Situated just off the beaten track but still in the heart of Brixton, The Effra Hall Tavern (38 Kellett Road) has entertained locals for many years with its eclectic patrons, music and beverages.
On the corner of Kellett Road and Rattray Road it lies on the site of what used to be a ‘female lunatic asylum’ (1854 - 1873) also named Effra Hall.
Effra Hall Estste 1869
1874 saw the application to build a series of roads linking what was to become Railton Road and what is still Effra Road. By 1875 Kellett, Rattray, Mervan and Saltoun roads among a few others now existed linking with each other and the two main Brixton drags. This was due to the relatively late arrival of the railway to the area, which sparked the building of houses, viaducts and bridges. Typical of such a boom, developers built two or three storey terraced houses as homes for the artisan market, thus triggering the demand for shops, entertainment venues and a market. In fact Bon marche, purpose built department store, built in the Brixton road in 1877 was the first of its kind in the country. This was shortly followed by a shopping arcade in Electric Avenue, which famously boasts to be the first to have electric street lighting. The Famous Brixton Market, in Atlantic Road was later moved to Station Road to ease traffic congestion in the area.
Brixton 1894
The earliest records show that the Effra Estate handed over the lease/free hold of 38a Kellett Road to Mrs Mary Winmill some time between 1874 and 1877. Her name remains on the deeds until 1888, there after if goes through a few hands until 1893, from then we see various members of the Bouchard family dominate the lease hold until the 1950’s.
The earliest record (1881) of a licensed Victualler (landlord/lady) is Frank Norris, who resided there with his wife Alice, 2 daughters also Alice and Annie, his sister in law and his cousin, as well as a bar maid called Emma Dunn. This suggests that Mary winmill, although owned the property, rented the lease to Frank Norris to run the building as a public house.
It seems that an application in December 1930 was put forward to include a 'sanitary convenience' within the building, suggesting that an indoor one was not yet in place.
Application letter 1930
Application plans 1930
Remembering the Effra from the mid 1990‘s, It used to have two bars. On the one side, Domino and Pool playing West Indians, gracefully drinking Champagne or warming glasses of Brandy, the other side, the younger and, though I hate to say it, the whiter patrons would sup and swing away to the sounds of music with the odd interruption from the thud of a slab and loud cheer or grumble from the domino players. Though unlike certain establishments on our fellow continents, it was much more acceptable and certainly not frowned upon for the two sets of patrons to cross to “the other side” and join in the fun.
Though not exactly famed for its extensive quality wines, beers and spirits, it does however more than make up for it with its atmosphere and timeless charm.
Barring a couple of nights a week you’ll find a alternating group of musicians blowing their horns, strumming their strings, teasing their symbols and tapping their feet to traditional, fusion and be-bop Jazz as well as Ska and Reggae with the occasional treat to some Mento!
Whether you want a quiet pint with a mate, a bit of a knees up with a crowd or simply hear some quality music, this is the place to go.
Every Sunday is “open Mic” night, compared by Lauren Dalrymiple, who has been doing this for ten years. The idea being anyone can fetch up and exercise their talent with voice or instrument, though in reality you’ll pretty much see the same faces, but by no means should this put one off, as there is indeed an extraordinary display of talent from many ages and cultures to be seen here.
Thursdays is also a good night to check out some particularly good Jazz and Ska fusion, particularly if you're fans of Kenrick Rowe (Drums) and Bukky Leo (Sax) who have each been in the Reggae, Jazz and Afro beat scene for over thirty years.
The Effra, 38 Kellett Road SW2 1EB.
