Ever walked into a pub thinking that you were going to have a quick drink and swiftly depart but you end up staying there until dang near daybreak? That sums up the Prince Albert experience in a nutshell. I thought, naively, that I would have one pint with my friend and then I'd be on my merry way. WRONG; I ended up staying in the beer garden, chatting with my buddy and various other random folk for five hours straight. It was delightful. The regulars here are quality. Whenever you come to this place, even if you're the most antisocial person in the world and you have covert homicidal tendencies that you don't want to reveal to commonplace populace, you will start chatting with some friendly stranger eventually. The music enhances the scene. From ska to rock, folk to hip hop, the DJ lays down impressive consecutive tracks. After the happy juice started marinating in the pub goers' bellies people got up and started dancing. It was the jolliest pub community I've ever laid eyes on in London. read more

The Prince Albert - Pubs Near Me - Brixton, XGL

Seemed to be the most active place open relatively late in the neighborhood after my friend and I scoured the area for late night entertainment (drinking with fun locals) that we could find on a Monday night. We, as Americans, from pretty large cities (DC and New York) were expecting to find lively bars in the neighborhood open until at least 2am, 3-4 would've been pushing it and we were aware of that. After encountering a host of places closing at 11p and 12 we stumbled upon this place with people seemingly spilling out and in and everywhere. I think they were open until 1 but allowed drunken patrons to hang out a bit later as they saw we were having a good time. That's appreciated from a bar which has rules that it's supposed to follow but customers and enjoyment first right? We visited in the middle of winter but it was mild enough for people to drink out on the patio and not really notice that we were kind of freezing. I can't say that the drink selection was particularly interesting. One of the bartenders or bar backs was cool. The pub is really nothing special, but it was spacious and the atmosphere, at least on this slow evening, was alright. Stop in and make a new friend. read more

The Prince Albert - With the locals - Pubs Near Me - Brixton, XGL

See all

Holy wow have I not reviewed this already? This is perhaps one of the best old man pubs in South London. You walk in and feel like, if Tarantino were British, there would soon be brains and blood on the wall. Then you get a pint, settle down in the collapsing sofas (in winter) or out in the back garden (in summer) and you feel as community-minded as all get-out. These people would (could) have put up bunting for the coronation, except they wouldn't. Didn't. They just talk an ear off and have a high old time and make a generally lovely place to be and visit and sit and drink and think. And that, mein freunde, is what a pub is for. read more

OK, bear with me on this. I've not given the Prince Albert 5 stars because it is one of the nicest pubs with beautiful decor or great ranges of alcohol and food. It is none of these. It's a spit-n-sawdust boozer with an often rowdy clientele, basic alcohol and I'm not even sure if they do food (if they did, I probably wouldn't eat here). No, this ia a true Brixton institution and it's the mix of people and the vibe here that makes it worthy of 5 stars in my book. If you like getting dressed up, an extensive wine-list, tranquility or stylish surroundings then avoid this place like the plague. If you want lager, good tunes, live music (at weekends), friendly people, hustle-bustle, a mixed-crowd and real South-London then this is a great place to start a night out. Love it! read more

Basically what Robert L. said. Read his review. He captures it perfectly. You might want to leave before even buying a drink, and that's ok, but if you stick with it and relax then you could end up having one of your best nights out in some time. One of the few remaining locals' pubs left in central Brixton. read more

An average pub. Based on their beers I presume the are a Greene King Pub. Fortunately my friend that visits every year at this time 'St Edmund' was in fine form, quenching with good cheer. Attracts an older crowd than other pubs in Brixton, maybe because it stands out as a traditional looking place breaking up the bland modernity around it. read more

I remember the first time I went to the Prince Albert on Coldhabour Lane. There were four twenty stone men, sitting with their bellies hanging out, rambunctiously singing along to the songs being played from the bartender's iPod. Then at one point--when that song everyone knows by the Proclaimers came belting out through the stereo system--the four men upturned their table and started stomping around the room whilst everyone else sat in fear in their seats. Thankfully the Prince Albert has changed a lot since then; opting for a more tranquil and up-to-date make-over, rather than the trying "pub-sprawl" stereotype more fitting to western films. The beer here is cheap, but if you are like me and prefer spirits the choice isn't as plentiful as one would hope for, going for the Jack Daniels or Captain Morgan's set up. For the smokers there's the option of a beer garden out the back or seating out the front, although I would say the beer garden can tend to be a little messy and uncomfortable. Aside from these factors, the turnover of customers has changed for the better, the decor has been somewhat comfortably updated, and the Prince Albert makes for one of the better place to drink in South London. read more

Lovely bar staff, late nights at the weekend, great music, especially the Offline club nights which are hosted by the Urban 75 posse. The drinks are reasonably priced and the there's a beer garden at the back. Loads of colourful Brixton locals and a real community feel. I love it! read more

The staff was super helpful for a couple of lost touristas. But we did have a drink and caught our breath and enjoyed the time there. Free wifi and cold beer, what more do you need? read more

This pub built a reputation around its landlady Pat Burke who presided over the pub for 20 years before passing on. Pictures of her can still be seen within the pub as a reminder of her no-nonsense approach. Since then, the pub's run by different owners, has been refurbished and to all extents and purposes it seems only the negative aspects remain. The decor is confusing and mismatching, and the clientele is mainly made up of locals. It's kept the people, but the place has changed. read more

A locals pub but dont be put off by some of the scary looking individuals who frequent this proper boozer. Been several times with no hassle. Reasonable priced drink and i think a claim to 18 different burger choices. Good outside area at the back for the smokers, usually a DJ at weekends setting an amusing school disco feel complete with disco ball and dodgy lights. overall a real pub, real drinkers, no nonsense. read more

The smarter pub down the road was packed, so we headed for the Albert. I hadn't been in for some years, and was sad how shabby it now was. Still, we weren't there for the ambience - or, apparently, for the beer, which seemed exclusively of the deep chilled and gassy sort. Beer for people who aren't interested in beer, perhaps. We were there to chat, and settled in for the evening happily enough. Then the music started, really loud, and right above our heads. Chatting became shouting. After a while we asked politely if it could be turned down a bit, and got a dusty answer. Then it was turned UP.... The nine of us headed for the offy, then to someone's flat. I wonder why pubs are closing? read more

Being afflicted with cigarette addiction I always love to find a pub with a nice outside area! This place has a great one, with huge tables and comfy chairs as well as some trees and plant life to brighten things up! The outside area was rather full and everyone seemed to know each other, locals obviously, it soon seemed apparent that they pretty much live out there as they where all blind drunk, mumbling nonsense at us 'non-regulars', staring at nothing, squabbling amongst themselves then hugging uncontrollably, it was clear this pub was their territory. I enjoyed my time there but did feel a little uncomfortable with the clearly extremely intoxicated clients (this was 12 in the afternoon). Later I popped into the loo, where another chap stumbled in whipped it out and peed all over the floor without blinking, I don't think he got a drop in the urinal, his lack of aim clearly didn't bother him half as much as it did me, he zipped up and waltzed back out for a refill, it was time to leave. read more