Fourteen years of drinking: a Brixton bar and club guide from 2001

Digging through the archives of our sister site urban 75, we came across our Brixton Bar & Club Guide from 2001, and it was interesting to see what has and what hasn t changed in the ensuing 14 years.

Although many of the venues are still with us, far too many have since been priced out, flattened into the ground or turned into supermarkets as property developers cash in on Brixton s continuing gentrification a process that seems to have accelerated recently with the closures of Kaff¹, the Canterbury Arms², the Grosvenor³ and the Queen s Head⁴.

We ve reproduced the full original listings below, with our updates quoted in dark red text. The venues were originally rather unscientifically rated from one to five stars (* to *****), and some archive photos have been added to the feature we hope you enjoy the memories!

Brixton Bar & Guide 2001 by urban75

** The ANGEL

354 Coldharbour Lane Pic: Through the window at the Angel, Dec 2000
2001 REVIEW: Thankfully untouched by the yuppification of Brixton, this predominantly black, traditional boozer hasn t changed in a decade. Not a bar for pilled up, day-glo clubbers demanding techno, then.

UPDATE 2015: Closed in 2006, and bought up by eyebrow-raising millionaire property developers Lexadon⁵ and left empty for years.

It was briefly used by the Brick Box art project⁶, and after another long empty spell it opened up as the Mamma Dough pizzeria in September 2015⁷.

*** BABUSHKA

40 St Matthews Road, SW9
2001 REVIEW: This was one of those dodgy old boozers where dominoes were as exciting as it ever got until receiving a trendy once-over. Now it s got the de rigeur sound system, a wide selection of shorts and bottled lager and, on some occasions, hefty doormen. We quite like it.

UPDATE 2015: Babushka proved to be short lived, with the venue soon reopening as the popular Mango Landin ⁸.

Sadly, it closed its doors for good in 2014, and the building was flattened in Feb 2015⁹ to be replaced by the inevitable luxury flats¹⁰.

*** BAZE II BAZE

10-12 Tunstall Road, SW9
Serving up excellent breakfasts and good value meals throughout the day, this restaurant/bar is handily situated opposite the tube station. At night it turns into a lively bar with over 70 cocktails on offer and salsa, Latin and jazz in the basement. Open till 12 most nights.

Closed around 2005¹¹ and is now a branch of US fast food chain Subway.

* THE BEEHIVE

407 Brixton Rd, SW9 7DG
Garishly lit Wetherspoons pub with hyperactive ashtray cleaners, security cameras tracking your every sip and hideous fake decor.

Sure, it s dirt cheap, the beer s not bad and the food has reputedly got better, but it s not a place we d want to spend any time in.

Happily, The Beehive is still with us and has mightily improved over the years. It s still as cheap as chips too. See our review¹².

BRADY S (closed)

Atlantic Rd SW9
Brady s remains closed and only those with long memories can recall the utterly mad nights of hardcore drinking and debauchery that used to go on there.

This was one pub where the new Brixton trendies would never set foot in!

Despite a huge community effort to reopen the pub¹³ as a community resource, Lambeth went for the quick buck and flogged the building off to off shore developers¹⁴. It s now a branch of the Mexican themed chain Wahaca¹⁵, with private flats upstairs.

***BRIXTON ACADEMY

Brixton/Ferndale Rd
One of the most famous major venues in Britain, the Academy plays host to regular major concerts and occasional club nights. We ve had some blinding nights there.

The world famous venue is still here and still hosting big bands and acts

**** BRIXTONIAN HAVANA CLUB

Beehive Place, SW9
An essential Brixton stop-off, the Brixtonian serves up a huge range of top rums and awesome cocktails (including the infamous Brixton Riot ).

It s a very stylish bar and although weekends can get a little too packed, we like it a lot.

Even though it was popular with locals, the Havana soon vanished and little was heard of the site until it was relaunched in Nov 2014 as the pop up Beehive Place restaurant¹⁶.

**** BUG BAR

The Crypt, St Matthews Church, SW2
Situated in the crypt below St Matthews Church, the Bug Bar is a great starting point for a night on the town. Intimate, dark and friendly, there s good nights with drum n bass, reggae and house on the decks along with the occasional live band and comedy night. Beer s a bit expensive but it s usually free to get in on weekdays and stays open till 2am (3am Fri/Sat, 2am Sun)

The Bug Bar went on to become a restaurant/bar called Babalou, which in turn was replaced by a Spanish themed bar and restaurant called Gremio Brixton in March 2013¹⁷.

** CANTERBURY ARMS

8, Canterbury Cres, SW9 7QD
Lesser known Irish pub, untroubled by new wallpaper for some time.

Occasionally puts on some good gigs in a largish events room.

Regular club nights such as the long-running How Does It Feel To Be Loved¹⁸ and Time Tunnel¹⁹, and before that, the Mule Club, PROD²⁰ and the legendary Hat Parties²¹ made the Canterbury Arms an important focus of Brixton nightlife. Tragically, this Victorian pub closed for good on the 5th September 2015²² and will be flattened to make way for upmarket private flats²³

****CLUB 414

414 Coldharbour Lane, SW9
One of our favourite clubs anywhere. Small, dark and relaxed, the 414 plays thumping hard house and techno from Thurs to Sunday, open till 6am with reasonable admission prices especially if you get there early.

Our favourite night has to be Nuclear Free with the Liberators loud, hot and sweaty. Nice!

Still going strong and playing pretty exactly much the same music but now facing eviction²⁴ as bloody gentrification continues to sweep through central Brixton.

**CLUB SALSA

Loughborough Hotel, SW9
Popular and long running Salsa night at the Loughborough Hotel on Fridays. It doesn t rattle our maracas but others love it.

The pub closed around 2007²⁵ and has since been converted to upmarket private housing.

**** DOGSTAR

389 Coldharbour Lane, SW9
(Formerly The Atlantic).

The Dog is one of Brixton s most popular bar/clubs. In the week it s free to get in and stays open till 2am (4am Fri/Sat) with the reasonably priced beer and excellent DJs pulling a very lively Brixton crowd. We recommended Sun to Thurs nights.

Come the weekend, however, and it s a very different story as the place is transformed into Cheesy High-Heel Disco Hell. Hordes of Cla am Tamara s and Tarquin s descend en masse, leaping straight out of their taxis (no need to mix it with those nasty rough Brixton types) and into the drunken chat-up inferno inside. It is ghastly.

Avoid at all costs.

The Dogstar is still here and pulling in even bigger crowds, with queues stretching for miles on the weekends. Read more in our review²⁶.

**** DUKE OF EDINBURGH

204, Ferndale Rd, SW9 8AG Pic: The pub in 2002
A little off the beaten track, this pub rewards with an immense garden with a barbecue lending it a mini-festival atmosphere at times. A recently less-than-successful modernisation has spoilt the atmosphere a bit, but it s still one of the best pubs around although it can get hideously crowded on weekends.

It s had its up and downs over the years, but the Duke is in fine shape these days, and its future is looking very secure thanks to a recent Grade II listing²⁷.

***** EFFRA HALL TAVERN

Saltoun Rd, SW2
A winning combination of great Guinness, a friendly mixed crowd and superb live jazz on Sundays make this a highly recommended Brixton pub.

There s been some changes inside the two bars have now merged into one but the regular jazz nights are still happening and the pub has retained its distinctly Brixton vibe.

** THE FRIDGE

Pic: Escape From Samsara at the Fridge, 2001

1 Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill Pic: Topcats at the Fridge, 2003]
This used to be one of our favourite haunts, but the continuing heavy handed security, trickling water taps and overcrowding have made us less inclined to visit. If prancing around with a load of fluoro d up tranceheads is your thang, you ll probably like Escape From Samsara.

If for some reason you find yourself with an unstoppable urge to invoke the Celtic Tribal Spirit , you should get down to Pendragon once you ve forgotten the cod-Arthurian tosh you should be in for a good night of banging techno and hard trance. The Fridge also hosts several popular gay nights. Admission varies but is generally around 8 12.

After several unsuccessful reboots, the venue was relaunched as the Electric Brixton ²⁹in September 2011, and played host to our big Brixton Fightback³⁰ show in June 2015.

Locals still call it the Fridge, mind.

*** FRIDGE BAR

1 Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill
A small and friendly joint with a busy street level bar and a delightfully sleazy dark dance floor downstairs. It attracts a busy mixed gay/straight crowd on weekends, but we like it best as a chill out on Sunday nights. Admission is free weekdays (open till 2am, 4am weekends).

For the serious clubber, the bar opens at 6am on Saturdays with a charge on the door.

The Fridge Bar is still in business serving drinkers and clubbers, but its future is now seriously in doubt after we broke the news³¹ that Lambeth was serving a Compulsory Purchase Order on the building as part of their plans for the New Town Hall. It seems Lambeth didn t bother telling the furious owners about their plans, as they heard it first on Buzz³².

THE GOOSE

Brixton Rd, SW9
Formerly the Flourmill and Firkin, this pub remains cavernous, empty and unappealing, we ve never even been tempted past the front door. Maybe it ll get better in time, but at the moment we can t recommend it.

After they gave up on The Goose³³ in April 2008, the bar became Ivan s Retreat until Sept 2009³⁴ before settling on its final incarnation as The Rest Is Noise.

A compelling mix of trendy and old school Brixton, the bar put on some fine gigs and DJ nights before closing for good in Feb 2011³⁵. It s now a branch of TK Maxx³⁶.

**** GEORGE IV

Brixton Hill, SW9
Although a bit of a hike up Brixton Hill, the George IV hosts some fine club nights and boasts the only 7 day license in Brixton.

It has a 2am alcohol licence every day of the week and it s open till 6AM Wednesday Sunday. Admission is usually around 4-6 quid.

Despite a valiant attempt by the local community to save the pub (called the Music Bar by the end) and its inclusion as an asset of community value³⁷, this fine Victorian pub closed in 2013 and is now a Tesco³⁸.

It had been a public house and concert and dance venue since 1864. A real loss for Brixton.

GREEN MAN (closed)

Coldharbour Lane, Loughborough Junction

Closed after escalating problems with drug dealers. Building expected to be converted into flats.

Once described as the roughest pub in London, read our history feature here³⁹. .

*** HARMONY (formerly MINGLES)

82, Railton Rd, SE24
Open Fri/ Sat only (but till 3.30am) Harmony is a modern brick pub (rebuilt after the 1981 riots) with a small dancefloor and a (rarely open) backyard/garden.

Friday is usually packed out. The music is mainly lovers rock reggae, with a bit of ragga and soul here and there. Can have a terrific atmosphere if you re a reggae fan, although a misguided no trainers rule has been introduced recently but hopefully that won t last long!

Closed in 2013⁴⁰ after a very brief finale as La Pearl, and has now been demolished to make way for private flats.

See photo feature: Lost Brixton pubs: Harmony Bar/Mingles/The George on Railton Road, Brixton⁴¹.

** HAMILTON ARMS

Railton Rd, SE24
Traditional estate boozer with basic food and Sky TV.

The pub closed in 2004 and is now a mini-mart. See photo feature: Brixton life ten years ago: The Hamilton Arms, 128 Railton Road, SE24⁴²

**** HOPE AND ANCHOR

123, Acre Lane, SW2 5UA
Friendly pub with big garden and particularly welcoming to families with kids. One of the best places to catch a full, traditional Sunday dinner in Brixton (although sadly not too many veggie choices).

Now polished up and rebranded as past of the shiny Grand Union pub chain.

**** HOBGOBLIN

Tulse Hill, SW2
This cavernous corner pub at the top of Effra Rd incorporates a separate club space and is open till midnight Monday to Thursday, 2am Friday, Saturday.

Weeknights there s a variety of events, from salsa classes, to open-mic singers nights, to poetry and comedy with uplifting house/ drum & bass nights. It s a very down-to-earth, unpretentious pub with a busy outdoor area with food in the summer, attracting a genuine mixture of friendly Brixton locals, although there are reports of an increasingly heavy vibe.

A curious Scottish-themed rebranding in 2007⁴³ saw the former George Canning being renamed as Hootananny, but thankfully they soon abandoned the full on Caledonian music policy, and the venue now thrives as a hugely popular live music venue, with a strong reggae lilt.

THE JUNCTION

Loughborough Junc/Coldharbour Lane SW9
Currently closed.

One of many Loughborough Junction pubs to bite the dust⁴⁴, the former Warrrior pub is now a Tesco. It s a shame too, as it was a bloody good boozer.

*** THE LANDOR

70, Landor Rd, SW9 9PH
Situated on Landor road over the railway from the Duke of Edinburgh on the cusp of Cla am.

This is one of the last unfussy pubs around, despite a curious refurbishment which stuck boats and similar daft trinkets on the ceiling. There s a big beer garden, plenty of pool tables and even a theatre upstairs. It s a great place for a relaxing drink with a friendly crowd.

Still up and running.

Huzzah!

**** LIVING

443 Coldharbour La, SW9
(Formerly The Living Room) Starting life as a timewarp old fogies pub called The Coach and Horses before being yuppified into the IsoBar in 1999, the Living Room comes as close to a New York bar as Brixton can get. Go there on a good night and you can have an excellent time, enjoying the quirky DJs, reasonable beer and laid back vibe. Go there on a (increasingly more common) bad night and expect to put up with masses of security, big queues, heaving crowds, hurling punters, loud cheesy music and even a couples only policy and the prospect of admission charges.

Open till 2am every night (free), weekends open till 4am free b4 10pm / 5 after.

After a curious spell around 2009 when the place was turned into a butchers and fishmongers⁴⁵ (with hairdressing space above), it was successfully rebranded as Market House, and now features DJ nights packing in the punters over the weekend.

**** MASS CLUB

St Matthews Church, Brixton Hill, SW9 Pic: Alabama 3 at Mass, Dec 2000
Situated above the Bug bar, Mass is a sizeable venue with a good reputation for their hard house nights on the weekend. A converted church, its dark and dingy interior plays host to some of the best nights in London, although the two rooms can get a bit rammed.

Closed in 2012 in a blaze of debt⁴⁶.

** MUCKY DUCK

201 Coldharbour La, SW9
With unquestionably the worst pub name in Brixton, the (ahem) Duck is an old fashioned, no-nonsense pub. There s a very mixed crowd inside, of all ages, with some good ska/reggae/house DJs occasionally playing out (Open till 1am weekends).

Free admission.

Originally known as The Crown, the pub closed in 2002 and was then briefly squatted⁴⁷ before turning into a Co-op supermarket in 2014⁴⁸.

The PLUG

90 Stockwell Rd, SW9 9JQ
Currently closed.

Once an important part of the London jazz scene⁴⁹, the Plough was unsuccessfully rebranded as The Plug⁵⁰, with the owners hoping to capitalise on the popularity of nearby club bars like the Dogstar. Despite on-trend DJs being installed, the old locals refused to budge and the bright new things never showed up. The pub never reopened and incredibly it s still empty today⁵¹.

***** PRINCE ALBERT

418 Coldharbour La, SW9
Unquestionably, the finest pub in Brixton!

Attracting a mixed and very friendly crowd, the Albert enjoys a fierce loyalty from its patrons who enjoy the cheap beer, extremely eclectic music selection and the firm but fair rule of its legendary landlady, Pat. Located next door to the 414 Club, this is the best place for a pre-club drink or just a pub night out. We recommend it.

Any night! Every night!

Sadly, Pat died in 2006, but the Albert lives on and manages to retain some of the independent spirit of its glory years (although the eviction of a large chunk of its regulars took away something of its once indomitable community vibe)

*** PRINCE OF WALES

469, Coldharbour Lane, SW9
Another pub to get the glossy makeover treatment now resplendent in a fetching Mediterranean colour scheme the POW has never had quite enough character to make it an urban75 essential stop-off, despite its late weekend opening hours (1am). Plus points are that it s free and some of the DJs aren t too bad, but this is offset by beery non-locals getting tanked up en route to the Fridge, or some of the bar staff who get extremely rude come 1am.

Surviving a slew of rebrands, the Prince is now also known as PoW and offers a ground floor bar, first floor club venue and roof terrace.

Their Thursday night jazz nights⁵² are great.

** THE QUEEN

45 Bellefields Road SW9 9UH
Ever wondered where all the hard-core, dribbling alcoholics disappeared to after Brady s closed? Look no further! With ne er a frill in sight, this is a heads down, no nonsense, mindless drinking boozer for those with unquenchable thirsts.

This fine old bar bit the dust in 2006 and has since been demolished and replaced by private housing.

See photo feature⁵³.

**** RITZY CRUSH BAR

1 Brixton Oval, SW2
This downstairs bar serves up a reasonable selection of beers for cinema goers, but the split level upstairs bar is the place to go with good beer, food and coffee. There s often a DJ playing chilled tunes with the occasional late club night. Best of all, you can play table football there!

The table football has long been hoofed out, but the venue thrives, with the now renamed Upstairs At The Ritzy putting on regular live shows.

*** SUBSTATION SOUTH

9 Brighton Terrace
Gay/mixed bar with friendly crowd and DJs playing soulful deep house and garage.

This wild Brixton institution closed in the early-mid 2000s

**** SW9 Bar

Dorrel Pl, opp Brixton tube
Once a firm favourite with the urban75 drinking crew, it s lost some of its appeal after the recent swanky refurbishment, change of staff and reduced opening hours.

It s still a good place for a chilled out drink though. (Open 11pm weeks, midnight weekends)

Still open and pretty much unchanged over the years

**** THE TELEGRAPH

Telegraph, early 2003

228, Brixton Hill, SW2 Pic: urban75 party at the Telegraph, 2001]
Situated miles up Brixton Hill, this pub looks like it was last decorated back in 1970 and although the main bar is absolutely ghastly, you can get some good nights in the surprisingly club-like back room.

Closed for good⁵⁵ around 2010 after noise battles with neighbours⁵⁶. Now an Islamic centre.

****TONGUE AND GROOVE

Atlantic Rd, SW9 Pic: view from the sofa, 2002
Very stylish, friendly, laid back cocktail bar with an unusual soft porn theme. Stretching all the way to the back of the bar is comfy, soft leather seating with a big leather bed by the door: great fun to slump all over after a few beers!

It s only going to be open house for a short while before it moves to a membership only club, so get there quick! Bloody expensive beers though.

The bar is no longer with us, being replaced by a pawn shop which has since closed.

*** TRINITY

45 Trinity Sq, SW9
Nice friendly pub in a very pleasant square with a new beer garden. Can get a bit rugby shirt at times, though.

Still open and still serving ale and now with its own secret garden⁵⁷.

**** WHITE HORSE

94 Brixton Hill, SW2
Great bar with DJs throughout the week playing a wide mix from d n b, techno, house and jazz with the occasional late licence.

Also sports screen and tapas. The bar is due for a much-delayed rename/refit at the end of Sept 2001.

Now a popular late night club/bar.

***** WINDMILL

22, Blenheim Gardens, Brixton Hill, SW2 5BZ Pic: Vic Lambrusco at the Windmill, 2001
Serving reasonably priced pints, this no-nonsense pub has a very lively atmosphere. One of the last of the true Brixton watering holes, it hosts a variety of sounds on different nights, with the DJ policy being, come and have a go if you think you re hard enough .

Nights are advertised with alarming restraint on Brixton Hill. Recommended!

Happily still with us and still an essential part of Brixton s live music scene.

*** Z BAR

30 Acre Lane, SW2
Small and friendly bar on Acre Lane serving up cocktails, music and food with a soul/r n b vibe. Open till midnight, 7 days a week.

Turned into the Fiesta bar and then the Veranda Bar which was closed in 2014 after a shooting on the premises⁵⁸.

The Barrio bar chain will shortly be opening up in the premises⁵⁹.

More:

View lost pub photo features on Brixton Buzz
Comprehensive lost pubs of Brixton listing and features⁶⁰⁶¹

See urban75 Brixton pub/club listings from 2007⁶²

Join in with the discussion! Add your memories and comments below or join the thread on urban75⁶³.

References

1. ^{^} Kaff (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
2. ^{^} Canterbury Arms (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
3. ^{^} Grosvenor (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
4. ^{^} Queen s Head (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
5. ^{^} eyebrow-raising millionaire property developers Lexadon (www.urban75.net)
6. ^{^} Brick Box art project (www.urban75.net)
7. ^{^} Mamma Dough pizzeria in September 2015 (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
8. ^{^} Mango Landin (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
9. ^{^} Feb 2015 (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
10. ^{^} inevitable luxury flats (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
11. ^{^} Closed around 2005 (www.urban75.net)
12. ^{^} See our review (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
13. ^{^} reopen the pub (www.urban75.org)
14. ^{^} flogged the building off to off shore developers (www.urban75.org)
15. ^{^} ranch of the Mexican themed chain Wahaca (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
16. ^{^} Beehive Place restaurant (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
17. ^{^} Gremio Brixton in March 2013 (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
18. ^{^} How Does It Feel To Be Loved (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
19. ^{^} Time Tunnel (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
20. ^{^} PROD (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
21. ^{^} Hat Parties (www.urban75.org)
22. ^{^} Victorian pub closed for good on the 5th September 2015 (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
23. ^{^} upmarket private flats (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
24. ^{^} now facing eviction (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
25. ^{^} The pub closed around 2007 (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
26. ^{^} Read more in our review (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
27. ^{^} Grade II listing (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
28. ^{^} Topcats at the Fridge (www.urban75.org)
29. ^{^} relaunched as the Electric Brixton (www.urban75.org)
30. ^{^} Brixton Fightback (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
31. ^{^} broke the news (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
32. ^{^} heard it first on Buzz (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
33. ^{^} The Goose (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
34. ^{^} Ivan s Retreat until Sept 2009 (www.urban75.net)
35. ^{^} closing for good in Feb 2011 (www.urban75.org)
36. ^{^} branch of TK Maxx (www.urban75.org)
37. ^{^} as an asset of community value (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
38. ^{^} closed in 2013 and is now a Tesco (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
39. ^{^} history feature here (www.urban75.org)
40. ^{^} Closed in 2013 (www.urban75.net)
41. ^{^} Lost Brixton pubs: Harmony Bar/Mingles/The George on Railton Road, Brixton (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
42. ^{^} Brixton life ten years ago: The Hamilton Arms, 128 Railton Road, SE24 (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
43. ^{^} Scottish-themed rebranding in 2007 (www.urban75.org)
44. ^{^} many Loughborough Junction pubs to bite the dust (www.urban75.org)
45. ^{^} when the place was turned into a butchers and fishmongers (www.urban75.org)
46. ^{^} blaze of debt (www.urban75.org)
47. ^{^} briefly squatted (www.urban75.org)
48. ^{^} Co-op supermarket in 2014 (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
49. ^{^} important part of the London jazz scene (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
50. ^{^} the Plough was unsuccessfully rebranded as The Plug (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
51. ^{^} empty today (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
52. ^{^} Thursday night jazz nights (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
53. ^{^} photo feature (www.urban75.org)
54. ^{^} urban75 party at the Telegraph, 2001 (www.urban75.org)
55. ^{^} Closed for good (www.urban75.net)
56. ^{^} noise battles with neighbours (www.urban75.net)
57. ^{^} secret garden (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
58. ^{^} closed in 2014 after a shooting on the premises (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
59. ^{^} shortly be opening up in the premises (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
60. ^{^} View lost pub photo features on Brixton Buzz (www.brixtonbuzz.com)
61. ^{^} Comprehensive lost pubs of Brixton listing and features (www.urban75.org)
62. ^{^} See urban75 Brixton pub/club listings from 2007 (urban75.org.uk)
63. ^{^} join the thread on urban75 (www.urban75.net)

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