Canterbury Arms, SW9

demolition work taking place on the former Canterbury Arms pub in Brixton, which will shortly be replaced by a private, nine-story residential development

Traditional side-street local, with a 'U'-shaped bar featuring a number of surviving features of historic interest. Irish-run, so extremely busy before a Pogues gig at the nearby Academy and thus making it almost impossible to see much of the interior. Patio area out front. Just one handpump, serving up an OK pint of Doom Bar (£3.30).

This pub is on CAMRA’s Regional Inventory of heritage pubs, mainly as a result of the surviving Victorian etched/cut glass screening between the two rooms and the staircase. Unfortunately the council has now given the green light for its demolition to make way for yet more housing. This is an Irish pub with all manner of Irish-themed decor – Kilkenny Irish Beer mirror, RofI flags, Munster Football Team photo, shamrocks and Guinness adverts. The walls are covered with mainly handwritten notices about things like forthcoming sporting fixtures being televised and rules about the purchase of drinks while watching said sporting events. There’s even a notice banning the use of mobile ‘phones in the pub. Furnishings are basic banquettes and normal tables and chairs, plus there’s some outside seating on a small patio area at the front. There was just the one real ale on – Doom Bar (£1.60 a half) which was barely drinkable, although I didn’t finish my half. A punter that came in after me ordered a pint of Doom Bar top, and I suspect that the addition of lemonade will have improved the flavour. I didn’t see any sign of food. I doubt whether I would have the opportunity to return, even if I wanted to.