Really cool live music venue. I saw a live show here when I came to London. There's a nice outdoor patio to hangout while waiting for the doors to open. Customers and staff were fairly friendly, and the beer selection is good. The live venue is a highlight - it's cozy and close. There really aren't bad places to stand (except behind a pillar). And the bar service available during the show is great. I really enjoyed my visit! read more

Hootananny - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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not what it was! an institution seemingly on its knees. depressed moody staff happy to serve you stale beer and short measures almost standard. read more

This venue is an example of exactly why it is that I am so pleased to be a Brixtonite. With exciting an eclectic live music, this venue attracts an array of beauties including everyone from the edgy hipster Shoreditch crowd to some old time Brixton residents who enjoy a great night out. Even better yet, it's actually a HOSTEL so there's no shortage of hot tourists moseying about. Outdoors you can find food vendors and smokers and loungers oh my! With a huge outdoor 'garden' area, there's always a place to escape from the heat and intensity of whatever gritty musicy things that are happening inside. Maybe have a burrito or a taco or a pizza or hamburger... My God I'm going to MOVE IN to the hostel! Lucky for me I live just a short walk away and that won't be necessary. Especially when I sober up I won't still be at the scene of the crime :) That's what the backpackers are there for. Don't listen when people say that the area isn't safe. Just man up and keep yourself and your possessions in order and you'll be fine. If you're savvy and smart you'll be safe and imagine, you may just enjoy yourself! read more

I love this venue, it's really one-of-a-kind. Free entry - woo hoo! Always heaving with cool 'Broxton' types Really diverse live music all night £1 tacos, which are gorgeous and really hit the spot! Decent selection of bottled and draft beers Funky interior, which I'm sure looks a bit grubby in the day, but by night is very cool. read more

Had an amazingly fun time here on a Saturday night. They're pretty strict about bringing in outside alcohol to the patio in the front when there's a show, so pregame first if you're not planning on blowing all your money at the bar. Get early so you don't have to pay a cover! Also, I think this building is also a hostel. If you're looking for a place to stay in London on the cheap with a bunch of young people, you should look into it! read more

Despite its prior history* Hootananny is THE place in Brixton. Be careful though, although many reviewers claim this area is safe, it really isn't. You may get your phone jacked or worse, your dignity. Once you have beaten back the steel drummers and street preachers, traverse the dangerous coldharbour crossing, and navigate through the dark waters of effra, you will arrive at the safe haven of the hoot where the reggae beats continue well into the morning (actually not, just till around 3 or so). Its real easy to make friends here, unlike east london- just sit at a table and they will come to you (not even joking). Friday and Saturday nights are a bit too packed for my taste though. *The original site where Hootananny is now located used to be a sacrificial altar for the local voodoo practitioners in the area. Many bones of small birds and animals were excavated here. read more

This place used to be called the hobgoblin but it isn't anymore. I used to go more than I do. Book a nanny. It's a hoot. read more

As a music venue? ***** As a pub? *** So I've settled on **** The good: Great place to see inexpensive, live, local music. A little divey. Nice folks. Fee-free cashpoint. Generally great vibe. Nice massive outdoor space that you can hang out in & feels a little bit like Zeitgeist in San Francisco. Licensed 'til 3 on weekends. The bad: A really indifferent selection of beers (including poorly-poured Guinness "extra cold")-- Hoegaarten and John Smith's are the ales. (remember, its mother/sister bar in Inverness has a great selection of locally brewed Highland & Island ales & lagers) The indifferent: A bunch of lagers at reasonable-ish prices. Loads of loo space. You know, it's a bar. The odd: They've got food. It's mexican-ish. It's good food, but it's not mexican-- almost like someone described mexican food for you and then you made it. It's good food! It's just a bit... odd. Worth going to for a gig-- and especially popping in for random gigs. Nice to sit outside on a sunny (or even cool) day, but I wouldn't make a massive trip unless it was for the music (almost always fun at least). Has a very Brixton vibel, as Magda says. read more

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Hootananny is an institution in Brixton. It is where I have had the most amazing memories of my excursions saafo'thariva (excuse me, crossing the Thames tends to render me indecipherable.) The live music lends Hootananny a vibrant atmosphere, and really remains the focal point of the place. What's more is that it is really well-supported by the acoustics and set-up, which leaves a lot of other venues in London trailing. You know what you're getting with Hooters. Leave your dinner jacket at home, and let another type of DJ take you to the highest heights of the dutty south..! read more

I like this place, been to a few gigs, had a few drinks, danced a little, sweated a little more, had a little street food, met a few humans. You know. Kind of cool with that BrixtonyShoreditchy vibe, you know the one, the IDontGiveAFuck vibe that actually is more like OkMaybeIGiveAFewFucksButImNotGoodWithEmotionalTalks vibe. It's too hybrid for me - the drinks are not cheap enough for this to be truly hipsterish, but it's also not posh enough to be an outdoors bar. I dont know. Good music though, when they have good gigs. read more

Right I had a really good night here. But I'll try and deconstruct so you know whether it is good for you. Atmosphere. Loud non mainstream live music on the night I went. It was advertised as polka.. Not really sure. But inside by the stage felt like a gig. Busy and loud. And that's ok cos I went to other parts of the venue. The seating area on the sat night I went was clear. An area away from the stage, you could hear each other with a slightly raised voice, a little more well lit, access to bar with minimal queues (after 11).. This part of the venue felt like my old student bar no frills. Bit of a sticky floor.could easily be a cafe in the daytime.but it was a large area. Outside the smoking area seemed to be heaving and this is where the socialising was happening. I spoke to a fair few random people and mostly pleasant apart from the odd few. The selection of people there was a nice eclectic mix. I'd say the average age was late 20s but ten years either side of that wasn't uncommon. No one style was dominant... I think thw only consistent demographic was chilled out. Very casual vibe. Staff... This is where they lose the stars.I don understand the need to search and scan us for.knives. Fine. But what I didn't appreciate as I enter a venue in good mood Was surly rude staff. No need.killed the mood as you enter. And the kind of thing that makes me leave on entry. Thankfully as I entered I found the bar staff considerably much friendlier. Not all security were rude. But it did create an unwelcoming atmosphere Great night out. Shame about the entrance. Entry fee 6quid. Rip off. I think a way to.keep numbers down. Drink prices were reasonable. Mostly under 5quid. Large selection if drinks behind the bar. Fast service read more

Just perfect if you love a bit of reggae/ska/alternative or whatever music they have on. Not your usual club - they host fantastic bands, though, and I always had great nights out there. Lovely outdoor as well, with tables and sometimes pizza! Crowd is varied, all above 21 and some a lot above... Sometimes I have had to fence off dudes that were a tiny bit too stoned for my taste, but other than that never had any issue, read more

£1 Tacos until 2am... Do I need to say anything else? Ok, ok I will do then This is a fab summer venue, the outdoor space is massive with lots of benches. I've only been a few times but the bands have always been really really good, especially given it's free entry. There's always a band or 5 on every Friday & Saturday. The only drawback is there's only a couple of ladies loo's meaning the queue is mahussive!! Avoid weekdays during the day as the local hobos seem to like congregating and shouting at on another over warm dregs of beer...!! read more

Having limited experience "down south", each experience counts. Hootananny was fun, it's got a very down to earth feel, and space, space, space. Huge outdoor lawn area, spacious inside including dance floor, pool tables etc (although a touch warm!). The band when I went was good, but not exactly dancing music (which was ok by me). 6 pounds cover is not exorbitant, especially for reliable live music place. Also.... someone was selling Jamaican patties and MAKING jerk chicken out front, which apparently happens on the regular?? Cool. read more

I wish I was cool enough to talk about the music here with any kind of authority, but all I can tell you is that the live bands on Saturday night rocked! We got here about 10.30pm for zero queue and £3 entry. I don't know who the Spanish warm up band was but I loved their funky salsa sound. Then the main act (who it seemed everyone else had specifically come to see and so we obv pretended to know too) were the amazingly energetic Animanz - billed as 'HipFunkAfroLatinHop' and it was suitably infectious stuff! We had a great time dancing away at the front, close enough to see the sweat and grab the free CDs they gave out afterwards. The place is huge and the rest of the time we moved between the main bar (with pool tables and plenty of seats), the awesome courtyard out front (barbecue ahoy!), and the toilet queue (which was annoyingly massive for the ladies but kept entertaining by the singing attendant). It's got a studenty grubby feel but with an older crowd, and the barmen all look like they've been backpacking for the past month. The one big letdown was my first drink - who makes a g&t in a pint glass then fills it up with tonic?! Bring on the malaria - I think I drank enough quinine to give me immunity for life. It was almost undrinkable and I should've sent it back had my mate not queued for so long to get it. Next time I'll maybe stick to the beer. It was nice to go somewhere so refreshingly laidback though that you can turn up in jeans, dance in front of the stage without getting elbowed AND have a £1.50 taco pit-stop right there. More places should do this! Bonus being you can relive it the next morning when you wake up and your hair smells of the juicy bbq smoke because you sat too close to the jerk chicken stand... :-) read more

I can probably confer my positive experience in Hootananny's to the company I was with (went for a friend's bday) but I enjoyed the laid-back but fun vibe when I visited on a Friday night. It's more shabby than chic (I mean, this isn't exactly based in Notting Hill) but it does shabby well. Very large outdoor space (an excellent choice to eat and drink a pint or 2 with friends during a rare London sunny day, which I just might try next time I visit Brixton) and a line-up of performances throughout the week. I didn't research the place before I arriving (I *always* research/Yelp where I go) but I can tell that it's probably a Brixton institution. Quite inclusive- you'll find college students and middle-aged men intermingling. No pretense, no posers, just good vibes all around. read more

On a particularly popular night (such as the night Saturday the 12th of February 2011), you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd found the nexus of the South London social scene. Everybody seems to be there - all ages (well, adults anyway), levels of wealth, races, persuasions etc. The place itself is massive and a bit of a hodgepodge: one part pub, one part music venue, one part Mexican restaurant/taco stand ... and it works! And believe me at 2am after bopping around to the throb of a gypsy punk band, sloppy £1 street tacos are a thing of beauty. My one experience here left me assuming this place often heaves with folk, at least on the weekend. But I've gotta say that staff were friendly and speedy. Prices of drinks, etc were reasonable (and the musical performances were free!). Hootananny is a good place to consider for meeting up with a big group or maybe a casual b-day par-tay. I'm not sure what's up with the more negative revs listed here. Obviously, the place is not the Ritz, but for what it is, this venue is a lot of fun. read more

A reliably mad place. Free to get in, usually, and excellent music on Fridays particularly. Drinks are a bit overpriced, but its generally worth it for the good atmosphere. A couple of points: 1) Don't use the cloakroom, if you ever want to see your coat again (or in one piece) 2) Don't expect the bands to be on at the advertised time. A visit to the Hoot will take up your entire evening. Good though. Had some amazing nights. read more

Absolutely brilliant atmosphere and the live music is always an added bonus! The drinks are cheap enough and the large front seating area is perfect for a summer drink in the sun. read more

Great live music, cheap beer and cheap eats, it's usually free to get in too. It doesn't seem to matter what music is playing that night, it fills up quickly. The *massive* patio is a great place to meet and chat with all manner of cool folk. Worth the trip, for sure. Those looking for a quiet night, be warned: You will not find it here. read more

Crazy venue, crazy times! it might not be everyone's cup of tea but if you want a true mix of Brixton's residents who are all out for the best evening possible then this is the place for you. Get there in the evening but before they start charging on the door (and bring your ID no matter how old you are) and soak up the atmosphere. On most nights there are pizza and burritos being sold in the massive courtyard garden. Inside it's a cavernous place with a big music room. It's all rough round the edges (including the regulars) but that's the deal with the Hootenanny and it wouldn't be the same without them. Each night has totally different bands and DJs playing but you can guarantee that the crowd will be totally up for it. Settle in for a late one as the pub shuts up shop at 4am. A Brixton institution. read more

Very casual. Looks like an institution in Brixton to me. There are two sides one with the pool tables then a separate room with live music. Got here before 10 no cover. Took the bus and it was just next to the station on the corner drinks are very readonavle and the crowd looks like regulars. read more

Great friendly and reasonably priced. So much variety on any given weekend! Great antidote to the usual overly trendy clubs! Highly recommended. read more

The staff here ruin this place. I live close by and used to go frequently but now it feels as if they're just trying to get as much money from people as possible. If you are there during the day you are now barred from the dance area until you lay an extortionate amount of money. The staff are also very aggressive and I would actually feel unsafe going back there. Such a shame because I've loved the live music and amazing bands for over 7 years. read more

I'd like to say that I am the kind of person who oozes innate coolness and can find herself in any venue, at any time, with any crowd and fit right in. Sadly this is not the case. Whatever I do and however I dress, there is no escaping the fact that I am a middle-class white girl whose iPod occasionally shuffles between Backstreet Boys, East 17 and selected tracks from Now That's What I Call The 1970s. So, when it comes to my opinion of a music venue, you may be advised to steer well clear. With that proviso firmly in place, and an apology to the management for ruining their reputation simply by displaying my allegiance (in the manner of David Cameron bopping along to The Smiths), I wish to register my love for Hootenanny's. Deep in the bowels of South London lies this weatherbeaten, dirty-floored, quietly cool spot - no pretentions here, it just happens to be hip because, much like Lady Gaga, it was born this way, baby. Inside there's the slightly cavernous feel of a church hall that was the victim of student riots and then left to rot for a couple of decades. The bar seems to be forever disappearing around a corner, which means that when you're not crammed onto the dancefloor listening to the bands, you can catch a quick breather, have a sit down and a nice chat without ever having to step into the freezing night-time air. But why would you do that? The music will keep you too enthralled to ever want to leave and it is, of course, the reason you go; they have a great selection of up-and-coming and more established bands, DJs and other musicians. On the night we went, we saw a fantastic ska & drum n bass band, followed by a beatboxer and then a DJ who specialised in scratching. And after that there was probably somebody else painfully on-trend but I'd knocked back far too many cans of Red Stripe to remember anything post-midnight. That's right, Red Stripe. If you like your beer like you like your reality TV stars (cheap, strangely compelling, liable to knock you out when you least expect it) then this is the place to come. It is Brixton after all. Young and trendy it may be but glamorous it ain't. But the cherry on the cake is no doubt what awaits you outside. Nestled within their vast beer garden is a truly wondrous sight: the taco van. No longer need you take a misguided detour via McDonalds, nor do you have to wake up knowing that you scoffed a doner kebab which has been rotating since 1985. Oh no: this is drunk snacking on a whole other level. Their veggie-friendly £1 tacos are a stroke of genius but they do bigger stuff too. When the server scraped up the last few vestiges of mince in order that I could snaffle their final burrito (for £5, if beer-sodden memory serves), a fellow Hootenannier attempted to buy it off me for £10. And I refused. They're just THAT good. Hootenannys: proof that there is life south of the river (and you don't need to surf a wave of judgemental stares, ridiculous hair and Buddy Holly glasses in order to enjoy it). read more

If you don't know much about Brixton, I would recommend coming to this place to feel the real vibe of this unconventional borough, home to the creative and laidback spirit, where Caribbean and European influences mix. There is no easy way of describing Hootananny but it is not a dive like the fellow yelper described it above! Hootananny is probably the best intimate music venue south of the river. True gem as many people who live in Brixton don't even realise it exists or that it has such amazing music acts on every week. Huge stage hosts live music every night of the week and trust me, these bands will appeal to any musical taste. What's even better, most of the gigs are for free so why don't you try? And if you're afraid of Brixton then you are missing out on a lot of fun. When I first strolled in there one Saturday afternoon, I was amazed to see pretty good representation of the whole Brixton demographic in one place. Some kids were playing on the floor right next to their parents, a retired old man with amazing dreadlocks was sipping pint of Guinness and group of students were playing the pool. Generally, the atmosphere was very easy going to the point that the staff didn't mind (or chose to ignore) when one customer decided to have a cigarette inside over his pint. At around 4 in the afternoon, something started to move. The band arrived! It took them a while to prep the instruments and to be frank I didn't expect much from them but when everything kicked off I was truly amazed. The music was great. Sound systems and acoustics perfect. I was taken by surprise as my visit started without any expectations. Anyone who loves music should visit this venue at least once purely for music and great atmosphere. Besides the excellent music, Hootananny has got a massive beer garden, where I have smelt people smoking something else than tobacco... And traditional pub décor has been successfully replaced by the grungy looking wallpaper made out of the local newspaper cuttings which gives it more edgy look. So not only you can drink, listen to the music or play pool there but also you can read old newspaper headlines - ideal. On a serious note though, Hootananny is a must visit when in Brixton as it reflects the real atmosphere of Brixton. read more

It's like a pub crossed with a club. There is an entry fee but the old school pub building does have great live music. There's a great large smoking area which must be great in the summer, definitely need to come back when it's warmer read more

The only good thing about this venue is the musical talent however the staff are disgustingly rude. If you turn up when they start charging entry be prepared to wait a very long time in the rain as they issue tickets at tortoise speed in order to charge more. The bar staff seem okay but watch out as on occasion they will diddle the prices in order to make a sweet pocket profit on the sly. The toilets are grotesque and usually there is p**s all over the seats and floor (I thought girls could aim). The bouncers must be bored because they tend to act delusional. An example of this was when we had found a corner at the back to stand and watch the band and put our bag leaning up the wall.. As we weren't planning on staying long we didn't see the point of wasting more time queuing in the pouring rain for a cloakroom. However, she made a point of pretending to trip over the bag that was not remotely in her path and began screaming at us that there was a "cloakroom outside" we chose to ignore her and she stormed off in a rage a bit like a toddler not getting its own way. read more

So this is definitely a dive bar - you couldn't describe it as anything - it is not however a bad thing! A group of 6 of us went on Saturday evening - 7pm -9.30pm primarily to eat. Other reviewers have not mentioned the Mexican Kitchen in this place that we went to check out on a friends recommendation. Really nice south American chap took our orders and the food arrived promptly and hot - from what I can tell, genuine authentic tacos and burritos. We also had the chicken wings that were delicious. No live music on while we were there but things seem to be being set up so I assume the entertainment started after we left. Would definitely go to this joint again for food and stay to see the music but I don't think I'd bother making the trip for a pint. Ale was tres expensive and not great (they only had one on draught - an undisclosed IPA) Lager not so unreasonable and I'm not sure its likely to be the kind of place with a great wine list. read more

I went here once, with a big group of friends for a leaving do, and I absolutely loved it. It's a very happy, energetic place with different live bands that come and play for the crowds, usually foreign styles of music from the likes of Africa and Latin America. They also have a great big sociable smoking area and jerk chicken, yes JERK CHICKEN for sale just outside. Only downside is the club won't allow anyone is past 11pm and they're pretty strict about it. read more

Oh dear I've just come to write my review of Hootananny and note that I uploaded a photo of the Wallace Collection instead! Anyway, this place is an institution and I feel a bit of a fraud reviewing it because I have only had a drink in here and not attended any of its legendary events, or tried the food. I came on a Saturday afternoon and it was pretty empty inside given the nice day so everyone was outside. A bit of history-when I lived in Brixton during the "interesting" 1980s it was a notorious boozer called the George Canning. I managed only once to pluck up courage to go inside. Now it is certainly a friendly and above all youthful place. But, boy did it seem, well, a bit dirty. Fag ends were swept up to the step inside and then just left there in a large pile. Inside was all a bit sticky and unkempt. That may be the style so perhaps I can't read too much into it. Or-maybe I'm just too old. read more

Really good fun, usually have great bands on. Entry isn't extortionate and attracts a great crowd and mix of people. The place is really big and has pool tables and a seating area if you want to just chill and have a break from the live band. Would definitely recommend. read more

I went to Hootananny for the first time on saturday night and it was pretty good. We arrived around midnight after the Effra had closed and I sure we were going to have to pay to get in. We were pleasantly surprised to discover it was free, there was live music, a good atmosphere and happy smiling bar staff. Despite the crowds we were served a good pint almost straight away and there was even a pool table free. There is ample amounts of outdoor space for smokers or for people who like the cold. All in all it was a fun and convenient place to go. I will be keeping an eye on their live music listings and hopefully going back there again soon. read more

Such a big fan of this place, always great live music, reasonable priced drinks, food stalls outside and an awesome atmosphere. Great in the summer as its pretty close to Brockwell park. read more

Hootenannys is great. Friendly staff, quick-ish, OK prices considering you don't pay to get in. Atmosphere is brilliant, a proper mix, liquorice allsorts etc. Crowd were very friendly on Saturday, a few fools on too much powder but no worse than elsewhere. I'd definitely recommend Hoots for an easy big session with friends. read more

Live music, huge outdoor area, lots of beer and pool tables... What more could you want? Great destination in Brixton if you are looking for one of those jeans and trainers on good nights out... Check which music is on first, and be warned you need to pay an entrance fee! read more

Overpriced drinks and has-been acts, which don't come on till midnight, despite being advertised for hours earlier. It's a great way to get the punters in to your pub drinking themselves legless and basically waiting waiting waiting for the main act to come on. Feels like a rip off. And the 'home made' food arrives in a big catering van - I saw it myself while staggering home on Friday morning. read more

Great pub, good music, they get some real gems here, but make sure you get there early, the queues can go round the block.

BEWARE!!!! Keep your hand on your phone. BIG BIG problems with phone theft at this club which management are reluctant to report to the police - however the boys in blue know all about this place. PLEASE BE CAREFUL read more

i cannot get throu on the phoneline to see if any honest people including your bar staff found my camera that was lost in there on friday 21st jan 2011. im offering a cash reward for its return so please get in touch if anyone knows anything. 07776 327578 debbie silver canon camera in a blck leather case read more