Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Brixton, London, United Kingdom

Lounge Coffee Bar - Great backstreet find by Natnat

Natnat — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:34:54 +0000

Review by Natnat

Rating: 4.00

Tags: relaxed, cool & smart, friendly

This is the perfect place to sit with a newspaper for an hour or two if you're by yourself, against a backdrop of chilled out music, or for a laid back chat with a group of friends. It's slightly tucked away, and so ideal for getting away from the hustle and bustle of Brixton without having to head too far. They offer a good range of both coffees and hot drinks, as well as alcoholic drinks, and the food ranges from lite bites such as pitta and dips, to fry-ups. The only downside is - unless this has changed recently (please correct me if I'm wrong) - this place isn't open on a Sunday, as the place really lends itself to a Sunday afternoon.This is the perfect place to sit with a newspaper for an hour or two if you're by yourself, against a backdrop of chilled out music, or for a laid back chat with a group of friends. It's slightly tucked away, and so ideal for getting away from the hustle and bustle of Brixton without having to head too far. They offer a good range of both coffees and hot drinks, as well as alcoholic drinks, and the food ranges from lite bites such as pitta and dips, to fry-ups. The only downside is - unless this has changed recently (please correct me if I'm wrong) - this place isn't open on a Sunday, as the place really lends itself to a Sunday afternoon.

The Cambria - robo by robbo

robbo — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:19:14 +0000

Review by robbo

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7737 3676

Tags: gastro pub, jazz, live music

What a great place...jazz night last monday was the best yet, the band was on fire, Roberto on the sax is briliant, and as for the singer, words can not do her justice, she's back on monday i've been told and i for one can not wait..

dinner and chill, what a great way to start the week.What a great place...jazz night last monday was the best yet, the band was on fire, Roberto on the sax is briliant, and as for the singer, words can not do her justice, she's back on monday i've been told and i for one can not wait..

dinner and chill, what a great way to start the week.

The Swan - Eat & Run! by VickieMac

VickieMac — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:27:01 +0000

Review by VickieMac

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7978 9778

Website: http://www.theswanstockwell.com

Tags: live music, friendly, students

I met a boy at this bar. Yep, you heard right. I met a real live boy! (I'll pause while you lean in closer to the screen.)

Actually, I met an enormous (6 ft 4, 300lb) beast of a man that was hungry for a piece of me! (â¬¦and in more ways than one!) But donâ¬"t get too excited because although he seemed nice enough, sadly he wonâ¬"t be visiting my fair domicile anytime soon.

It all started when he snatched a camera out of my hand, kissed me and pushed me into the picture. This was a bit of a shock but I've come to learn that this is not entirely unusual behaviour for Swan boys. Then, he tried to buy me a drink (they didn't have what I wanted), then he tried to talk to me (he ripped my hair out trying to get to my ear because the music was so loud), and then he danced with me (this new fangled dance requiring little-to-no movement)to the cheesiest selection of sultry sounds I've heard in decades. But I figured thatâ¬"s okay, when I could hear what he was saying he wasnâ¬"t too bad. That was until he tried to eat me!

Seriously, right there in the middle of the not so packed dancefloor he tried to eat my face! I thought I was going to need a complete run of cosmetic surgery to repair the mangled state of my mouth. This guy made a full on midnight snack out of me! He literally chewed my lips and I'm pretty sure he took a chunk out of my shoulder. So, what happened next? I ran. Fast.

Perhaps it was my chocolate scented perfume that made a taste of yourâ¬"s truly seem so difficult to resist (or perhaps not). But whatever it was, as you can plainly see I'm hardly quick snack for anybody!

As I mentioned, I've come to realise this is a common occurance at the Swan as it's quite possibly one of London's largest meat markets. But if you enjoy falling prey to a very eclectic selection of patrons and grooving to the sweet sounds of the eighies and nineties then this is the place for you. Oh, and make sure you check out their Cheeky Vimtos. They're a treat!
I met a boy at this bar. Yep, you heard right. I met a real live boy! (I'll pause while you lean in closer to the screen.)

Actually, I met an enormous (6 ft 4, 300lb) beast of a man that was hungry for a piece of me! (â¬¦and in more ways than one!) But donâ¬"t get too excited because although he seemed nice enough, sadly he wonâ¬"t be visiting my fair domicile anytime soon.

It all started when he snatched a camera out of my hand, kissed me and pushed me into the picture. This was a bit of a shock but I've come to learn that this is not entirely unusual behaviour for Swan boys. Then, he tried to buy me a drink (they didn't have what I wanted), then he tried to talk to me (he ripped my hair out trying to get to my ear because the music was so loud), and then he danced with me (this new fangled dance requiring little-to-no movement)to the cheesiest selection of sultry sounds I've heard in decades. But I figured thatâ¬"s okay, when I could hear what he was saying he wasnâ¬"t too bad. That was until he tried to eat me!

Seriously, right there in the middle of the not so packed dancefloor he tried to eat my face! I thought I was going to need a complete run of cosmetic surgery to repair the mangled state of my mouth. This guy made a full on midnight snack out of me! He literally chewed my lips and I'm pretty sure he took a chunk out of my shoulder. So, what happened next? I ran. Fast.

Perhaps it was my chocolate scented perfume that made a taste of yourâ¬"s truly seem so difficult to resist (or perhaps not). But whatever it was, as you can plainly see I'm hardly quick snack for anybody!

As I mentioned, I've come to realise this is a common occurance at the Swan as it's quite possibly one of London's largest meat markets. But if you enjoy falling prey to a very eclectic selection of patrons and grooving to the sweet sounds of the eighies and nineties then this is the place for you. Oh, and make sure you check out their Cheeky Vimtos. They're a treat!

The Prince Regent - Regal by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:19:48 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7274 1567

Tags: relaxed, young professionals, friendly

I'm not in the habit of trawling the unlikely South Western suburbs of London for a good meal, but fortunately on this occasion I had someone else to do the research for me. There are few things more valuable than a recommendation from a foodie friend, and so off we trotted on a warm spring evening to the Prince Regent, a tastefully renovated space on the Dulwich Road which I'm told used to be the grottiest of old-man boozers but now was all light and space, solid pine furniture and cut-glass interiors.

The daily menu was scribbled charmingly (and mildly illiterately) on a couple of blackboards on a wall of the restaurant. There was no printed version, so throughout the evening groups of diners huddled around the handwritten menu like anxious students checking exam results. I was immediately interested in the homemade soda bread, but unfortunately the accompanying oysters would have probably sent me straight to hospital so instead I plumped for the smoked eel salad.

A bit of a curate's egg of a dish, the eel itself was gorgeous, delicately smoked, firm but moist. However the sauce was unpleasantly fizzy and although I'm sure this was just a side-effect of mixing mayonnaise with horseradish rather than it being off, it was quite disconcerting. A couple of slices of lovely crispy bacon on top did wonders to make amends though.

Main course of lamb rump and ratatouille was an assuredly accomplished bit of cooking. Other than the lamb being rather messily butchered, I could hardly fault this dish. Dauphinoise potatoes were rich and seasoned to perfection, the ratatouille was a satisfyingly straightforward but nonetheless tasty addition, and the lamb itself was as pink and juicy as you could want.

And so, another very deserving London neighbourhood gains a thoroughly respectable new gastropub. Well worth the trip to the outer boundary of Zone 2, the Prince Regent lives up to its name as a regal and dignified establishment.I'm not in the habit of trawling the unlikely South Western suburbs of London for a good meal, but fortunately on this occasion I had someone else to do the research for me. There are few things more valuable than a recommendation from a foodie friend, and so off we trotted on a warm spring evening to the Prince Regent, a tastefully renovated space on the Dulwich Road which I'm told used to be the grottiest of old-man boozers but now was all light and space, solid pine furniture and cut-glass interiors.

The daily menu was scribbled charmingly (and mildly illiterately) on a couple of blackboards on a wall of the restaurant. There was no printed version, so throughout the evening groups of diners huddled around the handwritten menu like anxious students checking exam results. I was immediately interested in the homemade soda bread, but unfortunately the accompanying oysters would have probably sent me straight to hospital so instead I plumped for the smoked eel salad.

A bit of a curate's egg of a dish, the eel itself was gorgeous, delicately smoked, firm but moist. However the sauce was unpleasantly fizzy and although I'm sure this was just a side-effect of mixing mayonnaise with horseradish rather than it being off, it was quite disconcerting. A couple of slices of lovely crispy bacon on top did wonders to make amends though.

Main course of lamb rump and ratatouille was an assuredly accomplished bit of cooking. Other than the lamb being rather messily butchered, I could hardly fault this dish. Dauphinoise potatoes were rich and seasoned to perfection, the ratatouille was a satisfyingly straightforward but nonetheless tasty addition, and the lamb itself was as pink and juicy as you could want.

And so, another very deserving London neighbourhood gains a thoroughly respectable new gastropub. Well worth the trip to the outer boundary of Zone 2, the Prince Regent lives up to its name as a regal and dignified establishment.

Hope & Anchor - Best place for a lazy sunny afternoon by jon_bedford

jon_bedford — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:04:58 +0000

Review by jon_bedford

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7274 1787

Website: http://www.youngs.co.uk

Tags: cool, food, relaxed

Well, since it is my local, I can only say nice things about the "Hope".

Mainly around the fact that it has the best beer garden in London, which you would never know from the outside - its many features include a nice big stone circle table-thing with a small fountain in the middle (possibly). Such a nice place to chill out on a sunny afternoon - and they often have an outside DJ playing some *funky house* or equally inoffensive tunes to make the ambience.

Oh, and it has a tree house. Yes, a house made of tree. Although I have yet to be there in time to actually sit in the tree house...

Suffice to say that the inside is ok, like a normal pub. But you get extra points for the tree house, and the fact that they have a late bar called myth upstairs. Which is, er, not bad (depending on the night you go).

Whoops, forgot to mention the food - it's very, very nice, but quite pricey.Well, since it is my local, I can only say nice things about the "Hope".

Mainly around the fact that it has the best beer garden in London, which you would never know from the outside - its many features include a nice big stone circle table-thing with a small fountain in the middle (possibly). Such a nice place to chill out on a sunny afternoon - and they often have an outside DJ playing some *funky house* or equally inoffensive tunes to make the ambience.

Oh, and it has a tree house. Yes, a house made of tree. Although I have yet to be there in time to actually sit in the tree house...

Suffice to say that the inside is ok, like a normal pub. But you get extra points for the tree house, and the fact that they have a late bar called myth upstairs. Which is, er, not bad (depending on the night you go).

Whoops, forgot to mention the food - it's very, very nice, but quite pricey.

The Windmill Pub - Great venue for small gigs by lenalouise

lenalouise — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:37:35 +0000

Review by lenalouise

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8671 0700

Website: http://www.windmillbrixton.co.uk

Tags: food, gigs, pub

An intimately sized pub with at least 3 different bands on every day of the week. It's sort of hidden away just off brixton hill and I was a bit surprised when I found it. Many now famous bands have played a gig there when they were trying to make it so the quality of music is generally great. There's a huge list on their website:

http://www.windmillbrixton.co.uk/main.php

They also list all the upcoming bands and the prices. Usually it's Â£5 or less which is about right I think. An intimately sized pub with at least 3 different bands on every day of the week. It's sort of hidden away just off brixton hill and I was a bit surprised when I found it. Many now famous bands have played a gig there when they were trying to make it so the quality of music is generally great. There's a huge list on their website:

http://www.windmillbrixton.co.uk/main.php

They also list all the upcoming bands and the prices. Usually it's Â£5 or less which is about right I think.

Plan B - IF you want to party south of the river... by QueenB

QueenB — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:29:04 +0000

Review by QueenB

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7733 0926

Website: http://www.plan-brixton.co.uk

Tags: live music, dance, cool

I love this place!

I've never had a bad night in this place and I've been going here for years.
Friday nights is Fidget for hiphop/street soul/funk with a more trendy, urban feeling crowd.
Saturday is for House and disco with a slightly euro' styled crowd.
Sunday has a different night each week but I love the soul night with guest PA's like Shaun Escoffery recently.
They are normally the host for most of the Brixton academy after parties too which is fun!

Now, they have two floors!! As they have a new basement room which is just as good and gives more room to have wiggle. Staff are lovely, drinks are good and they have 2 for 1 deals if you get in there early - straight from work crowd, your time!!!

If you want to have a giggle, dance, meet mixed crowd of happy Londoners - they do exist I promise - then Plan B is your place
I love this place!

I've never had a bad night in this place and I've been going here for years.
Friday nights is Fidget for hiphop/street soul/funk with a more trendy, urban feeling crowd.
Saturday is for House and disco with a slightly euro' styled crowd.
Sunday has a different night each week but I love the soul night with guest PA's like Shaun Escoffery recently.
They are normally the host for most of the Brixton academy after parties too which is fun!

Now, they have two floors!! As they have a new basement room which is just as good and gives more room to have wiggle. Staff are lovely, drinks are good and they have 2 for 1 deals if you get in there early - straight from work crowd, your time!!!

If you want to have a giggle, dance, meet mixed crowd of happy Londoners - they do exist I promise - then Plan B is your place

Sun & Doves - Probably the best pub in the world...... by genfink

genfink — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:57:59 +0000

Review by genfink

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7924 9950

Website: http://www.sunanddoves.co.uk

Tags: lively, good value, gastro pub

I may be a bit biased with this as the S&D is kind of my local, however many reviews from friends visiting from outside the area lay weight to my claim that this is definitely one of the best pubs around.
We recently attended the Halloween pub quiz, which was great fun. The food was very nice though in the past the service has been a bit hit and miss. We went for fairly basic fayre, nachos and some bowls of chips but they were very tasty!
The quiz was great fun and seems to happen weekly rather than monthly as indicated above. I haven't had the chance to attend the film nights as yet but certainly plan to in the future.
Also, San Miguel on tap, bonus!I may be a bit biased with this as the S&D is kind of my local, however many reviews from friends visiting from outside the area lay weight to my claim that this is definitely one of the best pubs around.
We recently attended the Halloween pub quiz, which was great fun. The food was very nice though in the past the service has been a bit hit and miss. We went for fairly basic fayre, nachos and some bowls of chips but they were very tasty!
The quiz was great fun and seems to happen weekly rather than monthly as indicated above. I haven't had the chance to attend the film nights as yet but certainly plan to in the future.
Also, San Miguel on tap, bonus!

Upstairs - A hidden gem by barcar

barcar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:56:08 +0000

Review by barcar

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7733 8855

Tags: romantic, cool, relaxed

The French team who brought Acre Lane the delightful Opus café downstairs have converted the upper floors into a small bar and restaurant.

The menu is top quality European fare and the wine list is excellent.

The ambience is great too - the tables at the front have a clear view to Westminster Cathedral (it's not Big Ben).

Don't the the location confuse you - this is a great fine dining experience but not fusty or over fussy.

By the way, the entrance is on Branksome Road, not on Acre Lane - just to confuse you.The French team who brought Acre Lane the delightful Opus café downstairs have converted the upper floors into a small bar and restaurant.

The menu is top quality European fare and the wine list is excellent.

The ambience is great too - the tables at the front have a clear view to Westminster Cathedral (it's not Big Ben).

Don't the the location confuse you - this is a great fine dining experience but not fusty or over fussy.

By the way, the entrance is on Branksome Road, not on Acre Lane - just to confuse you.

Backstage - by flashboy

flashboy — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:17:01 +0000

Review by flashboy

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7733 3111

Tags: meeting point, loud, cocktails

Staggeringly dreadful scuzzhole, the only attraction of which seems to be that it's right next to Brixton Academy, so they get lots of trade from poor saps meeting up before a gig. Weirdly distorted music so loud you can barely make yourself heard even if you scream in your friends' ears. It looks horrible, there's hardly any seats, and an ugly, aggressive atmosphere oozes out of the place. Nothing redeems it. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.Staggeringly dreadful scuzzhole, the only attraction of which seems to be that it's right next to Brixton Academy, so they get lots of trade from poor saps meeting up before a gig. Weirdly distorted music so loud you can barely make yourself heard even if you scream in your friends' ears. It looks horrible, there's hardly any seats, and an ugly, aggressive atmosphere oozes out of the place. Nothing redeems it. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

The Effra Hall Tavern - The Effra Hall Tavern by x3dre

x3dre — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:00:43 +0000

Review by x3dre

Rating: 4.00

Tags: live music, traditional pub, beer garden

I visited there lastnight 1st April 2007.

There was a band made up of people just jamming away, were very good and lively ...

Very much a place I would recommend, as the crowd are relaxed and easy going. The place has an easy going vibe.

It's really hidden away in the back streets of Brixton in a residential street. So you have to really find this little gem of originality.

x3dre :)

I visited there lastnight 1st April 2007.

There was a band made up of people just jamming away, were very good and lively ...

Very much a place I would recommend, as the crowd are relaxed and easy going. The place has an easy going vibe.

It's really hidden away in the back streets of Brixton in a residential street. So you have to really find this little gem of originality.

x3dre :)

The Circle - Circular by Buraco

Buraco — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 00:15:33 +0000

Review by Buraco

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7622 3683

Tags: bar, stockwell, clapham

There was a time in the fairly recent past when I found myself in this bar rather a lot. You see, we were newly freed from the horrors of living in Beckton and rather enjoyed frequenting a 'local pub' that was within walking distance and offered good beer, nice grub and all the footy you wanted. Things change though. We got Sky so stopped going for the footy. The Cirle was bought by a lottery winner, re-jigged and made a bit fancier. A French chef was aquired to up the classiness of the nosh. Different it certainly was, but I was never sure about better. Then it was sold again and a new funky-London crew of dudes got hold of it. Several paint jobs and changes of furniture later, it seems to be settling on its identity, which is really just a run-of-the-mill bar/pub that offers over-priced, but tastier than average dishes, shows all the sport thats on and has DJs/live acts at weekends. The music policy is decent, but it can get rammed. They also have a nice garden and a function room, which I have used and is really good for a moderate gathering. Its worth a look if you're in the area and can't be arsed with all the wanky pubs on Clapham High Street, though be warned that its probably gonna be full of the usual Clapham wankers as they seem to be trying to take over Stockwell with young professional housing now as well. Whatever next?There was a time in the fairly recent past when I found myself in this bar rather a lot. You see, we were newly freed from the horrors of living in Beckton and rather enjoyed frequenting a 'local pub' that was within walking distance and offered good beer, nice grub and all the footy you wanted. Things change though. We got Sky so stopped going for the footy. The Cirle was bought by a lottery winner, re-jigged and made a bit fancier. A French chef was aquired to up the classiness of the nosh. Different it certainly was, but I was never sure about better. Then it was sold again and a new funky-London crew of dudes got hold of it. Several paint jobs and changes of furniture later, it seems to be settling on its identity, which is really just a run-of-the-mill bar/pub that offers over-priced, but tastier than average dishes, shows all the sport thats on and has DJs/live acts at weekends. The music policy is decent, but it can get rammed. They also have a nice garden and a function room, which I have used and is really good for a moderate gathering. Its worth a look if you're in the area and can't be arsed with all the wanky pubs on Clapham High Street, though be warned that its probably gonna be full of the usual Clapham wankers as they seem to be trying to take over Stockwell with young professional housing now as well. Whatever next?