Shana B.
Yelp
Coming from New York City, I hear a lot of people say that our city has it all. But I can tell you that we do not have an Effra Hall. (Ugh pardon the rhyme.)
When I came to London for my birthday this past November, I knew that I wanted to visit Brixton. I had heard so much about it, and I wanted the visit to be more than The London Eye and Tower of London (although those were awesome too). A friend of mine suggested Effra Hall, and so on my very last night, I met him at the Brixton stop and off we went.
There weren't many chairs around to start when we walked in, and certainly none available. An older gentleman was standing next to a chair, and when I asked him if it was free, he grunted but said nothing. Ever the optimist (not really), I took this to mean it was free. I was wrong. As I reached for it, he still said nothing, but firmly pulled it away from me. Oddly enough, this was when I knew I would like Effra Hall.
I eventually scored a table with my friend and we ordered some food while everyone else watched the football game. Surprisingly, the food was good! And before long, a ska/jazz band started playing in the back room. JAMMING. I kept the cider flowing, we made some new friends, I saw a beautiful man who looked like black Jesus but never did talk to him (how can you just walk up to Jesus?), and before I knew it the bar was closing. Too soon, man. I caught the last train back to my Air B&B and said goodbye.
If--no, when I come back to London, I'm coming back to Effra Hall. Earlier in the night this time. And just maybe I'll say hi to Jesus.