has brixton 'lost it'?

[fuzzy felt]

i don't think it helps that i've been reading lots of martin millar lately.

i'm getting old and nostalgic and a bit melancholy i think.

jesus i need to go dancing!!!

 

[Crispy]

And why has Brady's been shut down for so long? How comes no-one has bought it?

It's council owned, and although there are several interested paries (see dedicated thread for details), Lambeth seem reluctant to let it go. Probably because it's a prime bit of real estate that sits exactly where you'd want to build a high-level railway station for the Overground when it comes through.

 

[Brainaddict]

Yep, I'm not a gig person, I like to dance to modern electronic popular music of a certain kinds that's not catered for in Brixton very often

You crazy young things


I've never been to the Fridge, but I have to say, by the look of the crowds outside, it must be absolute pants. You don't like what's on offer at Plan B or Mass I guess. I suspect part of the problem here is that you like very particular kinds of electronic popular music.

 

[editor]

Are there any pics of the insides of those places, editor? It's hard to get a feel of what they were like

If you were going to those places you'd be too off your face to take any pictures. Well, I certainly was.

 

[newbie]

I find this all a little encouraging

I don't think that the rather narrow popularity of the destination Brixton night economy has had a particularly positive effect on the area, and won't mourn if it's losing its shine.

 

[fuzzy felt]

i remember being in brady's once where all the TV screens were showing an incredibly hardcore gay porn film showing a bit of three-way action!

was slightly disturbing as the (male) friend i was there with started to get a bit turned on by it, and started trying to grope my arse!

happy days!

 

[cockneyrebel]

It's council owned, and although there are several interested paries (see dedicated thread for details), Lambeth seem reluctant to let it go. Probably because it's a prime bit of real estate that sits exactly where you'd want to build a high-level railway station for the Overground when it comes through.

I tell you what it's criminal how many buildings Lambeth still lets go to rot. Actually will set up another thread.

 

[fuzzy felt]

I find this all a little encouraging

I don't think that the rather narrow popularity of the destination Brixton night economy has had a particularly positive effect on the area, and won't mourn if it's losing its shine.

i think i was more miffed that the last three times i've been in the albert it's just felt really dead and lacking in atmosphere. maybe i just caught it on a couple of duff nights!

 

[twistedAM]

i remember being in brady's once where all the TV screens were showing an incredibly hardcore gay porn film showing a bit of three-way action!

was slightly disturbing as the (male) friend i was there with started to get a bit turned on by it, and started trying to grope my arse!

happy days!

and the band playing that night were The 5678s...Tarantino would have been proud

i remember there were pool balls involved in that video with a guy shitting out an 8-ball

 

[newbie]

i think i was more miffed that the last three times i've been in the albert it's just felt really dead and lacking in atmosphere. maybe i just caught it on a couple of duff nights!

dunno guv, you're asking the wrong person

 

[Yossarian]

I find this all a little encouraging

I don't think that the rather narrow popularity of the destination Brixton night economy has had a particularly positive effect on the area, and won't mourn if it's losing its shine.

Do you think Brady's was behind the rise of Brixton's night economy?

 

[editor]

i think i was more miffed that the last three times i've been in the albert it's just felt really dead and lacking in atmosphere. maybe i just caught it on a couple of duff nights!

There's certainly been some duff nights there, but when it's good it's one of the best pubs in the land, IMO.

 

[Crispy]

i think i was more miffed that the last three times i've been in the albert it's just felt really dead and lacking in atmosphere. maybe i just caught it on a couple of duff nights!

Nah, I agree with you. Since Pat (not old pat, new pat) left as landlord, it's been a different place, IMO. Especially the music, as new landlord should know (nearly got chucked out for reaching over the bar and turning it down)

 

[London_Calling]

And you're all 10 years older, remember.

The old days, eh. Should have seen this place then . . . .

 

[newbie]

Do you think Brady's was behind the rise of Brixton's night economy?

not particularly. I wouldn't really profess to know.

 

[Brainaddict]

Yep, I walked into the Albert a few weeks back thing to have a swift half before bed and the music was so awful I walked right out again. Eighties pop music and r'n'b are not acceptable

ETA: before the new landlord came in I can't remember walking into the Albert and thinking 'This music is shit' - even though you would hear quite a variety of stuff. Now it has happened several times in the last couple of months

 

[rennie]

i think i was more miffed that the last three times i've been in the albert it's just felt really dead and lacking in atmosphere. maybe i just caught it on a couple of duff nights!

I've felt the same the las two times I went there, a good few weeks ago.

 

[Orang Utan]

There's certainly been some duff nights there, but when it's good it's one of the best pubs in the land, IMO.

I find your love of The Albert unaccountable - I think you may be viewing it through a nostalgic rosy haze as it really is a pretty mediocre pub

 

[Cowley]

And Streatham's positively electric with great bars, pubs, squat parties, activist centres etc etc, eh?

Ed,

It's all DIY in St.Reatham, nobody goes out.

 

[innit]

I find your love of The Albert unaccountable - I think you may be viewing it through a nostalgic rosy haze as it really is a pretty mediocre pub

It has got worse over the last 5 years - it was ok until a couple of years ago. I think editor is just excessively loyal!

 

[gabi]

the alberts still the best pub in brixton by a distance, however sadly theres not really much competition...

i like the new landlord anyway. different style to pat, but hes a good lad. i still expect pat to pull a keegan shortly tho and return.

 

[editor]

I find your love of The Albert unaccountable - I think you may be viewing it through a nostalgic rosy haze as it really is a pretty mediocre pub

I go there because I know and like the people there. I still meet interesting new people there on a regular basis. There's no bouncers on the door. It doesn't feel like a corporate pub. The opening hours are often late. It's got a loyal clientele. Yups don't like it. It's cheap. The music policy isn't mainstream (but it can be shit sometimes). It's not a bland chain pub. It's a fairly mixed crowd. And it's definitely a lively crowd.

But seeing as al that adds up to a 'mediocre pub' in your eyes, perhaps you could give some examples of fantastic pubs, and explain their virtues?

 

[innit]

You see that to me ^^ sounds like the Effra

The Albert has just slowly lost atmosphere over the years imo, I think your description would have been accurate not so long ago.

Or maybe I've just been really unlucky on the nights I've been there

 

[editor]

Do you think Brady's was behind the rise of Brixton's night economy?

Brixton's always had a night economy - back in Victorian times it was a major entertainment destination.

 

[Orang Utan]

I go there because I know and like the people there. I still meet interesting new people there on a regular basis. There's no bouncers on the door. It doesn't feel like a corporate pub. The opening hours are often late. It's got a loyal clientele. Yups don't like it. It's cheap. The music policy isn't mainstream (but it can be shit sometimes). It's not a bland chain pub. It's a fairly mixed crowd. And it's definitely a lively crowd.

But seeing as al that adds up to a 'mediocre pub' in your eyes, perhaps you could give some examples of fantastic pubs, and explain their virtues?

I only find it fun on Offline nights cos there's lots of familiar faces.
I'm not sure there are any fantastic pubs in Brixton, though the Effra and the Elm Park at least feel like proper pubs. My favourite pub in London is The Montague Arms in New Cross, and there are some nice old boozers in Bethnal Green.

 

[innit]

The Approach is a good pub although some might class it as yup-friendly.

*wonders if is a yup*

 

[editor]

You see that to me ^^ sounds like the Effra

I think the Effra is a lovely pub, but it's quite different to the Albert. It's not open as late for starters, doesn't have such a high turnover of 'visitors' and the drinkers are much more mellow. Nowt wrong with any of that of course.

Or maybe I've just been really unlucky on the nights I've been there

I'll be the first to admit that there's been some well duff nights at the Albert in recent years, but when it's good, it's one of the best.

Me and Eme had a fantastic night there a week Friday ago: the place was really jumping and the music (Ray/Ms Feelgood) was fantastically eclectic. We both said at the time we couldn't think of any other pub where you'd get such a mix - and then we went on to see the Top Cats at Dex which was even better. It was better than any night out I've had in the West End/Camden/whatever .

 

[Brainaddict]

I only find it fun on Offline nights cos there's lots of familiar faces.
I'm not sure there are any fantastic pubs in Brixton, though the Effra and the Elm Park at least feel like proper pubs. My favourite pub in London is The Montague Arms in New Cross, and there are some nice old boozers in Bethnal Green.

I vote for the Trinity Arms as the most under-rated pub in Brixton. A cosy local pub that seemed to be strangely disliked by most urbanites when they were forced there by the closure of the Albert.

 

[editor]

I only find it fun on Offline nights cos there's lots of familiar faces.

Well, there's the rub. I know a lot of people who drink at the Albert.That's half the appeal of any boozer.

I'm not sure there are any fantastic pubs in Brixton, though the Effra and the Elm Park at least feel like proper pubs.

I like the Elm Park but it can be as bleak as fuck on there on some nights.

 

[Yossarian]

Brixton's always had a night economy - back in Victorian times it was a major entertainment destination.

Yeah, seems like Brixton's been a focus for night entertainment since the days when night entertainment consisted of marvelling at those newfangled "electric light" things...