Blues Kitchen, Brixton, SW2

Part of a small chain of bar with a blues music theme, this is a well appointed venue a slight walk from the heart of Brixton. The bar area has similar decor to other pubs in this chain, with bare floorboards throughout and a spectacular glazed tile bar counter down the right hand wall, made especially for the pub by Victorian tiling specialists Craven Dunnill Jackfield. It creates quite the spectacle, aided by a white and blue tiled bar back with large arched mirrors, even if the effect has somewhat spoiled by having various drink options written across the tiles. High tables and stools fill the cramped space opposite the bar, with a drinking ledge and a couple of cosy booths on the left hand wall. Moving further into the room, you’ll find some more formal looking seating arrangements, including some more booths, that look like they are more geared towards diners. The walls have an unusual parquet-style panelling effect and there are a few large murals here and there to add a splash of colour. The ceiling is also noteworthy, appearing to have a semi-intact original decorative design which is admittedly rather worn and dirty, but acts as a nice feature nonetheless. A few glazed tile pillars that match the bar counter can be found through the centre of the room, but they are all false as, on closer inspection you will find that none of them quite reach the ceiling. Upstairs, past a decent collection of old gig posters, there is a compact 350 capacity live music venue. This is another bare boarded room which is quite narrow and has metal topped benches down either side and a small, low stage to the rear. A bar stands in the front corner and there are pleasant murals of famous old blues, funk and soul stars around the walls. Live music is a regular feature and they occasionally get big names here – my visit was to see Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, who were slumming it here for a couple of nights. Sadly, the bars don’t offer any form of cask ale, but the keg offerings include a few interesting options. I tried a pint of the Goose Island IPA, but noted other brews from the likes of Beavertown and Gipsy Hill as well as a number of more mainstream products. The pub was doing a brisk trade and the bar staff were surprisingly efficient given the number of time-consuming cocktails they were having to make. Like its sister pubs in Shoreditch and Camden, this place is worth visiting to admire the remarkable tiling, to catch some live music or at a stretch, to enjoy a bite to eat. As a pub, it falls down on the limited beer range which commands the usual hefty price tag you expect with craft keg and as such, I wouldn’t make this a regular port of call.

Official site of Blues Kitchen - theblueskitchen.com

Official site of Blues Kitchen - theblueskitchen.com

Recently opened as a bar, having previously been a restaurant, nightclub and various other things. Brightly lit frontage at night, with some patio tables out front. Inside the rectangular bar, you find a dim space with dark decor and mixed but sparse furniture. Central DJ booth and small live music / dance area. Much larger music and comedy venue upstairs (apparently). Just one of three handpumps was working, offering a so-so pint of Deuchars IPA (£3.75). Overall, you will probably know what to expect and how you fit with regard to the target demographic by how you respond to the trendy promotional material.