Dogstar, Brixton, SW9

They only had a couple of Christmas ales on when I dropped in here on Saturday afternoon. This is not good by the standard of other Antic pubs that I’ve visited. Antic pubs seem to specialise in shabby chic, and this one is much like that but without the chic. It’s gloomy and dingy, but maybe that appeals to its customers. The pinball (unfortunately not switched on) is still there, along with the pool table and table football. The main bar area has a large empty space in the middle of the room, with benches and the like round the sides. I doubt whether I’ll make a return visit to this one.

Large corner pub (formerly a hotel) with a partly-curved frontage. Inside, there are three slightly-raised seating areas plus a small rear lounge housed in an alcove to one side of the bar. Dark, with limited decor except for some pictures on one wall. Sparsely furnished, but some of the wide window ledges form bench seating and there are a few side booths. Food limited to brief pizza menu (but it is difficult to imagine anybody coming here to eat). Pinball, plus a rear games room with pool and table football. Notices indicated that a 'Makerhood Workshop' (whatever that is) was happening in one of the upstairs function rooms. Just Doom Bar (£3,20) available from the pair of handpumps. Overall, rather rough and unappealing.

This sizeable street corner pub has played an interesting role in Brixton’s history, having had various phases in which it was popular with either the black or white community, thereby making it a target during the Brixton riots of 1981 and 1995. The pub was quite badly damaged by a fire after the latter disturbances and reopened as the Dogstar some time later. The pub is now part of the Antic chain and focuses on late night DJ and live music sessions. Entry is to the main bar, which has scruffy wooden flooring and low bench and banquette seating on raised platforms around the edge of the room. I found the place really dirty and unappealing and having decided not to sit on one banquette due to a number of footprints on the seats, we moved nearer to the window where, to my great annoyance, I managed to sit on some chewing gum. The rest of the room has standard table and chair seating, although the further you move from the windows, the gloomier the room becomes. A large screen had been unfurled to show the afternoon’s play-off final and those wanting to avoid the match were able to sit in a lounge area past the right hand end of the bar counter. This area has a few sofas and some large paintings on the wall, which the website suggests creates a ‘Surrealist Boudoir’, although the only surreal thing I can find about it is their choice of description. Doors here lead into a games room that was closed on my visit, although I could see that it had a pool table and table football. There is a ballroom upstairs where bands regularly perform and other rooms are available for hire. The two hand pumps were dispensing Sharp’s Doom Bar and Cottage Lazy Hound on my visit, so I gave the Lazy Hound a try and thought it was okay. There were a few unusual keg options as well including Brewdog 5am Saint. I’ve visited several Antic pubs prior to this one and generally I find them to be very good, but this place was a real let down and could certainly do with a good clean and lick of paint. I had hoped this would be a good alternative to the Trinity Arms for pre-Academy beers, but I think I’ll rule out future visits for a good while.