The Goose is now Ivan's Retreat

[clandestino]

No, it certainly serves a need! I should have clarified my "not welcoming" comment actually - I don't mean that it's unwelcoming because of the kids at all. TBH, we end up there fairly often because we'll often pop in for a pint after using the gym/pool....

Oh, I didn't think you did. I thought you were referring specifically to the upstairs, which I haven't been to.

I agree that only having pubs like that in an area would be a nightmare, but it's good to have one I think.

 

[malice]

"Ivans Retreat" - wonder if it's name was inspired by the anti hero in Perry Henzel's The Harder They Come?

didn't know that ref, but maybe more likely to be a straight, slightly glib, clash reference?

 

[gaijingirl]

I find the Prince Regent a bit unwelcoming mostly because of the manager tbh - I had a bit of a run in with him recently and feel a bit funny about going back. Nothing major - so it's probably more in my head than a general criticism. The staff there are nice enough - but often seem harrassed. It seems to me like loads of pubs doing this gastro food thing don't hire nearly enough people (see The Florence) for their busy periods.

I've never been upstairs yet. (except to take a look).

Lots of new bars/changing hands in Brixton at the moment eh! What are Mitchells & Butlers pubs then? (obviously I know they're pub operators - but they seem to be well received on here.. which pubs do they run?)

 

[snowy_again]

The Australian? He's clearly done too much stuff in his youth and can seem a bit psychotic. Hence the general reaction from the staff, who are all pleasant and friendly most of the time. I've not been back to the florence since a veggie sunday breakfast took 2 hours to arrive and came with two pork sausages and a whole pile of bacon.

 

[editor]

I find the Prince Regent a bit unwelcoming mostly because of the manager tbh - I had a bit of a run in with him recently and feel a bit funny about going back.

Prince Regent landlord holds back gaijingirl.

 

[rennie]

The Australian? He's clearly done too much stuff in his youth and can seem a bit psychotic. Hence the general reaction from the staff, who are all pleasant and friendly most of the time. I've not been back to the florence since a veggie sunday breakfast took 2 hours to arrive and came with two pork sausages and a whole pile of bacon.

I hope you didn't pay for it.

 

[corporate whore]

They've posted this elsewhere: "the kitchen will be cooking home made food all made in house fresh by the chefs, from the hand cut chips to the homemade pies..."

Pfft. Like fuck it will.

 

[editor]

A quick review from my blog:

Launch party of Ivan's Retreat, Brixton Road.

This big, central Brixton boozer has struggled for ages under several names, but we went along to its latest relaunch, with the folks behind Camden's successful Lock Tavern pub now at the helm.

There was a lot of brown furniture going on, the music was indescribably bland (a bored looking DJ standing behind the decks with his arms closed hardly raised party spirits either) and the whole place felt like it should be shunted two miles up the road into Clapham.

The food looked like it might be pretty good, and the selection of the beers wasn't too shabby either, so we'll check it out again in a month or two.

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

Is domino playing still banned?

 

[Skimix]

I hope they've sorted out the mens toilets in the refurb, the Goose had some of the most consistently rank toilets I've ever seen.

 

[Thimble Queen]

The sign looks like it says Nan's Retreat, from a distance...

 

[RubyToogood]

Didn't that whole section used to be the bottom of the Bon Marche department store?

 

[mccliche]

hippy burger & chips was really really nice & proper value at £5 when i was there on sunday. lots of sofas to lounge on too

decor could do with being less brown tho & a bit less gloomy

 

[RubyToogood]

hippy burger & chips was really really nice & proper value at £5 when i was there on sunday. lots of sofas to lounge on too

decor could do with being less brown tho & a bit less gloomy

Jesus, everything has to be brown now. I didn't realise till I was there on Tues that even the Albert is brown now.

 

[bluestreak]

It's the new black.

I have to admit I never liked the Goose. No atmosphere, air of depression. But I don't like the Commercial either. Full of twats, air of desperation and wanky haircuts.

 

[Not a Vet]

It's the new black.

I have to admit I never liked the Goose. No atmosphere, air of depression. But I don't like the Commercial either. Full of twats, air of desperation and wanky haircuts.

Classic description of the Commercial - I feel like repeating it on BITE (Beerintheevening.com)

 

[malice]

The sign looks like it says Nan's Retreat, from a distance...

and it's so small and unobtrusive that the notice "toilets are for customers only" above the entrance is far more prominent - the first time you look at it you think that might be the name

 

[quimcunx]

and it's so small and unobtrusive that the notice "toilets are for customers only" above the entrance is far more prominent - the first time you look at it you think that might be the name

and an excellent name for a pub it would be too.

 

[brix]

Went for the first time tonight and was initially impressed. I think they've done a good job with a 'difficult' space. I like the way all the chairs and leather sofas are differerent but all seem to be vintage 70s.

I personally don't mind the brown/dark wood and like the way they've added interest and texture with some walls covered in interesting graphic wallpapers. They've managed to create a homely/front room feel in a very large space - not an easy task.

I can't speak for the gents but the ladies loos were clean and pleasant - a transformation from The Goose.

When my friend and I arrived around 7pm there was music playing, but not too loud, and we were able to chat and enjoy the range of beers (I had some lovely strawberry wheat beer and a really nice cider from one of the hand pumps). Almost at the dot of 9pm though, the music was suddenly pumped up to a level where it became almost impossible to talk. Although we were sitting close to each other we had to raise our voices to be heard. We left at that point and it was a shame because up until then we'd felt that it was probably somewhere we'd come back to and use a lot.

 

[editor]

(I had some lovely strawberry wheat beer.....

I had a sip of that and it's a reet girrrls drink.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

How laddish the boards are these days.

 

[Thimble Queen]

is it that fruli stuff?? It's yummy! x x

 

[gabi]

Looks a bit shite to me. Bring back the ranting singing irish oldboys of the goose i reckon. Met some very interesting folk there. i doubt i will in its new incarnation.

Feel kinda happy in a way walkin past it and seeing it dead and empty every day. Its already clearly doomed, a good sign - brixton aint quite ready to be clapham borders yet as the estate agents would have you believe.

 

[editor]

They seem to be targeting the Academy crowd which isn't a bad idea considering how awful the 'Backstage Bar' is.

 

[brix]

I had a sip of that and it's a reet girrrls drink.

More for me then!

is it that fruli stuff?? It's yummy! x x

That's the one! It IS yummy

 

[innit]

Went for the first time tonight and was initially impressed. I think they've done a good job with a 'difficult' space. I like the way all the chairs and leather sofas are differerent but all seem to be vintage 70s.

I agree that it's a difficult space and I can see what they've tried to do, but I don't think it really works very well - still feels like an airport bar to me

 

[twistedAM]

They seem to be targeting the Academy crowd which isn't a bad idea considering how awful the 'Backstage Bar' is.

Big competition for the aftershow crowd now innit - there, Dex, Plan B, JAMM, Dogstar etc

 

[top_biller]

Went last Friday after the Public Enemy gig at the Academy - service was very friendly, was too mashed to comment on the quality of the beer, but wondered why they've painted it that horrible gun metal grey which is one of the reasons I don't go in the Commercial very much (that and the food's crap). It's like sitting inside a submarine.

And in defence of the Regent's manager, he's a bit strange on first impressions, but he's actually quite genial when you get to know him better. Was very helpful when we had a party in the upstairs room last year. Seems to be quite a quick turnover of staff in there though which is never a good sign.

 

[snowy_again]

Half of them have moved up to the Mansion in Gypsy Hill, or generally given up bar work as they've become more settled in London I think. Besides, isn't gun metal grey the new white?

 

[wtfftw]

Didn't that whole section used to be the bottom of the Bon Marche department store?

Yeah. I looked up Bon Marche Brixton and I was only young so I don't actually remember the outside of buildings apart from shiny lights. However even if it's not the original Bon Marche it was def there. I bought a speedo swimsuit downstairs there when I was about 11.