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The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon), Brixton, SW9
SW9
SW9 7DG
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
This apparently started life on 11th February 1993, named after Beehive Close which runs from the north of the pub, curving round to the rear; were there once beehives here or an old pub of the same name?
I wouldn’t ordinarily enter a ‘spoons conversion, but like Moby, my destination was bladder led. This is a small venue, long and narrow with a ‘ye olde’ ‘spoons look, carpeted floor and booth-style seating, all very woody with glass screens and décor in the form of pictures of the area from yesteryear along with biographies of local dignitaries such as George Robey, John Ruskin and Herbert Morrison, grandfather of Peter Mandelson; all this can be seen on their website. What you can’t see on the website is the poor state of the unusually small and cramped bogs, which really could do with some attention from builders, then regular inspections from staff. Very crowded, customers amounted to a large number of local Afro-Caribbeans, to be expected given the area, then a substantial quantity of studenty types; one customer was slumped, head on table; a classic ‘spoons touch.
Aside from the usual suspects, there were two guests: Sambrook’s Pumphouse and Junction, £1.43 a half and very drinkable, served by an attentive barman.
This isn’t the best of ‘spoons but it’s not the worst either; it’s probably got the most appealing cask selection for quite some way around, though that’s saying less about the pub and more about the quality of pubs in this part of the world.
On 7th April 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
Typical Spoons with a pretty poor ale choice consisting of Abbott, Ruddles, Sambrooks Pumphouse Pale and one other I've now long since forgotten. I very much doubt I'll be calling in here again unless the bladder tells me different.
On 10th July 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
A long and narrow pub but with natural light to the rear as well as the frontage if only leading to a small yard to suit the smokers. Bar along the side, wood panelled walls and booth seating opposite pretty much along the full length of the pub, tall tables to the front. Busy on a Saturday afternoon, horse racing muted on TV but with punters enthusiastically following it, it actually felt like a proper pub in here. Lots of interesting framed photos and postcards of the vicinity in the early part of the 20thC. Apart from the usual suspects they had Single Hop and Audit Ale from Westerham, Audit was £2.29, an outstanding price for a 6.2% beer, as well as Dorking Red India, full marks for relatively local ale. I also appreciated the "No Drinking at the Bar" sign, good move as this helps service and choice. If only all places did this.
On 17th September 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
This is much like just about every other ‘spoons I’ve been in. There are tall tables/tall stools in the front part of the room, some booths on the left, and normal tables and chairs in serried ranks at the back. As usual there are old black and white photos of the local area, including that of the long gone and lamented Bon Marche department store. A typically varied ale range is available, as well as the regular pub grub menu of course.
Although it’s not big by ‘spoons standards, the narrow frontage conceals a pub that has been extensively opened up to the rear. It’s certainly bigger than it looks from the street. The client base when I visited on Wednesday was much the same as experienced by previous reviewers – it’s very much a locals’ pub. This one does its job admirably, in providing cheap food and drink for the people of Brixton.
On 28th March 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
One of the smaller 'spoons, with the usual line of booths on one side of the bar and a fairly limited collection of tables on the other side and at the front. Frequented by some difficult characters, and the bar staff seem to be struggling to cope on some occasions. Unless I miscounted on my latest visit, there are now a total of eight handpumps (down one), but there was still a decent selection of interesting beers (including Nethergate Growler Red Santa, £2.15). Handy for the Academy, but very much a place for a quick pint before moving swiftly on.
On 19th December 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
What a wild and noisy pub.Def a locals pub.2 excellent beers from the beer fest list.Cant complain if the beers good.
On 19th October 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
This is yet another very typical shop conversion handy for both Brixton stations. The "Last Of the Summer Wine" daytime Spoons brigade seemed to be a cheery mixture of British, Irish and West Indian men and women rather than the usual saddo English blokes.
The nine pumps had an uninvited guest Adnam's Lighthouse Available Soon, three devoted to the two GK regular beers, Titanic White Star, 2 Ciders and 2 By The Horns Locale beers. I went for the By The Horns Diamond Geezer (£2.15) which was in good nick, but I thought had something of a "home brew kit" character, something down to the brewer rather than the pub.
On 17th August 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a fairly small Wetherspoons pub on the main Brixton High Street. I popped in here prior to a recent gig at the Brixton Academy and found the long, narrow room (presumably some sort of shop conversion?) absolutely packed at the front and relatively quiet to the rear. The interior is of the typical 'Spoons style, with some fairly nice booths at the back of the room and the usual information boards about famous locals (Linton Kwesi Johnson, John Ruskin, Herbert Morrison etc...) on the walls. TV screens were showing subtitled BBC News 24, but the real entertainment here comes in the form of discreet people watching, as the pub certainly has its fair share of 'interesting' characters.
The ale selection was a bit of a let down, with regulars such as Abbot and Ruddles doubled up, leaving the only guests as Salopian Hop Twister, Deuchars IPA and Ramsbury Bitter. My pint of Ramsbury was in pretty poor shape to be honest and could have done with a top up.
Not a pub I'd want to drink in regularly, but I enjoyed watching the shady characters going about their business. I'd probably pop in if I was looking for a quick pre-Academy pint, but it's best to go with low expectations.
On 28th January 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a typical but small Wetherspoons and is rather inadequate for the area that it caters for. Only yards from the Brixton Academy and close to the market and shopping areas, it attracts a large number of varied punters and gets particularly rammed prior to Academy events. The interior is long, narrow and furnished in the usual ‘Spoons style with a few interesting old local photos and displays. Although it is one of the smaller 'Spoons, the beer selection is above average and service has always been pretty good even when busy. One side has several screened off sections one with an open fireplace but getting a seat is a rarity. It must be said that there is not a lot of competition in the area unless you know where to go so, to that end, it does serve its purpose although I can't help thinkng 'Spoons should find a larger premises in the area.
On 22nd February 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Beehive (JD Wetherspoon)
Usual Whetherspoons pub, real ale, food cheap prices. Always seems crowded. No smoking area at the back. Front area full of locals creating a very smokey atmostphere which you have to pass through as there is not another entrance to the back. Usually give a high rating to Whetherspoons pubs, but the smoke lets this one down. Update: thought this place would be empty when smoking ban came in, but it is still busy. Very popular with the older locals.
On 15th November 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]