<![CDATA[Greater London - Lambeth - Brixton - Reviews]]> http://www.welovelocal.com Reviews from welovelocal.com en Appeals to snobs http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/french-restaurants/upstairs-bar-restaurant-sw25tn.html#r51652 My lovely lady and myself recently dined at the “Right Up My Back Stairs” eaterie in Brixton. Gritty ghetto-chic? Tres bon. What an incongruous delight it is, sandwiched between such proletarian banalities as a “laundromat” (whatever that is) and a Pakistani purveyor of news. Who uses these quaint little mercantiles I've no conception. You certainly feel special, and we are special aren't we, as you are ushered in through the discreet side door, unsignposted as it is, cleverly deterring passing trade, local coloureds, ne'er-do-wells and the London poor.

“I'm surprised they bothered really”, I confided to my partner, “putting a restaurant for our class of people here”, as we entered the bijou Victorian attic, a room artfully accessorised to look like a salon of the French Renaissance (or something, we don't really know but we love feeling like we're in an exclusive clique where only people like us know to what we refer. Apparently it used to be a cupboard).

I surmised the intended ambience is ultimately that of what some might call Fin de Siecle Neoclassique, but... “does it pass the acid test of our refined sensibilities” my English Rose was want to enquire. Well, we shall see.

Ensconced at a window table we were able to observe omnibuses and passing ethnics in the street below, certainly a diverting pre-prandial human zoo I mused, while quaffing my somewhat recidivist champagne. Our waitress was an apotheosis of sneered disdain as she took our order. Her indulgence of our guilt a titilating frisson. The menu? Extensive, if a little derelict – a nod to the inner city locale mayhap?

We alighted on an eighteen course repast – a snip at £3095 (excluding fawning, which customers are required by the owners to do themselves). Our starters were a liver and lager consommé (a tad aggressive) and a pate of lemur heart (authentically Madasgascan but rather perfunctory, Mrs Posh was quite upset). For main, I had guinea-pig tongue in a rhubarb hollandaise sauce (exotic, erotic, sumptuous), and my partner in culinary and topographical posturing optioned for the warm mousseline of mallard imprisoned in a marzipan sarcophagus and drizzled in sputum, pavement-matured in the environs. (They don't tell everyone about this for fear of overwhelming demand, it is organically harvested). She says it didn't deliver in the flavour department. “How was it in the haberdashery department darling”, I quipped. I am so funny and erudite.

To follow; a simple peasant sausage each (an homage to the native population), garnished with a bounteous arabesque of crème fraîche and Pickled Onion Monster Munch. Impressive, especially when one is distracted by attempting to appear familiar with the vacuous etiquette of the aspirant classes, isn't one. The other sixteen dishes, suffice to say they were insouciant, adequate, perchance to dream, even a little insolent. Cheeky chappies all – rather like the adorable piccaninies begging for scraps outside. Mrs Posh says that something else she had was also “very nice thanks” which adds much to this review I feel. What a cherubic little poppet she is. I do love her so.

Our fellow diners were a teasing compote of hee-hawing nonentity, racism and wasted education. “This is absolutely what Brixton needs” we chirruped (for we never disagree), now stuffed like gluttonous dictators in our eerie perched high above Chav Street. Somehow it was all so deliciously reminiscent of the sacking of the Jewish ghettos during the 1939 45 war, I ruminate retrospectively as I pen this now, at this moment, myself, here.

“Right Up My Back Stairs” must be the best kept cliché, er, secret, in south London. A soupçon of the Third Reich on our doorstep! We are such lucky, lucky people. “Chacun a son gout” I conclude. Whatever the fuck that means.

By Hubert Vibrant-Hubb

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Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:31:17 BST
great beer garden http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/pubs/the-duke-of-edinburgh-sw98ag.html#r51613 One of the best and biggest garden bars in London. They are now doing a great bbq Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday from 2.30, great food. 3-4 Min walk form Brixton Tube or 8min from Clapham high st. Friendly and fun staff, all very relaxed in a professional manner. Great hidden treasure off the busy roads. New management recently which has made the pub a lot better. Great music, 2 pool tables.

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Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:17:26 BST
Arlington Electrical are bad news http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/domestic-appliance-servicing-domestic-appliance-repairs/arlington-electrical-sw21rs.html#r49856 Don't buy anything from this shop. Once they've got your money you're on your own and they become rude when you want to complain. They will also fit your gas cooker using a person who is NOT CORGI registered. They do say that they're not Corgi registered but you'd be surprised how many people don't know the implications of this and how the law stands. They should not be entertaining having someone fit your cooker knowing that it is illegal and that you can be prosecuted should anything go wrong or if you're found not to have a certificate. The truth is that any normal person buying a cooker will expect to have that cooker fitted by a qualified, Corgi registered person and for a little cheaper than usual seeing as you've purchased the appliance from them. They know this and know that people will go elsewhere. Don't say I didn't warn you!

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Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:18:39 BST
Definitive South London summer pub http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/pubs/the-duke-of-edinburgh-sw98ag.html#r43785 An initially uninviting boozer on first approach, but it's the garden that's the winner here, but get there early to blag yourself a table. Crammed into a triangular chunk of land next to a railway line, it's not the most attractive location, but if you're meeting a group of friends on a summers evening, what more do you need? Barbecue action at the weekends.

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Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:44:08 BST
Best cinema in South London http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/cinemas/ritzy-cinema-sw21jg.html#r43735 The Peckham multiplex is cheaper, but if you want a good filmy night out, this place is the where to come. Great victorian building, renovated a few years back, with a bar! Yes, a proper bar. you can't take you drinks into the film, apparently, but then that's what handbags and decent pockets were built for. "Are you drinking Budvar in the back row?" "Hic, honestly drinkstable, I've only had a few cu**s..."

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Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:38:39 BST
Great little boozer http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/pubs/the-windmill-sw25bz.html#r41653 Ideal place to go if you are lazing around clap common in the day if you are looking for somewhere a bit more llively in the evening then you are not far from Clapham high street

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Thu, 29 May 2008 13:50:40 BST
London's best venue http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/night-clubs/brixton-academy-sw99sl.html#r41384 This is without a doubt London's best venue. An old cinema with a steep slope means you're always get a great view of the band. The acoustics are also pretty good.

I've been to pretty much most of London's venues and Brixton is head and shoulders above all of them.

Transport links are great and there are a fair few bars and restaurants in the local area to meet before hand.

You can keep your O2 I'll keep on seeing my favourite bands when they play at Brixton. Big bands still play here but you need to be quick to get the tickets.

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Wed, 28 May 2008 22:18:18 BST
Ems http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/fish-chip-shops/ems-fish-chips-sw98qh.html#r39143 Does someone called Emma run this then? Ive never dared ask. The standard of fish in here is really high and they use nice long fat pieces so you definitely get more than you could eat with the massive portion of chips they give you.

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Sun, 25 May 2008 18:22:41 BST
Rough http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/pubs/punch-pub-sw97ll.html#r35804 This is a rough pub, dirty and dingy, often known to have fights inside, and they often burst onto the street. If you're trained in martial arts like I am you'll be ok.

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Tue, 20 May 2008 11:48:55 BST
Rough http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/brixton/pubs/punch-pub-sw97ll.html#r35804 This is a rough pub, dirty and dingy, often known to have fights inside, and they often burst onto the street. If you're trained in martial arts like I am you'll be ok.

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Tue, 20 May 2008 11:48:55 BST