Any ideas for the Warrior Pub? (archive chat about the Warrior/Junction pub, Loughborough Junc)

[sun man]

The Warrior public house (242 Coldharbour lane) has recently been granted a planning approval for it's re-development.

Before plans are finalised for the bar interior I would appreciate opinions from the locals or people who feel they are likely to use the pub.

Some objectives are :-

1) to ensure that it's operation resets the most recent image portrayed by the local pubs in the area

2) to provide high quality beer, service and drinks for a reasonable price.

The ground floor is set out in an L shape style, the existing bar is very impressive but may not be large enough, would people object to a new one?

Is there any particular layout or design that people would like to see inside?

Most people who walk by say it should be a wine bar, I don't know exactly what a wine bar is but I assume it's a smart pub/ bar that only serves wine/spirits/bottled beers. If there's enough call for it though, I'll be happy to make it an option.

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I thought it good when it had one of the first micro-breweries there....it was a brilliant idea, sadly ahead of its time. I live within striking distance of it. If it was a wine bar I can't say I'd spend more than a few nights a year (if that) in there....I can drink better cheaper wine at home. There's a dearth of decent real ale though, and I'd be likely to visit it more often then.
Brixton and Camberwell have trendy watering holes a-plenty. So provide something that the area lacks. There's no decent live music about (no more fucking DJ's. please) so maybe that's something worth considering.

 

[Pseudopsycho]

Mrs M, what about the Windmill, there's always decent live music on there - nearly every night in fact. Agree that the last thing we need is another trendy bar, too many around as it is. As long as it serves a decent pint of guinness (or maybe a proper stout - Black Mass, Oysters or something) I'll be happy. PS no piped in pop music.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I was more thinking of the Loughborough Junction area. The Hero of Switzerland on Loughborough Road occasionally has live music, but not often. The Windmill is not by any stretch of the imagination local to me......my nearest pubs are the Angel, the Albert, and the Warrior........

 

[editor]

The area around Loughborough Junction desperately needs rejuvenation. I don't think a nobby wine bar is going to be much help to the community: if I were to take charge of the pub (unlikely, granted), I'd try and set up an open, friendly pub with an agenda to promote local talent.

There's tons of gifted people living in the area, so I'd look to having poetry/spoken word/rap nghts, performance, local bands, film etc with a cafe feel during the day.

A kind of Albert-meets-Windmill-meets-Lounge cafe-meets
Brixton Rocks, if you will....

 

[Pseudopsycho]

Fair point, just have great memories of the place from when I first moved to the area. Looks like a few more places to add to my pub map of Brixton!

 

[hatboy]

In a hurry but afew point:

Firstly, terrific if it stays a pub, I thought it was already a gonner.

2) Keep the historic internal woodwork and the "Brixton Brewery" sign above the bar. You asked if people would object to it's removal. Well, I would. So few pubs have the Victorian details in now that they're worth preserving. Maybe you'll have to move it about abit, but PLEASE DO NOT chuck it.

3) Wine bar! What an absurd, tacky, dated, 80s idea. What the junction needs is a good, solid, welcoming traditional pub. Stylish enopugh to get youngsters in, traditional enough for old people who want a quiet pint or the old bloke who play dominoes (in the Green Man for instance before it got fucked up).

4) So please make this a pub that welcomes the local community. you can have a decent "pub" and the occasional loud or live, late night event in one thing. But please, NOT another naff 7-nights aweek DJ Bar.

5) It's a tough litle area. You'll need a manager who knows the area, cares about it and has the abilty to stop the place being over-run with dealers (I'm not against weed as people know, but there's some rough lads round LJ).

6) Good luck.

 

[IntoStella]

I'm over the moon that there is a chance for the Warrior to be restored to its rightful function and not made into flats, which would only add to the area's decline.

Following on from what others have said, I think a no-nonsense pub with some real ales, live music and good, simple, affordable hot meals would be fantastic.

"What the junction needs is a good, solid, welcoming traditional pub.", as HB said.

Maybe Albert-meets-Windmill-meets certain elements of the Beehive -- its inclusiveness, friendliness, guest beers and cheap food, though not its lingering aroma of stale-beery carpet and old men's trousers!

(TBH, I think what you can actually smell when you go in the Beehive is Anna Key! )

 

[Shelly P]

I don't post on the brixton boards much, but I just wanted to say I'd be delighted if this place was reopened. I used to go there when it was 'The Junction' and, as I live just about a 2 mintues walk from it, it was my most local pub by a long way. I'm sick of having to walk either to The Albert (which seems a long way for a 'local) or occasionally to the (bit pricey and also not particularly near Cambria for a pint. And walking past the closed down trio of The Warrior, Green Man and the ? bar (does anyone know what is going on with that place?) is really depressing and does nothing for the area.

As others have said - no, please not a wine bar! For me, a decent, welcoming, unpretenious pub - which takes care to pour a decent pint - would be ideal. Too often it seems that the pipes haven't been cleaned for god know how long and consequently the beer tastes rank (see The Coast Bar further down Coldharbour lane for an extreme example!)

Is a late licence being considered for this place or not?

 

[aurora green]

I also think its great news that the Warrior is opening up as a pub again. We really need ammenities and stuff happening around here,
but please, no poncy wine bar, it'll attract the wrong sort, who'll piss off again very quickly, ditto disco bar.

As others have said, what we need is a good welcoming, community minded pub, reasonable prices, nice Sunday lunches, friendly.
I also think the idea of showcasing local talent is really good, and could really work both for you and the community.

 

[corporate whore]

I rarely go to the LJ despite living but a 10 minute stroll away - a mate lives near the Cambria, so I go there occassionally.

Aurora Green said: good welcoming, community minded pub, reasonable prices, nice Sunday lunches, friendly.

Totally agree!

 

[edgarlesty]

just open it....!

...as someone who works around the corner I'd just love to see it open again in more or less any shape or form (tho' a wine bar would be stretching it admittedly... )

...ditto Hatboy on the Victoriana, a recent CAMRA study on pub interiors (aimed at preserving around 500 genuine interiors nationwide) only found 247 original, historic (not sure what dates qualify as this...but let's say pretty old!) in the whole country -
report here...

http://www.camra.org.uk/SHWebClass.ASP?WCI=ShowDoc&DocID=4681

so every bit should be preserved if possible.

and ale, I like ale please (but no beards, sandals or morris-dancing)

 

[sun man]

Thanks for your thoughts they are duly noted.

Feedback is over-ridingly in support of a Pub rather than Wine Bar. Which is definitely my preferred option.

Really want to create a comfortable pub & bar lounge, with stage area for local talent. Endeavour to keep it's original Victorian charm.

Hope you look forward and frequent the new Warrior that will serve as a quality watering hole for the decent folks of Brixton/LJ.

Thanks for comments on well-needed management. We have this covered!

 

[editor]

You might be interested in seeing what that particular past of Loughborough Junction used to look like:

Then and Now

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Hoorah!
You will of course have to pass the all-important and rigorous Mrs M loo test......

 

[IntoStella]

Fantastic news

This calls for a celebration! Hic!

 

[Stig]

W of W wants decent Brixton pint

I'm with hatboy and others who are anti wine bar and pro pub.

If it was a trad pub with good beer (important!) and a good mix of peeps then I'd come out of area to visit

W of W

 

[Carageto]

I live near the Angel and have been trying to think where the Warrior Pub is and for the life of me I just can't picture it . Could some please enlighten me. Cheers

 

[hatboy]

It was last open as "The Junction" dance bar. Near Green Man, slightly towards Brixton on the other side.

 

[IntoStella]

So has it definitely still got its original (Victorian?) fittings? It could be absolutely lovely if it has.

 

[john x]

W of W wants decent Brixton pint

Originally posted by Stig

If it was a trad pub with good beer (important!) and a good mix of peeps then I'd come out of area to visit

W of W

There is definitely a need for a good traditional pub in Brixton. I spent many happy hours in there when it used to have the micro-brewery next door. A wine bar would be a very, very bad idea.

Do we have a timescale for this?

john x

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Please get rid of the exterior black paint too............it makes the area even drearier.....and please don't change the name from the Warrior, I hate landmark names changing.........if you think it's a bit macho you could always have a pubsign featuring Boudicca

 

[john x]

Originally posted by Mrs Magpie
Please get rid of the exterior black paint too......

It used to be a nice shade of dark green with the name picked out in gold, if I remember correctly.

I'd love to see that pub back in business, not least because of the good it would do for Loughborough Junction.

john x

 

[IntoStella]

Originally posted by Mrs Magpie
.and please don't change the name from the Warrior, I hate landmark names changing.

Couldn't agree more, especially in the light of the Granville Arcade/Brixton Village fiasco.

....Or if you wanted to imbue the place with a softer, more Guardian-readery image, you could always subtly change the name to The Worrier.

 

[Mr Retro]

A wine bar would be a very, very bad idea.

A pub selling good wine though, would be a very good idea.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

I'd like to see it sold by the flagon.

 

[Mr Retro]

Originally posted by Justin
I'd like to see it sold by the flagon.

Indeed, and drunk from a clay cup.

 

[IntoStella]

Originally posted by Justin
I'd like to see it sold by the flagon.

At a farthing a throw. Or possibly a groat.

 

[tarannau]

Never mind these old folks Sun Man...

Best of luck with regenerating the Warrior fella - sounds like you've got a good things in store.

Beer me!

 

[Giles]

Presumably since the rest of the building above and to the side of the pub is going to be flats, it won't be able to have a late license like it did when it was "The Junction"?

Giles..