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Canterbury Arms, SW9
SW9
SW9 7QD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Canterbury Arms
demolition work taking place on the former Canterbury Arms pub in Brixton, which will shortly be replaced by a private, nine-story residential development
On 11th January 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Canterbury Arms
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.
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 Canterbury Arms
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).
On 19th December 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Canterbury Arms
Tucked away down a side street off the hectic Brixton Road, the Canterbury Arms is a typical, two bar, back street boozer. The main bar has a horseshoe shaped servery with a nice, intricately carved bar back which also boasts a few attractive etched glass panes. The room is carpeted with short banquettes, low stools and standard chairs serving plenty of tables around the perimeter. The walls are wood panelled and covered with various Irish themed bits such as flags and Guinness adverts, as you might expect given the Irish landlord, but it’s not over the top and it never feels like you’re in a themed Irish bar. Elsewhere, scruffy hand written pages adorn the walls, listing upcoming football fixtures due to be shown on the two TV screens at either end of the room. One wall is dedicated to the local Streatham ice hockey team and has various photos of them in action as well as a fixture list for the current season. There is a second bar to the rear, which looks a bit more spartan than the comfortable main bar, but it wasn’t open on my visit, despite a good crowd being in for pre-Academy drinks. Plenty of punters had spilled out to the raised seating area where there is a good amount of picnic bench style seating. Back inside, punters were treated to a selection of cheesy 80’s hits whilst a Europa League match played on the TV screens.
Progress has been made on the ale front, with Sharp’s Doom Bar now available. I decided to give it a try and was pleased to find that my £3.10 bought me a pint in tip-top condition, which has to be a good news story.
As Roger mentions, this pub doesn’t get as packed as other venues like the Craft Beer Co or Wetherspoons outlets, thanks to its slightly secluded location, which makes it a good option for anyone attending a show at the Academy. I liked the unpretentious feel of this place and the friendly welcome from the landlord and would be happy to head back here again. 6th October 2013.
Update: Apparently a proposal has been put to the local council to demolish the pub and build a nine story block of flats in its place, which means the pub may well be gone by this time next year.
On 19th October 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Canterbury Arms
I sometimes used to drink in here before Academy gigs mainly because it is slightly off the beaten track and does not get quite as rammed with people like the cheapo pubs round the corner. It is basically an on old-fashioned pub run by an Irish landlord (as opposed to an Irish pub in the usual sense of pub vernacular). Prices are OK but the choice of beers is bland with no real ales. There is an open terrace area in front of the pub which is seldom used. I have yet to be there when the back bar is open which means all the pre-gig punters have to use the front bar and unless you are there early, there is little chance of a seat. There are a couple of screens and a pool table that swallows up the floor space. The previously lumpy seating has at least been re-upholstered making it a bit more comfortable, assuming you can bag a seat in the first place. The most impressive feature is the tiled corridor that leads to the toilets and the rear function bar. Service is always fine and with the local cop shop 20 yards down the road, there is less chance of encountering any trouble here than probably any other pub in the area. Fine as a meeting place but little to warrant anything other than a passing pre-gig glance. I have now found far better places in the back streets so the Canterbury is now just a rare visit.
On 28th March 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about Canterbury Arms
A large(ish) pub. Bright interior. Friendly staff. Has an outside seating area. No real ale. Sells sandwiches only. Nice place.
On 1st October 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]