The Angel pub, Coldharbour Lane

[editor]

Now, this really sucks.

The Angel is one of the last old-school black Brixton pubs left here and in the 12 years I've lived opposite the place, it's never caused any bother.

Whenever I've popped in for a pint, it's been a friendly community pub and I've always enjoyed hearing the reggae/ska coming out of the place when I've gone past.

But tonight - out of the blue - I discovered the place has been shut down and sealed up with metal hoardings - suggesting that it's not likely to be reopened for some time soon (if at all).

I've no idea if it was busted or closed down by bailiffs, but losing this pub would be a real loss to the community.

Anyone know anything about what's happened?

 

[wiskey]

nope but i went in there once by accident and rather than the daunting experience i was worried about it was lovely and i stayed for a drink.

what a shame.

 

[editor]

It seems that pub was featured on BBC Nationwide in 1980 in a TV report on how West Indian immigrants who came to Britain in the 1950's were finding life in Brixton.

Here's the (slightly incomprehensible) program notes from the BBC's experimental resource, which lists their archive footage. It suggests that the Angel was an important part of Brixton's recent history, being the "first pub to sell drinks to coloured people"

pub manager; Lynette SIMMS; Norman BEATON; s. thru'out Brixton streets. Pub Sequence: ext s Angel pub in Brixton (5.47-5.50), rept to cam on Angel being first pub to sell drinks to coloured people (5.50-6.14), int s.bar n Angel (9.46-10.13) (11.01-11.17)intv: Tony WALLER, Angel was the first pub he drank in when he came to Britain(6.14-7.07), his first job was in a paint factory, being the first & only black man there, he was treated v.well by workers there, when more coloured people started working then intolerance started to happen (7.20-7.50), worked a lot of overtime to buy Angel pub (9.15-9.46).

http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LCAC006E_B

 

[wiskey]

just a bit of important place then.

 

[brixtonvilla]

Never went in, but I'm sad to see it close, IYSWIM.

 

[aurora green]

This is sadnews. When ever I've passed there, it always looks busy...
I wonder what's going on?

 

[editor]

Sadly, the Angel has now earned a page of its own in my Lost Pubs of Brixton feature

Anyone know what's happened? There's no signs on the pub.

They've really gone to town on closing the place though, with steel shutters on even the second floor!

 

[Bob]

Sadly, the Angel has now earned a page of its own in my Lost Pubs of Brixton feature



Anyone know what's happened? There's no signs on the pub.

They've really gone to town on closing the place though, with steel shutters on even the second floor!

I wonder where the drinkers from it will go now? There are virtually no pubs now between the Sun & Doves and the Dogstar - which is a long way.

The Loughborough is temporarily (I think) closed, there's nowhere on the Moorlands, nowhere on Loughborough Junction. Closest pubs for most of the drinkers will be the Canterbury, Dogstar and god knows where if you live on the east side of the Moorlands. Does the domino club do drinks?

 

[Gramsci]

After the Atlantic went it was the last traditional West Indian pub left in Brixton.Maybe it just wasnt getting the business any more.

 

[editor]

.Maybe it just wasnt getting the business any more.

Always looked reasonably busy to me....

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

The landlord of the Hamilton told us just before it shut that the rent had been continually pushed up so that even though the pub was reasonably busy it was just impossible to keep the place running. Maybe something like that might have happened.

 

[krtek a houby]

Any chance it's just been temporarily closed for a re-vamp? Let's not be pessimistic; some pubs get a makeover from time-to-time...

 

[potential]

Any chance it's just been temporarily closed for a re-vamp? Let's not be pessimistic; some pubs get a makeover from time-to-time...

for sale ten one and two bedroom flats: price's from £ 200 000...
economic's baby

 

[editor]

Any chance it's just been temporarily closed for a re-vamp? Let's not be pessimistic; some pubs get a makeover from time-to-time...

Judging by the industrial strength steel shutters that have been applied to every square inch of the place right up to the top floor, I'd say it looks a bit critical to me.

 

[editor]

Possibly encouraging news: I've had two neighbours tell me that the pub was, in fact, sold at an auction, with the new licensee expected to be moving in by four weeks.

Fingers crossed!

 

[Treebeard]

I wonder where the drinkers from it will go now? There are virtually no pubs now between the Sun & Doves and the Dogstar - which is a long way.

The Loughborough is temporarily (I think) closed, there's nowhere on the Moorlands, nowhere on Loughborough Junction. Closest pubs for most of the drinkers will be the Canterbury, Dogstar and god knows where if you live on the east side of the Moorlands. Does the domino club do drinks?

Do we know that the Loughborough is only temp closed? I thought it was just becoming flats/biz space etc?

 

[tarannau]

That's a real shame - hopefully it'll be back and running, effectively unchanged, within a few weeks. The place always looked busy enough to get by comfortably.

Sad to say that pubs, even the historic ones, seem to be closing at a hell of a rate. I went past the Greyhound (Streatham Vale) at the weekend, to see the whole place boarded up - a massive old coaching pub (with on-site brewery at one stage) with a very busy history. There are rumours that it's going to be some kind of nighclub type affair now.

 

[Treebeard]

Anybody with any info on the Loughboro and its future then let me know. Loughboro Junc could really do with a pub or two to add some life. The laundrette can't constitute the social hub for much longer, bless it.

 

[Bob]

Possibly encouraging news: I've had two neighbours tell me that the pub was, in fact, sold at an auction, with the new licensee expected to be moving in by four weeks.

Fingers crossed!

I had a look at the shutters yesterday - they're definitely not the standard council ones.

 

[editor]

I had a look at the shutters yesterday - they're definitely not the standard council ones.

Good workmanship too! Check out the way they're perfectly shaped to fit the window arches!

 

[prunus]

Anybody with any info on the Loughboro and its future then let me know. Loughboro Junc could really do with a pub or two to add some life. The laundrette can't constitute the social hub for much longer, bless it.

<tagging along> Anyone have any ETAs on the Refurbishment of the Warrior? The site always looks very busy but I was wondering if it was going to be open for the summer.

 

[editor]

<tagging along> Anyone have any ETAs on the Refurbishment of the Warrior? The site always looks very busy but I was wondering if it was going to be open for the summer.

Went past it last week and took a peek inside - and there sure seemed a *lot* more work to do.

 

[Zinedine*]

This is a shame. This was the first Brixton pub I ever went to. I must admit, when I walked in I was a bit nervous, I thought maybe they wouldnt want me in there because I was white. But, It was such a nice experience. the reggae, the extremely friendly staff and customers. This is gutting.

 

[Giles]

Well, it's owned by "Unique Pub Properties", based in Solihull. And hasn't just been sold, apparently.

Giles..

 

[William of Walworth]

Well, it's owned by "Unique Pub Properties", based in Solihull. And hasn't just been sold, apparently.

Giles..

Angel, or Warrior??

 

[Giles]

Angel, or Warrior??

Angel.

The Warrior is currently owned (I assume) by that property developer chap who posts on here once in a blue moon, who is currently turning the former Green Man into flats, and the Warrior/Junction into flats, but with the pub supposedly re-opening as a pub when it is all done.

Giles..

 

[ChrisSouth]

Angel.

The Warrior is currently owned (I assume) by that property developer chap who posts on here once in a blue moon, who is currently turning the former Green Man into flats, and the Warrior/Junction into flats, but with the pub supposedly re-opening as a pub when it is all done.

Giles..

Having lived in/around LJ for the last 12 years, I remain deeply cynical as to whether we'll ever see the Green Man and Warrior/Junction having pub/health/cafe facilities on the ground floor. I fear that the whole building will be flats, purchased by buy-to-let investors, and they rented out to people who have no care for, and interest in, the local community.

 

[PacificOcean]

Possibly encouraging news: I've had two neighbours tell me that the pub was, in fact, sold at an auction, with the new licensee expected to be moving in by four weeks.

Fingers crossed!

It might be Weatherspoons or a Yates though.

 

[editor]

It might be Weatherspoons or a Yates though.

To be honest, so long as it provides a welcoming home for the old boys, I'm not that bothered (although I hope it reopens as an independent. Heck, I just hope it reopens, period).

 

[Giles]

It might be Weatherspoons or a Yates though.

If it becomes either of those I will eat my shoe (*).

Giles..


* please note I reserve the right to choose the shoe.