Seven at Brixton, 7 Market Row, Brixton, SW9 8LB
London’s no stranger to authentic tapas spots, but it’s not that many of them that take the Basque perspective and team it up with a load of old luggage – and hide an amazing squat-esque gallery for local artists up in their rafters. Seven is a new bar by Liam Brown and Jonny Rushton which aims to bring a bit of Bilbao to Brixton, and it will see your tapas and raise it to a pinxtos (tapas on a stick) and some damn good, and affordable, cocktails to wash it down while it’s at it.
Set inside Brixton’s brilliantly eclectic Market, Seven at Brixton is certainly a place that aims to set itself apart. Look around and you’ll see some solid wooden tables, dangling lightbulbs, big old legs of Iberian ham and a menu to match. It is absolutely the product of owners Liam and Jonny; their travels not only around the London bar scene but also Spain itself are clearly visible and every last detail in the bar has been carefully considered. Suitcases as tributes to the space’s previous owner – a luggage salesman – can be seen now housing the spirits, and luggage tags as reservation signs are a handsome touch.
The five rooms upstairs from the main bar have even turned Seven at Brixton into a functioning art gallery, with a sort of East London abandoned chic vibe, so when you’re done feasting on the gorgeous food, you can feast your eyes on the work of some up and coming local artists too. The guys take no commission on the work sold, and allow exhibitors to do so for free, they just want to see good stuff up there showing off local talent.
Back downstairs, the menu is something of a triumph. If you’re the sort of person whose fresh gambas and chorizo isn’t complete unless accompanied by a good old sherbert lined martini glass – beholding pomegranate, marmalade and apple vodka – then you’re in luck. From the classics of bocadillos with hand-carved meats to their signature pintxos, and cocktails that cover everything from Bloody Marys to their own Electric Avenue (for recipe see above), Seven at Brixton has it sorted.
If we really wanted to ham it up (jokes) we’d say that Seven at Brixton is an eclectic cocktail in itself. Take one solid measure of sharing platters, add a splash of authentic Latino beer and wine, sprinkle with a merry atmosphere and a twist of artistry, then serve right in the heart of a bustling market. Maravilloso.
(Beware though, due to the location in the market, it has to close at 10, so get down there early – but it is open in the day).
By Tom Pullen.
