Storefront City London

Archive for the tag “London”

Brother Marcus Borough Yards

Credit: Brother Marcus

WHAT: Brother Marcus Borough Yards
WHERE: 1 Dirty Lane, London SE1 9PA
PRICE: £7.60–14.50 (Brunch Dishes)
OUTDOORS: Yes (Seating Available)

OUR RATING: Do It!

Delicious, fresh, and wholesome Eastern Mediterranean food is the star attraction at Brother Marcus’ newest location. After wild success in Spitalfields, Angel, and Balham, the chic and trendy eatery has taken up residence in the ultimate cool of Borough Yards, superbly accessible from both London Bridge station and Borough Market. A light and bright interior is instantly welcoming and has a feel of New York about it, which we suppose is the idea.

Brunch is the name of the game here, with an extensive menu spanning the staple of Yoghurt and Granola to the decadence of a full vegan breakfast (vegan and vegetarian options are happily plentiful). One can particularly recommend the Harissa Eggs (British rainbow chard, avocado, poached eggs, toasted organic sourdough, and harissa oil), which was extremely pleasing of flavour and well-proportioned, the harissa shining through in all its abundant and fiery brilliance. This was well-paired with a grapefruit juice, a perfect brunch complement.

Credit: Brother Marcus

Final Thoughts: Eminently eatable food, a buzzing atmosphere, and a stellar location, Brother Marcus Borough Yards is the ideal location for that birthday brunch you’ve been planning. Next time, we might even go for the bottomless drinks option.

P.S.: Still in a brunchy mood? Why not head over to Rudy’s Vegan Diner and grab your fill of the best vegan food we’ve ever tasted.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

WHAT: Ocean at the End of the Lane
WHEN: 23rd October – 14th May, 2022, Touring 12th December, 2022 – September, 2023
WHERE:
Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4BG
PRICE: £20 – £49.50
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Do It!

Now that London has reopened in the wake of the COVID pandemic, Storefront City has had the pleasure of returning to the theatre scene. We have a few reviews up our sleeve to share with you over the next few weeks, but the most awe-inspiring one of them all has been the National Theatre transfer of The Ocean at the End of the Lane to the Duke of York’s Theatre

In our view, this tour de force production is by far the most impressive piece of spectacle theatre in London since Punchdrunk’s The Drowned Man. Based on Neil Gaiman’s 2013 novel, this work tells the story of a man who returns to his childhood home in Sussex and is transported back in time to his 12th birthday, a time when he makes a best friend named Lettie who introduces him to a magical world threatened by ancient forces. When these forces break through the protective barrier to their world, the safety of the boy’s family is put in jeopardy, and his survival depends on Lettie, her magical family, and the boy’s love for his family.

Credit: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Featuring amazing puppetry, beautiful choreography, mind-boggling magic design, and haunting set, lighting and sound design that gave us major Stranger Things feels, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a must-see story about family, memory, growing up, and imagination. 

Credit: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

To be honest, summing up this play is a difficult feat, and we also don’t want to ruin any surprises, since this performance is chock full of them. Every single element of this play was jaw-dropping, but the amazing aesthetic choices and the immersive design were only so strong because of the emotionally powerful strength of the story itself and the brilliance of the cast. James Banford performs stunningly as Boy, the main character of the play, but the supporting cast of characters were equally impressive, especially Nia Towle as Lettie, Nicolas Tennant as Dad, and Laura Rogers as Ursula. 

Credit: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Final Thoughts: We’ve already recommended this show to a few friends, loving every time they message us during intermission with expletives and all caps. It’s a play that pulls at your heartstrings but is also a feast for your ears and eyes and really makes your imagination run wild.

P.S.: For more theatrical wonder, why not check out The Haunting of Susan A.

The Haunting of Susan A

Credit: King’s Head Theatre

WHAT: The Haunting of Susan A
WHO: By Mark Ravenhill
WHEN: 1st – 26th June, 2022
WHERE: King’s Head Theatre
PRICE: £10 – 28.50
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Do It!

Buildings are the bones around which the flesh of history is built. People construct, thrive, and die across innumerable generations, transient and fleeting, whilst the structures remain, absorbing tales from their inhabitants. The King’s Head Theatre, founded over 50 years ago, occupies the back room of the pub of the same name, but will soon be moving to a new location. As such, Mark Ravenhill’s (Artistic Director, The King’s Head Theatre) response to both this anniversary and the expected transformation of the space after the theatre’s departure is poignant and timely. Ghosts, both real and imagined, haunt the liminal spaces created by Ravenhill’s superb narration, leading one to question how the place was really used and what deeds were done there.

Credit: King’s Head Theatre

Whilst leading us on this historical overview, including that the theatre was the venue for illegal bare knuckle boxing, Ravenhill is seemingly disrupted by an audience member (Suzanne Ahmet), who declares that there is a shocking truth behind the room in which we now sit – a haunting that she herself experienced 20 years previously. Indeed, the idea of truth is toyed with throughout the production, with the names (Suzanne Ahmet vs. Susan A), places, and histories evoking a strong realism that leaves one wondering where the fiction ends and the facts begin. During the performance we saw, we were told that technical difficulties caused a delay in curtain-up, but we suspect (perhaps wrongly) that this may have been a crafty bit of misdirection to ramp the tension up. Either way, the delivery of this unsettling work was only enhanced by the anticipation.

Credit: King’s Head Theatre

Ahmet’s telling takes us through her own transformation, from scientifically-minded student, to last-minute replacement actor, to traumatised hermit, now ready to face her past – and that of the ghost haunting her. The facets of this evolution are complex, delving into gendered power dynamics (both through the domineering director and the historically crushing life of the being haunting the space) and the theatrical gaze of which the audience is now a part. As well as a compelling narrative, there are ample shocks and jump-scares, which come when one is perfectly at ease for maximum effect.

Final Thoughts: Simple, chilling, and, to some measure, heartbreaking, one cannot help but be engrossed by Ahmet and Ravenhill’s exemplary performances. An utterly enjoyable night of ghostly intrigue.

Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner

Credit: Rudy’s Vegan

WHAT: Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner
WHERE:
206 Upper St, London N1 1RQ and 729–731 Camden Stables Market, London NW1 8AH
PRICE:
£7.50–13.50 (Main Dishes)
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Do It!

Although no longer Veganuary, we’re not ones to believe that a month should limit your actions (or your ethics). With vegan alternatives to meat and dairy products rising in popularity and hitting the mainstream, there have been many opportunities to adopt a diet that is simply better for the planet. Unfortunately, most substitutes are poor imitations of the real thing, putting many would-be vegan off. That’s not the case here — not by a long shot!

Enter Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner, a scrumptious establishment serving up the best of American comfort food from completely plant-based ingredients. We were lucky enough to recently dine at Rudy’s Islington location, which adjoins what must be the world’s first meatless butcher.

Credit: Rudy’s Vegan

A traditional diner from floor to ceiling, Rudy’s exudes a fast chic coupled with friendly staff and comfortable seating. As explained by the brilliantly energetic and passionate Chef Orr, the menu is informed by a real need for delicious vegan recipes that reflect the authentic tastes of patrons and thus each dish is carefully tailored to feedback initially received. This includes striving towards the complete removal of preservatives as well as control over those ingredients throughout the creative and culinary process. The result is delicious food that bursts with a fabulous feel and taste.

Credit: Storefront City Team

To start our decadent lunch off we each tried out one of Rudy’s smoothies, the Tropical Crush (passion fruit, papaya, mango, pineapple) and the Beet & Berry (beetroot, raspberry, banana, ginger). We had hoped for a green smoothie, but they’d already run out, so we tried their fruitier options. The beet smoothie was a bit sugary for our taste, but we really enjoyed the tropical crush, and honestly both were a welcome light and sweet balance to the heavier savoury food to come! Next time we go there we might try out some of their vegan wines on offer, or if all of that is too fancy for you they’ve got local beers on tap too.

Credit: Rudy’s Vegan

Rudy’s has just launched a few all day brunch dishes, including Eggz Avocado Toast, a Full English, and both sweet and savoury pancake options. Our chef mentioned the bacon and maple pancakes were his favourite choice, which really tempted us! The whole menu looked absolutely superb, comforting favourites with interesting spins: hedonism on a plate even with no meat or dairy involved.

We started with a side of merguez — grilled “merguez’’ sausage with tomato, avocado and Rudy’s bread and dip. This was perhaps our favourite dish of the day, with some amazing spices in the sausage — we had some as leftovers and they were still brilliant! The texture is a bit crumbly, and we’re not sure these would hold up on a BBQ, but we actually enjoyed it very much. It reminded us of a vegan and less oily version of sobrasada, and we gobbled it all up.

For our mains we tried their infamous rubenz (seitan pastrami, grilled onions, cheeze slice, sauerkraut, dill pickles & sauce) and their steak frites (“tenderloin” steak with roasted mushroom, peppercorn sauce and fries). We’ve been craving rubens for awhile, and this vegan version didn’t disappoint! The ratio of all the fixings was perfect, and while we’re used to rye bread, the sourdough was heavenly and stood up to the jam-packed ingredients. Meanwhile, the steak frites was one of the most unique dishes we’ve tried for awhile. While it didn’t quite taste like steak, the meatiness was there and the peppercorn sauce was what made this a winner.

Credit: Storefront City Team

Final Thoughts: Rarely do we eat at a restaurant and immediately decide we’re going to take all our friends there. This is exactly what we said to each other during lunch — we wanted to tell all our vegan friends right away and to go back as soon as possible. Maybe it was the nostalgia of the diner, maybe it was the amazingly affordable dishes, and maybe it was just the absolute deliciousness of everything we ate. But we’d go back in a heartbeat! We’d like to try out their original location in Camden, just for a change of scenery, and we might not get the same thing either. The destructor chick’n burger, the dirty dogz and the buffalo wingz are calling to us. But first, we’ll need to work off the calories from our last meal and then build up an appetite for another feast!

P.S.: Stay tuned for a future review of Rudy’s Vegan Butcher, where we try some of their products as well as partner products you can buy at the vegan butcher shop!

The Fright Before Christmas

Credit: Harpy Productions/Danse Macabre Productions

WHAT: The Fright Before Christmas
WHEN: 11 December 2021
WHERE:
The Space (269 Westferry Rd, London E14 3RS)
PRICE: £13 — £16
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Do It!

As fans of the creepy and macabre we firmly agree that Christmas is the perfect time of year for ghost stories in front of the fire. As such, we scoured London events for anything dark and sinister this holiday season, and lo and behold we came across The Fright Before Christmas, a one-night only unique horror storytelling experience.

Presented by Harpy Productions and Danse Macabre Productions, a half-dozen teams spun six new ten-minute terrifying tales in front of both an audience and a select group of judges. This was the first time we’ve been to The Space on the Isle of Dogs, located inside a former church. The set up for the production was quite sparse, with a tiny handful of props per performance and a few lights above the stage, but across the board all six pieces had remarkable sound and light design for what they had on hand. To tie in the night’s theme there were several small tables set up for the audience, all topped with festive decorations including holly and, of course, a skull.

Charismatic host Lady Aria Grey led the audience through the night, introducing each piece and then inviting thoughts from three horror judges at the end of each performance. The concept of having judges review the pieces was novel — we’d never attended an event like that. Yet we felt that while the role of a host was essential, the role of the judges was a bit ineffective. While interesting to hear their thoughts, it took the mood out of the night and in the long run could have done without them.

Credit: Storefront City Team

But let’s talk about the most important aspect of the night, the shows themselves! Writer Sarah Hamilton’s All I Want for Christmas…Is You started off the night right, telling the story of a woman alone in a house at Christmas when a stranger knocks on her door, asking for shelter from a storm. While we enjoyed the story and the twists and turns throughout, the sound design supporting the storm outside the house led to the downfall of the second half of the piece. With the sound so loud and the actors quite quiet, we couldn’t make out everything they said in the final few minutes of the play — exactly when it was quite clear that the twists were ramping up! In the end we turned to each other to see if the other understood what was said and what happened at the end, to no avail.

Next up was Jane Morris’s Eight Legs, Eight Arms. Exploring the very real threats women face on a daily basis, this piece framed its harrowing subject through the lens of an octopus, in a Cthulhu-esque twist that pitted eight-legged beings against each other (whether spiders or octopodes). Whilst intriguing conceptually, we felt the writing needed further polishing in order to truly reach its potential.

Credit: Storefront City Team

Moving back from the mouth of madness, Rachel O’Neill’s They Comes presents us with a couple who are not at all in agreement when it comes to the subject of having children. This crisis is precipitated by the traditionalist pushing of the husband’s grandmother — but gestation occurs (piecemeal) regardless of wishes. At times, the performance felt surprisingly ordinary, but this is not to detract from the rather unexpected (and unpleasant) climax.

Ben Whitehead’s The Sister Inside was our personal favourite of the night, and won second place after the audience and judge voting process. Approaching the stage covered in a white sheet and white top hat, Whitehead, performing the piece in addition to writing it, appeared a bit ridiculous, and his facial expressions interacted well to the audience’s reaction to his costume. Whitehead brought an amazing piece of Victorian storytelling in rhyming couplets, eliciting both laughs as well as horrifying silences. Whitehead is a seasoned performer and had us in the palm of his hand for the whole ten minutes with his tale of a woman living with her sibling writhing inside her. Whitehead also had to cope with a rowdy audience member interrupting his piece several times, and he did so masterfully.

Freddie Valdosta’s Flip the Switch (performed by Freddie Gilbraith and Oscar Koronka) was the night’s popular favourite — and chillingly so. A deeply disturbing portrait of the internal voice that is OCD, the tension is soon escalated to horrific heights, ending in a place that leaves one questioning the true nature of that “voice in your head”.

The final piece of the night was Rachel Bellman’s Tooting Bec Asylum, a story about a woman living on top of what used to be a morgue in an old hospital. The woman and her boyfriend start to see ghosts of the elderly and putrefying ghosts (and start ageing themselves). Oddly enough, we had that day rewatched the Tales from the Crypt episode Only Sin Deep — a bit of a coincidence! We appreciated such a traditional horror story, but with a rather predictable ending which we hoped would turn at some point, we don’t think this was the strongest of the night.

Final Thoughts: With an excellent selection of well-staged and produced short plays, The Fright Before Christmas does not disappoint and has genres for all types of horror and ghost fans. Given the general lack of horror material in a theatre setting, it is most refreshing to see new works developed around it. It is worth noting that whilst billed as a 90 minute set of performances, the entire event stretched to over 120 minutes (with a 20 minute interval). Whilst fine by us, we think it might be challenging for scheduling purposes. That’s one whole lot of horror!

Friendship Adventure Brewery

WHAT: Friendship Adventure Brewery
WHERE: 
Unit G1, Coldharbour Works, 245a Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8RR
PRICE: 
£2.50–6 (Beer) £6–14 (Food)
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Credit: Friendship Adventure Ltd

When is it not the perfect day for a pint? We headed over to Friendship Adventure Brewery this week to try some local beer brewed in Brixton, and felt right at home in this pub!

We love the atmosphere this brewery and taproom creates. The space reflects its name and its obvious Friendship Adventure cares about the community it’s based in. Right around the corner from Loughborough Station, this spacious railway arch-esque pub has tons of seating, with fun high bar stools and some spots right next to their brewing equipment, which was definitely a unique experience.

The brewery’s community spirit is reflected in everything it offers, as they showcase small businesses in they food the serve, the pints they pour, and the charities they partner with. The staff are super friendly and invite you to hang out as long as you’d like without nagging you to buy another pint, and they offer water and popcorn to boot!

Credit: Friendship Adventure Ltd

Taking a seat next to their brewery equipment, we had to try a few of their home-brewed beers, although they do host several guest beers from other local businesses as well as a few varieties of wine. We tried a few half pints so we could get a better selection of what they offer, and we particularly enjoyed their Caper (modern pilsner lager) and their Headliner (big, bold, juicy New England IPA).

Did we mention this is a dog friendly pub? There were so many dogs that visited throughout the night, and it was obvious this was a place well-frequented by locals, as there was a very warm and welcoming atmosphere during our entire stay.

Credit: Friendship Adventure Ltd

Final Thoughts: We definitely can’t wait to go back to Friendship Adventure. We’ve heard they have great comedy nights so we’re keeping our eyes peeled on their event page, and we’re more than ready to come back for some nibbles too. There are some fantastic local restaurants that rotate at the brewery, including Banh BanhBaz & FredBlack Bear Burger, and Rudie’s Jerk Shack, all reasonably priced, so we’ll definitely return for some great beer, some local food and a show!

P.S.: Looking for another Brixton pub to frequent? Why not try Hope & Anchor for a different pub experience — still a warm and social atmosphere but with a different style.

Adam’s Ethiopian

WHAT: Adam’s Ethiopian Restaurant
WHERE: 
86 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1QN
PRICE: 
£10–14 (Main Dishes)
OUTDOORS: Seating Available

OUR RATING: Do It!

Credit: Adam’s Ethiopian

It baffles us that we haven’t reviewed Adam’s Ethiopian Restaurant yet. Hands down our favourite Ethiopian restaurant in London, we love both their takeaway options as well as their dine-in experience. Ethiopian dining is one of the most pleasurable social-dining experiences one can have, and the food at Adam’s is delicious and affordable.

Originally a bakery, Adam’s Ethiopian Restaurant is a family run business in Brixton, and the service is warm, friendly, and completely welcoming. Our first experience of Adam’s was via takeaway during lockdown. Ethiopian food is best enjoyed at table with friends and family, but it works too as a quiet night at home. Whenever we order takeaway the portions we receive are stupendous, giving us food for at least another night that we always look forward too. You can never eat too much Ethiopian food!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the cuisine, it consists of various vegetable and spicy meat dishes (usually in the form of a thick stew termed a wat), on top of a large sourdough flatbread called injera. The usual way of eating is with your right hand, using bits of the injera to pick up little bits of the vegetable and meat.

Credit: Adam’s Ethiopian

Now that we’re allowed to dine-in again, we visited Adam’s with two mates, and dined like absolute kings. Our go-to order is usually a meat and veggie combination platter, but since we were dining with a few more people than usual, we opted for picking a couple dishes each (knowing that all would still be served together family-style, as is usual).

For vegetable dishes, some delicious favourites have been the atkilt wot (a mixture of cabbage, carrots, onion, and herbs), ater kik (yellow split pea stew with turmeric), and difin misir wot (lentils in tomato sauce with herbs and spices).

Credit: Adam’s Ethiopian

It’s possible to have an amazing vegetarian, or even vegan, feast here, but we must admit we love their meat dishes so can never go without! While the lamb options are superb, we usually frequent their alicha wot (beef stew with spice and herbs), key wot (beef stew with chilli) and doro wot (chicken legs in a spicy tomato and berbere spice blend with a boiled egg). Yum!

Final Thoughts: You can never leave Adam’s Ethiopian Restaurant hungry — we don’t think that’s possible. And while we’re bias with our love of this cuisine, we do think Adam’s is one of the best in London. With it’s huge portion sizes, homey atmosphere, and delicious stews, it’s an absolute must family-style restaurant and definitely one of our favourite food night outs — or in!

P.S.: Long shot, but next time any of our UK crowd are in Chicago, we definitely suggest dining at Ethiopian Diamond, our favourite for Ethiopian cuisine in the city!

Festival of the Dead — Halloween Returns

WHAT: Festival of the Dead — Halloween Returns
WHEN: Multiple Dates throughout the UK
WHERE: Various (most recently at 
Troxy)
PRICE: Varies by event, London events was 
£32–45.20

OUR RATING: Do It!

Credit: Festival of the Dead

We posted a few days ago with a sneak peek rating of “Do It” for Festival of the Dead’s ‘Halloween Returns’ at Troxy. Now after having attended the event we’ve come back to tell you all about it. There are upcoming iterations in Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester: if you’re anywhere near you need to attend!

Europe’s biggest touring Halloween show started quite calmly, with some great music blasting out at the amazing Troxy venue, and a few surprising puppets on the dance floor coming out to invite everyone to start spinning the night away. Stilt-walkers and other amazing carnival elements came out of the woodwork to electrify the atmosphere with fun, togetherness, and yes a little devilish mayhem!

Credit: Festival of the Dead

Once the floor puppets and performers had had their fun it was time for the main event. The lights came down and the monstrous and beautiful contraption in the above photo came out onto the stage, Medusa’s snakes writhing around, manipulated by their talented puppeteers.

Then Huw Joseph joined — the event’s host who has headlined Festival of the Dead events since 2019. Part skeletal rock musician, park whimsical ring master, Huw Joseph is one of the best hosts we’ve seen perform, always keeping the energy up and knowing how to work the crowd.

While we didn’t keep a keen eye on our watches, there must have been two long sets to these performances, about an hour each with a 15 minute break between. And what did these sets consist of? One of the most fabulous and immersive carnival and puppet stage shows you could imagine with a gifted ensemble of performers creating absolute art with a nostalgic and electric rock metal soundtrack in the background.

Credit: Festival of the Dead

When you attend one of these performances you are promised a complete SHOW! From stunning aerial presentations to amazing fire displays and everything in-between, each moment in this over-two-hour spectacular was new, unexpected, and high-octane. We could tell the troupe cared so much about their art, and they invited the audience in to help them keep the energy and fun sizzling throughout.

We don’t want to ruin the whole show and many of its amazing surprises, but this review and the Festival of the Dead’s images give you a sense of how theatrical, stylish, and fun this party is. Part clubbing experience, part stage show, this happening is such a delight for the senses, and definitely one of the best Halloween parties we’ve ever attended in the UK.

Credit: Festival of the Dead

Final Thoughts: You’ve still got three chances to see Festival of the Dead’s ‘Halloween Returns’ at Forum BirminghamMarble Factory Bristol, and BEC Arena Manchester, so go if you can! It’s truly an indescribable experience that must be lived to be understood. And, if you’re still in London, don’t forget Troxy’s two awesome upcoming events Skullrhythmics on the 29th October and Night of the Raving Dead. Both are sure to be a Hell of a good time!

P.S.: You’ve still got JUST enough time to hit up one more haunted event. See what we thought of Cursed Fright Nights.

Festival of the Dead — Halloween Returns

WHAT: Festival of the Dead — Halloween Returns
WHEN: 23 October 2021
WHERE: 
Troxy (490 Commercial Rd, London E1 0HX)
PRICE: 
£32–45.20

OUR SNEAK PEEK RATING: Do It!

Credit: Festival of the Dead

You’ll find us first in the queue for anything horrific and whimsical, but unfortunately due to schedule conflicts we’ve not been able to attend a Festival of the Dead event while living in the UK. But this year we’re in for a treat and can finally make it to Europe’s biggest touring Halloween show!

This event promises to be extremely unique — a mashup of circus, clubbing, and carnival in an imaginative immersive setting with giant skeleton puppets, huge fire shows, and aerialist performers. Art and death collide in this surreal world of the spirits and creatures of the night.

Credit: Festival of the Dead

We’ve seen a lot of upcoming parties pair their event with garage or hip hop, but thank goodness this high octane night will bring rock, metal, and of course our favourite electronic and house music.

We’re equally excited to make our way to the Troxy again — having not been for a few years since a past Secret Cinema performance. We can’t wait to see this massive event space kitted out as a breathtaking carnival for the dead.

Credit: Festival of the Dead

A mix of hauntingly stylish and terrifyingly theatrical, this experiential clubbing phenomenon promises to be a night to remember, and we can’t wait to spend the night dancing with other lost souls in London’s Underworld.

Head on over here to get your tickets today and look out for our full review post event.

Hope & Anchor

WHAT: Hope & Anchor
WHERE: 
123 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, SW2 5UA
PRICE: Entrées £7–14, Draft Pint £5.30–6.50, Cocktails £10
OUTDOORS: Yes

OUR RATING: Do It!

Credit: Hope & Anchor

It’s been awhile, we know, but after a year-long hiatus the Storefront City team is back in action and making the most of life. We’ll be honest: it’s been super hard to stay indoors all this time and we were itching to get back out into the big wide world and share our latest and greatest experiences with you. To that end, and to highlight venues that are a tad bit safer pandemic-wise, we’ve created a new rating category above showcasing whether the adventure reviewed is outdoors. We hope that this will give you the confidence to dive back in and explore new locations where you’ll feel safer.

For our first foray we hit up the Hope & Anchor in Brixton, a beautiful cocktail bar complete with an opulent garden dripping with style. Hammocks, private cabins, and neon accents create a stunning environment to grab a few drinks and soak up a warm evening with friends.

Credit: Hope & Anchor

Adam: Whilst the name might make you think this is a run-of-the-mill pub, the Hope & Anchor (indeed established as a pub in 1815) is most certainly NOT your grandfather’s pub. After ducking through the indoor area, you are greeted by an array of leafy trees, festooned in twinkling lights. To top this off, you can opt to sit in one of the many cabanas that dot the perimeter, creating your own oasis of privacy and yet still benefiting from the trendy vibe of those around you.

Ordering is easy tableside via the app, although we’d recommend you download this beforehand to avoid the hassle of signing up there and then. I opted for a pint of refreshing Beavertown Neck Oil, a Session IPA that matched the light and airy feel of the evening. Bracing and bursting with taste, this is a citrus-hoppy beer with a somewhat flowery aspect that I would definitely recommend. A perfect complement to a perfect night.

Credit: Hope & Anchor

Alicia: The Hope & Anchor seems like such a small and stuffy mini-pub when you first walk in the door, until you start getting into their backyard and suddenly you’re in a Wonderland. I’m such a sucker for unique outdoor dining experiences that give you fun lights and set elements to look at when you’re in the midst of a refreshing pint. I went for my go-to Guinness as the options for drinks were quite minimal — only Aperol Spritz and espresso martinis were available out of anything on offer, so if you’re a cocktail person this probably isn’t the place for you.

Unfortunately, I can’t say this is the best place for dining either — we splurged on some loaded fries that sounded good on paper: slow cooked ox cheek, plum ketchup, soy yoghurt, jalapeños. Alas, the fries were a bit cold and definitely mushy, albeit flavourful. We weren’t impressed enough by the chips to go in for some more food — it just didn’t seem like the kind of pub to offer some really great meals, but we were more than happy to drink up and enjoy the ambience instead!

Credit: Hope & Anchor

Final Thoughts: Brixton has a few lovely outdoor pubs, but we’ve got to admit the Hope & Anchor is one of the more fun-for-the-eyes spots. Definitely a go-to for an after-dinner pint. Weather is obviously an important factor if you’re enjoying an outdoor beer garden, so go now if the sun is shining or the night is warm and get cozy in some beach huts under twinkling lights.

PS: Enjoy outdoor drinking with intricate theming? Don’t miss the rooftop bar at Queen of Hoxton!

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