Brixton Bar and Club Guide

Brixton:pubs/bars

** The ANGEL
354 Coldharbour Lane
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. Tel: 0207274 3653

*** BABUSHKA
40 St Matthews Road,SW9
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. web: www.babushkabars.co.uk, tel: 020 7727 9250

*** 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. Tel: 020 7737 4797
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* 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. Tel: 020 7738 3643

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!

**** 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. www.brixtonian.co.uk, tel: 020 7924 9262

**** 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) www.bugbar.co.uk, [email protected], tel:020 7738 3184

** 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.
Tel: 020 7274 1711
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**** 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. www.dogstarbar.co.uk, tel: 020 7733 7515

**** DUKE OF EDINBURGH
204, Ferndale Rd, SW9 8AG
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. Tel: 020 7924 0509

***** THE EFFRA
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.

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.
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*** 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. Tel: 020 7326 5100

**** GEORGE V
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. [email protected]

*** 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 riot) 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!
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** HAMILTON ARMS
Railton Rd, SE24
Traditional estate boozer with basic food and Sky TV.

**** 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).Tel:020 7274 1787

**** 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. www.hobgoblins.co.uk/brixton.htm, tel: 020 7501 9671
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THE JUNCTION
Loughborough Junc/Coldharbour Lane SW9
Currently closed.

*** 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. www.thelandor.com, tel: 020 7274 4386

**** 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. www.livingroombar.co.uk, [email protected], tel: 020 7326 4040

** 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.

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