The Goose is now Ivan's Retreat

[brix]

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

I know what you mean, but I'm not sure what else they could have done with that space to make it less airport lounge like.

Anyway, went past just now and it was heaving. Clearly there are lots of people round here who don't mind not being able to hear themselves talk while they have a drink with their friends.

 

[gabi]

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

Fuck i must be only geezer on here who actually lives about here in this wee neck of the woods and frequented these places. Backstage has been shut well over a year. Seriously - there are other bars in brix besides the albert.

Backstage had its charms too. Good barstaff, funny locals, particularly when the footy was on and it became filled with non-drinking african arse fans. Always a good show.

 

[editor]

Seriously - there are other bars in brix besides the albert.

Err.. and that'll be why there's a pub guide on this site listing a vast amount of Brixton boozers.

It's hard to keep up to date though because bars keep coming and going, so updates are always welcome.

 

[Badgers]

Had an afternoon pint in here on Saturday.

Nothing outstanding about the place but I liked it.
Service and beer were both very good and the menu looked good for range and value.
Was comfortable and will pop back (plus my dad's name is Ivan)

 

[RaverDrew]

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.

Too right

I'm well fucked off about losing the Goose

"No Workwear
No Sportswear"

They can fuck right off, I'll never set foot in a wanky shithole that has a dresscode in the daytime.

 

[Badgers]

They can fuck right off, I'll never set foot in a wanky shithole that has a dresscode in the daytime.

I went in the day time dressed about as close to 'tramp' as possible with no issues.

I do know what you mean about this sort of crap though, still prefer The Albert

 

[joeljoel]

Makes me laugh....

The Mirror once printed a story about some girl from Eastenders being in the Goose... they called it "Brixton's trendy 'The Goose' pub".

So so wide of the mark.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Can't be arsed to read this thread but is there seriously a "no working clothes" policy?

If there is, then I wouldn't set foot in the steaming pile of shit of an arsehole, wanky place that it has become anyway

 

[Winot]

Can't be arsed to read this thread but is there seriously a "no working clothes" policy?

I wear a chalk-striped suit to work - will they bar me too?

 

[gabi]

Can't be arsed to read this thread but is there seriously a "no working clothes" policy?

If there is, then I wouldn't set foot in the steaming pile of shit of an arsehole, wanky place that it has become anyway

Yup, its in large letters on the front door - 'No sportswear, no workwear, no begging'. Still aint seen a customer in there as i go by. The goose was always busy on the other hand.

 

[editor]

Yup, its in large letters on the front door - 'No sportswear, no workwear, no begging'.

No editor either, then.

 

[gabi]

Err.. and that'll be why there's a pub guide on this site listing a vast amount of Brixton boozers.

It's hard to keep up to date though because bars keep coming and going, so updates are always welcome.

yeh... brixton can be amazingly localised. I have no idea whats goin on just up brixton hill for instance...

But yeh, the backstage died a slow death, they first tried charging people to watch football as nobody was paying for drinks (a lot of muslim guys from the mosque used to watch it in there who obv didnt drink), that policy created (even by their standards) shitloads of aggro, and then they suddenly shut down. It was the wild west towards the end. Chaos. Fun tho. I think they still hold the record for the lowest rating on beerinthevening or one of those sites. -1.

I do wonder what happens to all the true regulars of these joints when they close. I guess the beehive must be mopping up.

 

[teuchter]

Am I right in thinking that this is the same corner as became the Goose?

 

[Crispy]

yep, that's right. same curvy glass. I think it was all Bon Marche department store

 

[editor]

Fuck i must be only geezer on here who actually lives about here in this wee neck of the woods and frequented these places. Backstage has been shut well over a year.

*extremely loud, insistent and slightly annoyed cough.

It is not shut. It is open tonight. I've just gone past and it was full of drinkers.

 

[mhwfc]

*extremely loud, insistent and slightly annoyed cough.

It is not shut. It is open tonight. I've just gone past and it was full of drinkers.

According to a comment on BITE it "only opens on Academy nights", but then there's something on at the Academy most nights anyway. Love the rating it's got!!

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/30/30517/Backstage/Brixton

 

[rennie]

I went to Ivan's Retreat yesterday after work for a quick pint. It looked alright inside by thwe entrace had an empty feel to it and the couches are horrific.

The beer was alright and so were the chips. But I hate the fact that they have a dress code!

 

[tarannau]

It's daft isn't it. A dress code like that just gets your hackles up.

Any pub can refuse who the hell they like, but sticking a sign up like that just indicates that they're petty wankers.

 

[editor]

Just looked in: Saturday night and there's about 5 people in there.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Ha

 

[editor]

The Other Side up the road was a bit bereft of punters too. The Grosvenors a bit lively though

A proper old boozer with bands and Brixton characters. That's more like it!

 

[Nougat]

I stumbled upon this site by googling Ivan's Retreat so it seems fitting that I take the time to type a few lines in here. I popped in there yesterday for Sunday dinner with my 7yr old and I have to say the food was DISGUSTING. The roast beef was pure fat & gristle and the veg were undercooked and cold. The sausage sandwich was smothered in mayo or something and the wedges/chips were burnt, shrivelled and cold to boot.

The only redeeming point was the strawberry beer, which I read mentioned on this very thread, fruli. It was delicious and I think I have found myself a new tipple apart from my trusty guinness! It was very quiet and according to the receipt, we arrived at 3pm, we were the 38th customer so not particularly busy on the whole.

The manager came out at one point to bark at a surly bargirl that was texting behind the bar. It was funny to see the manager, obviously watching on camera, come out to confiscate her phone like a teacher telling off a naughty schoolgirl lol