The Bedford, originally named The Bedford Hotel, is a Grade II listed public house at 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, London SW12 9HD.
The original building (then named The Bedford Hotel) was built in the 1870s. [1] In 1876, the pub building housed the coroner's inquest into the notorious unsolved murder of Charles Bravo, a resident and lawyer who was poisoned, possibly by his wife. [2] It was rebuilt in about 1931 for the brewery Watney Combe & Reid, and designed by Alfred W. Blomfield, in a "neo-Georgian manner, with Arts and Crafts and Art Deco influences". [1]
It was Grade II listed in 2015 by Historic England. [1]
The Bedford hosts Banana Cabaret, where performers have included Stephen K Amos, Omid Djalili, Harry Hill, Eddie Izzard, Al Murray and Catherine Tate. [3]
The pub is also well known as a music venue with Paolo Nutini, The Clash, U2 and Ed Sheeran performing early gigs here.[ citation needed]
The Bedford has won various awards including the Publican Music Pub of the Year 2002; the Morning Advertiser Pub of the Year 2004; and the Evening Standard Pub of the Year 2002. [4] [5] [6]