Captured 15 years ago – when Brixton was a very different place – here’s a set of photos from our archives taken during July 2002.
Although it had already lost its giant knife and fork, the Bangers & Mash cafe on Hinton Road was a fabulously bonkers Loughborough Junction landmark.
It’s since been a ‘Contemporary Caribbean Cuisine’ restaurant, a jerk chicken snack bar called Degrill, Riff Raff tattoo studio, and a secondhand furniture shop.
Junction of Coldharbour Lane and Atlantic Road. Many is the high sided vehicle that has struck that low bridge!
Ritzy cinema showing Minority Report and Superman.
Hanging by the cinema.
Brixton Library. Read more: Brixton History: over 120 years of the Brixton Tate Library in photos.
Windrush Square before redevelopment.
The former cinema on Brixton Hill opened as the Scala in 1914, being renamed as the New Royalty in the 30s before closing for good in 1957.
Read the history of the cinema and see archive posters here.
Back in July 2002 it was home to a rather good camping shop but, in recent years, the building has hosted a string of unsuccessful ventures. The lease is currently up for sale again.
Brixton Windmill was in a sorry state fifteen years ago
Post office, Bleinheim Gardens. See historic pic here.
Striking buildings on Brixton Hill – read more here.
Vincent Atkins Family Foundation House on Atlantic Road, which would soon become the fascinating all-purpose Mr Biggs emporium. Read up on its entertaining history here.
The fading sign of Howes Confectionary Wholesale Store, on the corner of Saltoun Road and Atlantic Road (aka The Frontline).
After Howes departed to the great cash and carry in the sky, the building was used for a slew of failing businesses until the much missed Kaff Bar took over. It’s now home to chain restaurant Dip & Flip.
Read more about the history of Howes and this building here.
The Neon Bar on Atlantic Road, formerly the ‘Tangeir Wine Bar’ and ‘Bang Bang.’ It’s now trading under the name of Courtesan.
Peggy’s Cafe at number 75 Atlantic Road. It’s now the Black & White Cafe.
This shop on the corner of Atlantic Road and Coldharbour Lane had a lot of names. It was – all at once – the Afro Hair & Beauty Products Cash & Carry, Global Fashions London and Continental Cosmetic Centre.
It would later become Misse’s Hair Nail and Beauty Studio, Granada Cabs and Fab Food.
Crossing Atlantic Road.
Looking up Atlantic Road with ‘The People’s Weatherman Store’ centre left.
The Dogstar in a lively blue hue. Read more about this iconic bar here: Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton – bar review and history.
Looking west along Coldharbour Lane from Atlantic Road, to the left is the former comic shop, and two doors down is the much missed BEM music shop.
Former secondhand tyre business, now buried beneath The Viaduct on Coldharbour Lane.
Old sign.
The Barrier Block.
Looking down from the Barrier Block. To the far left is the now-closed Angel pub which was noted for its Edwardian music hall connections.
All of these shops have now vanished from Coldharbour Lane.
See more Brixton history:
On Brixton Buzz
Chat about Brixton history on the boards
Look through the comprehensive urban75 Brixton history archives
See the lost pubs of Brixton
Fourteen years of drinking: a Brixton bar and club guide from 2001