Brixton has long been labeled as an ‘up and coming area’, but anyone who lives there is probably fully aware that the various strangers offering you drugs – “you can try first” – and the general abuse hurled at staff in McDonalds is something that makes Brixton, and it just isn’t going away.

Having said this, there is a part of Brixton that now lies close to my heart, and although over the years it has become a haven for certain ‘cool kids’ that just can’t be arsed to venture to East London, it’s still a great place to be. Venture down Coldharbour lane and you will find yourself at Brixton Village, formerly known as Granville Arcade.

Beside the fact that you really can get some brilliant food here for very modest prices, Brixton Village also has an air of calm about it. They may have their fair share of tourists now, but once you familiarize yourself with all the people that work here you soon realize that your waitress is your chef, your sales assistant is the owner of the shop and the ice-cream boy is the one that makes the ice-cream. These are small businesses, and they’re making their money for themselves. In general this is always a nicer atmosphere because you don’t have any miserable bastards behind tills, swearing under their breath about how shit the pay is.

One of my favourite places here is a little pizza shop called – The Agile Rabbit. You can get one of the best calzone’s you’ve ever eaten here, and if you fancy it, a glass of wine or a beer as well. However, if you just haven’t got the cash, opposite this there’s a lovely little place that serves Mediterranean food. They’re not licensed so it’s a BYOB affair, and only £2 for corkage. There’s little choice here, but if you like lamb, halloumi and hummus this is your place. The wraps are gorgeous and I strongly recommend the mezze plate if you’re too hungry to just have a wrap. Elephant is fairly similar in it’s BYOB rules, but no corkage and it’s Pakistani street food. They do a brilliant thali, and the owners of the place are lovely. They’ll recommend stuff for you if you can’t make your mind up, but the vegetable thali is a winner.

One of my favourite places here is a little pizza shop called – The Agile Rabbit. You can get one of the best calzone’s you’ve ever eaten here, and if you fancy it, a glass of wine or a beer as well.

If in need of Wi-Fi there is also a place here for you too. Brick Box wraps anything imaginable into a crepe for you and melts it all on a hot plate. You can have banana’s and cream or cheese and mushrooms. The selection is vast.

If you’re after something sweet, LAB G is your place. I have honestly never had better ice-cream in all of my life. Order the salted caramel gelato, and make it a large because you’ll want to stash the rest of it in your freezer.

You can also get all your meat, fish, fruit and veg from here without worrying that your giving anymore money to the bastards at Tesco. There are various little vintage shops, deli’s, a sweet shop and a lovely little flower shop. Generally you will enjoy this place if you like your food. There’s plenty to choose from, and generally good crowd, with live music in the evening.

Brixton Village is open Monday to Wednesday from 8am until 6pm, Thursday to Saturday from 8am until 10pm and Sundays until 5pm.

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