The Prince Albert, Brixton - pub details
Address: 418 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8LF [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 348) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Brixton (0.1 miles), Clapham North (0.8 miles), Stockwell (0.9 miles)
Brixton (0.1 miles), Loughborough Jn (0.6 miles), Herne Hill (0.8 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Pool table (1), Quiz machines (multi)
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> Current user rating: 6.7/10 (rated by 49 users)
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> Local guide: London pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Living Bar and Club, Brixton (0.0 miles), Tongue and Groove, Brixton (0.0 miles), Dogstar, Brixton (0.0 miles), Prince of Wales, Brixton (0.1 miles), Atlantic 66, Brixton (0.1 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Prince Albert, Brixton
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 37 shown - see all reviews
| It has more downsides these days, but it's certainly not that bad a pub - people aren't scared to mix in here, which is very important in these paranoid times... sure there's 'rizla-rustlers' in back, but that should be legal and available in a coffeeshop anyway, and if you don't like such people, I suggest you are too fussy! Potheads never hurt anyone, the worst they'll do is bore you! I don't like some places due to drug users: like the place under the arches next to the railway station in Brixton that after 2am is full of coke-heads queueing 6-deep to use the horizontal surfaces in the toilets, refusing to look anyone in the eye and generally creating a thick, aggressive, paranoid vibe, enabled by the bouncers using favouritism and sub-criminal behaviour on the door... not fun - even for the coke-heads themselves, the lost fools! But sure now, criticise the potheads first, they're one of the worst things about the insane prohibition laws, surely?! This place makes me feel fairly relaxed (not perfectly, as it has its own undercurrents depending on who's in) and one can approach the DJs without being seen as an annoyance - unlike the Hootenanny (which otherwise is pretty decent for the size). The bar staff will talk to you like a human being, and uncivilised behaviour IS seen as a disgrace and not encouraged. All this without the need for a heavy security presence is quite impressive for the times and place, really. Free live music instead of money-grubbing like the Dogstar (£5, for a DJ to play me music whilst I pay expensive prices for drinks and have very little friendliness unless I'm blonde/female and the other person is black and male, for example - not my stereotype BTW, don't shoot the messenger). No thanks, the Albert is better. Groovehound - 27 Jul 2011 20:07 |
| The Prince Albert is bang in the centre of Brixton by the market on Coldharbour Lane and is very handy for a couple of modest quenchers while shopping there. There is a leafy ‘beer garden / smoking area’ at the back which has a shelter and heating which can be quiet and relaxing when if is not busy - which it often is as it is a favourite haunt with secret rizla-rustlers. The atmosphere can be amiable, but there is a pervading pretentiousness that is unmistakable and which can amuse and irritate in equal measure. The first and most immediate clue to this sillyness is being confronted by the lyrics of the Clash song ‘Guns of Brixton’ which are displayed above the bar as if it is the pub’s anthem – which it may well be. Whatever, this sets alarm bells ringing. The bar staff are friendly and helpful enough, green spikey hair and pierced boat races notwithstanding. Pictures, (or should that be ‘studies’?) by local art students decorate the walls and comfy chairs and sofas are dotted around the place. Fashionably tatty. Hmmm. The pub’s ardent defenders would insist that the Prince Albert is one of the few traditional Brixton pubs that has resisted the urge to transform into a trendy style bar and has a mixed clientele, actually. The irony is that the pub has become to all intents and purposes precisely that which it has sought not to. It’s style is ‘alternative’,’ radical rebelliousness’ and ‘cool’. It has become unconsciously trendy by trying sooo hard not to be trendy in the way same that Student Grant and his friends are pilloried in Viz. You can tell that you are in the heart of ‘vibrant multicultural Brixton’ when you are in the Prince Albert because there are so many white people sporting dreadlocks, actually. The truth is that the clientele is not really all that mixed, they are made up of mostly young, professional, white and middle class nouveau arrivistes to the area who were attracted to Brixton because it was / is perceived as being a ‘vibrant area’ (see fawning Guardian-type articles ad nauseum et ad infinitum). These are the sort of people who passionately bemoan the gentrification of Brixton – a process in large part caused by them. Does that matter? No not really if you just fancy a couple of swift swallies. And the beer is satisfactory enough. Not cheap, (but then bear in mind that this is zone 2 in London) and nothing to sing about, but yeah it’ll do. I don’t think they serve any food there, probably not as there are already plenty of cafes in the market. The best time to visit the Prince Albert is perhaps in the afternoon in between shopping in the market. Evenings, especially at the weekends, are likely to be raucous times as punters gear themselves up to go clubbing and speed their pilled-up titties off till the small hours. Essentially the Prince Albert is a pretentious and slightly absurd venue, albeit harmless enough. Chilled out man, etc! Cheers. UncertainTrumpet - 10 Dec 2010 11:53 |
| I lived in Brixton for 11 years and used to go here regularly, when Pat was still alive. It was always a warm, lively place full of people. I moved away from the area 4 years ago and don't go to Brixton very often now. We went there last night for the first time in a couple of years and what a massive difference for the worse. The place is now dark (and I mean no natural daylight as the window is covered by a blackout curtain and the lights were switched off), dingy and run down and in dire need of redecorating and a clean. The beer garden was a grim place to spend any time, particularly as we were surrounded by the smell of the joints several people were smoking. There were only 3 people inside the bar and about 8 people in the garden. Absolutely grim. Never going back. The only saving feature was the painting of Pat which still hangs by the front door. She was a friendly but formidable landlady who must surely be spinning in her grave. MingtheMerciless - 14 Jul 2010 13:46 |
| This place is not full of drunk Brixtonians, but some people just get confused, its full of people who actually have a good time. Its frequented by regulars who don't seem to get hammered every time, they just like the atmosphere and enjoy themselves. That is, after all, what pubs are all about really. This pub does seem to be getting bad press from rival boozers so please don't take whats being said as gospel - i am not biased to this pub - I sing here with my band and used to drink here when i was local. Just telling it how it is. Fantastic barstaff, great little venue for music and friendly regulars. What more can i say... they do a lot of live music, bands or djs every weekend. Great atmosphere and great beer (Rocking Rudolph - my winner). If you have not been to, your best bet is to go down, visit and make your own decision. yogiberra - 4 Sep 2009 13:54 |
| A real horror, especially the morbid staff (miserable 'jam rolls' and psycotic neo fascist in Union Jack t-shirt). Some very interesting customers though. Beer: dire. Decor: tatty Music: Eastern European Plastic Punk. Best avoided Yurparty - 7 Aug 2009 14:46 |
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