New bar in Brockley

[frestonia]

.

[Belushi]

Never went in the Alpha Club, it didnt look too welcoming from the outside...

Haven't been in Brockley for a couple of years, good neighbourhood but it needs a few more decent places to go for a drink.

[polo]

Been there. The new place is called Jam Circus, which is a pretty naff name in my opinion.

It clearly had a lot of money spent on it to tranform it from the Alpha Club. The front of the building has been openend up with folding windowed doors, so you see what is going on inside. It has a nice cocktail bar in the main room and wooden tables on a wooden floor. Two rooms at the rear, one of which is seems to have the style of a sixties sitting room with coffee table, formica table, star shaped clock and patterned wallpaper. The lighting is low and it seems quite a nice style. Lots of space and little corners and tables for people to colonise, big enough for different groups to be out of each others way.

It looks very much an evening establishment, they have an expresso machine, but it looks like a bit of an afterthought. It is mainly a cocktail bar, but also has Leffe and White Beer on draught. The prices are average.

I expect it will take a while for it to settle down and find its market. Given that the immediate competition is Mr Lawrences, an an established wine bar and the Brockley Jack, which is pub for 'gentlemen what like to watch footie.' I would say, it doesn't have much competition.

I hear it has some connection with the East Dulwich tavern. I expect it will come into it own when all the late licensing extensions kick in around November.

[editor]

FYI: the bar is run by the former Dogstar manager and urban75 poster, 'Just Andrew'.

He did a fucking great job of turning the Dogstar around, successfully managing to remove the bad taste left by the Merritts and turning the boozer into a local, mixed and friendly venue again.

I've absolutely no idea why the owners decided to shunt him out of the Dogstar, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Dogstar's loss turns out to be Brockley's gain.

[Buds and Spawn]

If it does tea and cake I'll go... Never very good at going out close to home :rolleyes:

[just_andrew]

:p

FYI: the bar is run by the former Dogstar manager and urban75 poster, 'Just Andrew'.

He did a fucking great job of turning the Dogstar around, successfully managing to remove the bad taste left by the Merritts and turning the boozer into a local, mixed and friendly venue again.

I've absolutely no idea why the owners decided to shunt him out of the Dogstar, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Dogstar's loss turns out to be Brockley's gain.

[polo]

I would be very interested in knowing what sort of nosh they will be serving up once the kitchen gets going also whether they plan to have live music or a DJ. What is the master plan? :)

[piratetv]

I went for a drink on my birthday last weekend and it was fun......crowd seemed friendly and animated and the non alcoholic fruit cocktails are the best i ever tasted :)
Looking forward to a daytime visit to sample the food.

Check out the decor in the bathrooms too !

Sad for the Dogstar........................Lucky old Brockley

[ddraig]

fair play!
that area needs something decent, lived down the road in honor oak off brokley rise for a while and wondered about the alpha club
good luck with it :)

[William of Walworth]

Does it pass the proper beer test?? </curmudgeon>

All this talk of 'bar' and 'cocktail' suggests maybe not .... :(

[StuPC]

fair play!
that area needs something decent, lived down the road in honor oak off brokley rise for a while and wondered about the alpha club
good luck with it :)

Yeah, the Alpha Club always looked a bit sinister - and there was always that nagging connection at the back of my mind with the mind-washing Alpha Course. New place is definitely worth a look...

[Buds and Spawn]

But why 'Jam Circus'? :confused:

[Zoë Herself]

Because you get to throw jam at clowns, perhaps? :confused:

Cool, that's just down the road from me, will check it out when I'm back home in two weeks :)

[wonko the sane]

what is the obession with fucking Jam!? Theres a Jamm in Shoredirtch, ex-Bar Lorca in Brixton which is also called Jam (but a different Jam, than Jamm in shoreditch i think?) and now this place!

Anyone ever been to Mr Lawrences? Cant quite figure it out from the outside on my wander past...

Will be interesting to see how the Jam Circus afects the Crofton Park bit of Brockley...

[StuPC]

Will be interesting to see how the Jam Circus afects the Crofton Park bit of Brockley...

One thing's for sure...we're all going to be a lot stickier...
(with apologies to Han Solo)

[frestonia]

.

[wonko the sane]

What kind of crowd does it attract? It has always looked just a bit out of place.... ;)

[ddraig]

Mr lawrence is ok, been in there once ages ago
not into wine or posh nosh so just sat there with some mates

it's quite small so not sure if it could attract a 'crowd' like

[polo]

Mr Lawrences'? Been there loads of times. A wine bar frequented by professional types. There is also a back room with leather sofas and comfy chairs and a garden, which is a new addtion to the place. It has been around years and is well established. It has a slightly crusty feel of a gentlemans club - old fashioned maps on the wall, bit smokey. The clientelle tend to be people relaxing after work in couples or groups, sometimes in suits (but they might be Estate Agents.)

They serve a range of bottled beers for the non wine drinkers. But the best thing about it is the food. I have never had a bad meal there and it is very good quiality, certainly up to restaurant standard. Generally you give a name and run a tab. You pay for everything at the small bar and change comes on a little tin tray inviting you leave a tip (I hate that.) The couple who run Mr Lawrences' also own the offy next door. It is well worth a visit. I go there mainly for the food, but the wine list is good, or so I understand.

The Jam Circus will probably take some of its trade but it is quite a different style and will probably attract younger customers, especially with a name like that. It might encourage more people to socialise locally and provide a another social focus, something many parts of London could do with. :)

[frestonia]

.

[William of Walworth]

Does it pass the proper beer test?? </curmudgeon>

All this talk of 'bar' and 'cocktail' suggests maybe not .... :(

Thank you everyone for ignoring my question --- I'm grateful, because in doing so, you've answered it ;) :D :p

[piratetv]

Budwar on draught also Offshore reckoned the Leffe was really good....
oh and that white beer as well :)

[wonko the sane]

Cheers for the answers peeps!

See some of you down there maybe in the coming months ;)

[Zoë Herself]

Fantastic decor :D :cool:

[Streathamite]

as an ex-ladywellite this place is numero uno on the list when I return from exile, to mah spiritual saafeast laaahndahn homeland!

[butterfly child]

I'm going to Brockley for a job interview tomorrow, may have to hunt it down after and indulge in a few :)

[William of Walworth]

Budwar on draught also Offshore reckoned the Leffe was really good....
oh and that white beer as well :)

Cheers -- that sounds OK, more than OK.

Any English ale on draught??

:)

[William of Walworth]

as an ex-ladywellite this place is numero uno on the list when I return from exile, to mah spiritual saafeast laaahndahn homeland!

If I can't make it there soon, maybe you can do a bit o' reseach for me Jezza, cheers :)

[Streathamite]

sounds a good idea! ;)