Beast Of Brixton: Street Food Residencies And Mega Roasts

Filling the space left behind by the speakeasy-esque Upstairs Bar and tucked away from the hubbub of Brixton Village, Beast of Brixton was opened without fanfare back in April. But even without a launch event, word has started to spread outside of SW2 of its culinary charms.

The former occupiers' entrance consisted of no more than a door with a buzzer, so we're pleased that the new tenants have at least added a sign to direct people in.

It's an altogether different style to the French classics of Upstairs, with BoB offering weekly street food residencies, local craft beers and cocktails — and a cracking Sunday roast that's so good they say it'll break your Mum's heart.

We love street food, but it's a bit parky to be sat outside this time of year, so we visited on a Saturday night to devour tasty dishes from Filipino-inspired barbecue fanatics BBQ Dreamz. Bringing street food inside when it's cold is a great idea, even if that means forgoing proper cutlery for wooden implements.

The roasts from Two Fingers' Ricky Panesar are the real pride of the owners, and with gravy that reduces on the stove for over 24 hours, you can see why. Options are 35-day dry-aged striploin of Hereford rare-breed beef (£14.50), Norfolk free-range roasted hen (£13.50), butternut squash and veg for the herbivores (£12.50) or beef AND chicken for those with a hole in their belly (£20).

Split over two floors, the second floor above the bar serves as a popular party venue, with a varied playlist that includes rock, reggae, funk and soul, and electronics. BoB has a fun, house party vibe, with friendly hosts at the helm and decor including skull wallpaper and cool artwork. Thursdays are for open mic and curated acts ('Sexy Little Beasts'), and you can hide out until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday roasts are hugely popular so it's important to book in advance.

Beast of Brixton, 89b Acre Lane, SW2 5TN. Open Thursday-Sunday.