Seems to change hands frequently. Lived in Ferndale Road fifteen years ago when Frank Henley (I think) ran it and was a frequent visitor over the proceeding years. The beer had got very pricey and has thankfully come down a bit. I had stopped going here because the bitter was frequently off or sour and the Guinness often fizzy. Popped in a week ago and the bitter was better so hope it will be better kept by current Landlady. PS not keen on paying to use a debit card. Garden great in the summer and at least its still a proper pub.Revisted this pub (Thursday evening) and enjoyed the quiz. Decided to post an updated review of a positive nature in terms of this place's progress, only to find I've been accused of being a "Sock-puppet" (which smacks of irony given it's by a user who's only comment on BITE comes after being asked to post "by the chef").

Seriously guys, take the criticisms given with a pinch of salt, or take on board what people are saying. I've never been asked to leave any pub, let alone this one - get over the fact that people are expressing their individual opinions and concentrate on making your business your priority.

I praised the landlady for her welcoming attitude in my last review, but if this is how her chef acts in a public forum (even if it is out of loyalty and pride) you have to wonder if he'll have a job come the New Year?amazing pub, atmosphere, people. best pub in brixton by a mile

It was very lively when I visited on a Friday night. Needed to queue and get frisked by a bouncer before getting in and there were stalls outside selling food and drink. Combine this with the pub's spaciousness and the live music and it felt like being at a festival. Definitely worth a visit. Speaking on behalf of many entertainers that have had the misfortune to agree to doing a gig here, this place is a nightmare. DONT DO IT! the promoters and the management are the most unprofessional, rude people you could ever have the misfortune to deal with. The running of the place is a shambles and sound engineers are a catastrophe... changing microphones and leads during songs, just terrible terrible gigs....In agreement with Haldir, its all about the money. I am surprised they have not been blacklisted by the musicians union, among other professional entertainment boards.I live round the corner too - surprised by the negative comments on here.

Great music, cheap beer, shows all sport in the week- has a bit too much of an edge to it on some nights.

But Brixton would be far the worse without it.

I want to love you, Effra, but white washed walls and 100 watt light bulbs are great for interrogations, not pubs.
Repaint the walls back to that nice cosy tobacco, turn the lights down and you'll be truly great once again. I won't even mind drinking Red Stripe. Please!!The Effra Pub has just got better and better with time. In the 11 years that I have been running the sunday Nite Jam The Effra has become Londons best kept secret.
Now bursting out to let all know:
Come on down and join in a full fit to bursting jam on sundays, great food all week long and friendly bar staff.
For those you wishing to join the jam contact Lauren Dalrymple:
facebook or laurendalrymple.com for more information. See you all there!!The Good - the punters, the music, the big screens, the overall vibe
The Bad - the lack of proper ale, the always unsmiling staff
The Ugly - the toilets

Has too many ambitions to be a trendy club for my liking - I'm not a fan of establishments where someone hangs around in the toilet with soap and smellies for the customers. However, I did enjoy the table football.Wow, I have never been to a place quite like Dogstar. There are so many different types of people from your cool kids to your chaves to your rich posh totties. But for some unknown reason it works. I felt a bit sorry for the staff as it was so busy and they seemed rather short staffed. It took awhile to get severd which was the only down side to the night I didnt actually know there was an upstairs till right at the end of the night. Its got a real coolness about the place. Although its a little dingy it just adds to the the atmoshphere of the whole place.
Any ways I love Dogstar and you'll see me again next weekend!It's still there! I just moved back to Brixton and I went to Dogstar for the first time in years recently and had a top night out. I used to go a lot back in the day and it's changed loads but it's still holding onto its roots and the old vibes. The music was varied, I didn't like it all as some of it was too commercial but then the DJ started dropping some old house cuts! That's my bag...& I didn't stop dancing for the rest of the night! Wicked, legendary venue. So glad it's still going strong, be heading back there soon.

Oh. dear, this was the second weatherspoons I visited over the weekend, one in Aylesbury Buckinghamshire where the bar staff were friendly, helpful and knowledgable and the atmosphere was relaxed but smart, here however is the other end of the scale smelly loos, bleak surroundings, staff who have not grasped English let alone the fine points of real ale, we were there for 20 minutes and had to seperate beggers ask for money. Asked for a pint of abbot ale, was told "NO" without any explanation, had to settle for an ice cold John Smiths which didn't challenge the taste buds much. Just about ok for a pre-gig quick beer but please don't consider eating here.Noisy,smells of B.O.Worst Wetherspoons I have been in upto now.Fred is very popular here. He really likes the Beehive because the drinks are cheap and feels comfortable here

I was really blown away when I got to this pub for a friends birthday recently, place looked very cool with one of the biggest beer gardens I have ever seen. Had a really great night here inspite of the fact the the service was ridiculously bad. Place gets pretty busy by all accounts which certainly slows down your ability to get drinks - but there is no need for staff to be rude is there? Other than this a very cool and chic pub which I would likely head to again but nott when it is going to be extremely busy i.e. fri or sat nightIt only worth going during the day if its hot. The Beer garden is excellent and very chilled.

But avoid like the plauge in the evening, its gets packed out and the bafoons que up round the corner for 40 minutes to get in, only to spend another 40 mins waiting for a drink once they get through the door..

And the people in the evening are awfal... Typical clapham-ite, YAR YAR, RAH RAH..... BANTER!!!! - I swear these types come off a production line.. Pointless human beings! For a good night out in Brixton, check out Dogstar or White HorseWell, some pretty damming comments from others. I went here to meet my daughter who lives in Brixton and to watch the Germany v England game ( we lost 4-1). My wife and me were about 30 years older than the main bods getting raucous for the footy so not a good start. I was beginning to wish I was at home watching the game but decided to ignore the Meldrew head. Good selection of beer and cider but absolutely 100% sh*t service, good burger though. Reminds me of a spoons but twice the price - truly awful but maybe I'm an old git