242 sq m and offers intimate member spaces to eat, drink, and socialise. The space is divided into a main club lounge and bar, Club Cecconi’s – Soho House’s Venetian-inspired restaurant serving handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas and seafood – and a Snug on the raised mezzanine. 

The House has been conceived, first and foremost, as a place for the local creative community. One of its most intriguing features is a ceiling artwork by artist Miranda Forrester – a special commission of more than 30 painted panels. Forrester, who explores queer perspectives and the place of Black women in painting, grew up near the House, in Tooting, which makes her contribution even more meaningful. 

Another exciting collaboration to come for Little House Balham is working with School Ground Sounds, a charity that empowers emerging musical talent in south London. More than just a place to visit, we hope that the House can truly reflect the history, community and creative spirit of the area. But for now, take a leisurely look around.
An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House
An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House
An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House
Architecture and interiors 
Little House Balham is located in the residential neighbourhood of Bedford Hill and decorated in a 1940s style. There are wood panels and antique mirrors alongside understated ambient lighting. The key feature of the club space is a horseshoe-shaped bar with a green onyx top and oversized leather barstools. With a mix of lounge, bar and banquette seating upholstered in plush velvet, you’ll want to stay for another Italian-style aperitivo, the House speciality. The furniture is made up of mostly custom-designed pieces with a mix of 1940s vintage sofas and armchairs. The large banquette seating at the back wall is upholstered in an animal-print woven fabric called ‘Pardus’ by James Malone. 
An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House
An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House
The Snug
Concealed behind an antique mirror partition wall on a mezzanine above the main space,  The Snug is perfect for private member events or screenings. On the right-hand side, there’s an oversized sofa in a corded velvet by Raf Simons, and the custom Soho House armchairs are upholstered in plush mohair by Elitis with a distinctive patterned jacquard fabric by Zak + Fox. The room is painted in a deep burgundy colour, creating a relaxed and warm space for members, and is dimly lit with picture lights highlighting artworks by a variety of south London artists.  
 
An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House
An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House
The food and drink 
A much-loved Northern Italian classic, Club Cecconi’s serves member favourite dishes such as Spaghetti Lobster, Quail Eggs, Tuna Tartare, Cicchetti and Burrata, accompanied by a changing selection of seasonal dishes such as ChalkStream Trout with broccolini and Castelvetrano olives. 

The bar also offers specially created drinks based on classics with a nod to the Italian-inspired drinking culture. These include the Aperitivo Sour, created with Aperol, Campari, strawberry, lemon and egg white, and the Pink On Pink Paloma, balancing Mezcal Verde, Patrón tequila, Campari with vanilla, rose, and Two Keys grapefruit soda. 
An inside look at London’s new Little House Balham | Soho House
The art collection 
The Little House Balham art collection focuses on artists based south of the Thames, showcasing a vibrant mixture of emerging and established artists who call Balham, Tooting, Streatham, Brixton, Wandsworth and Clapham home. These include works by museum-level artists Flora Yukhnovich, Kaye Donachie and Naiza Khan whose work is accompanied by original paintings from a range of artists: Lucy Spanyol, Billy Bagilhole, Faye Wei Wei, Charlotte Mei, Henry Hussey, Henry Ward, Scarlett Bowman and Eliza Hopewell, among many others.

Find out more about Little House Balham here
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