The Rest is Noise, SW9

This historic building was originally Bon Marche, Britains first all purpose department store built in 1877. When it ceased trading it went through a series of multi-purposes with part of the building becaming the Flourmill & Firkin, followed by the Goose, Ivan’s Retreat and its final phase as the Rest Is Noise. The place entered my radar as the Goose, a large, bright cavernous room with modern artworks, deafening music and surprisingly a couple of Real Ales. It was convenient and housed more people than the tiny ‘Spoons opposite hence its popularity with the pre-Academy crowds. It was also a magnet for every bit of lowlife the area could throw up with regular complaints of bag snatching and minor assaults. When its reputation was rock bottom it was transformed into Ivan’s Retreat, a more subdued, upmarket style superlounge with copious sofas and candle lit tables. It still got rammed before Academy gigs and the eclectic music that flitted from ambient houe to Jilted John was still churned out at conversation killing volume. Its last fling as a pub/bar was as the Rest Is Noise although I never ventured through the door under that banner but I understood it to be more of a music based venture until it was suddenly stopped in its tracks earlier tthis year for reasons best know to the owners. The place is now a building site ahead of being converted back to retail usage. I can’t say I’ll miss it, in fact I couldn’t stand the place but as the Goose it did do the occasional surprise guest ale and could always be relied upon tio keep the hordes out of the better pub options and for those reasons alone it had a purpose.

Closed & Gutted