This month, Brixton House a cultural arts venue in the heart of South London, is opening its doors to celebrate the launch of The House Bar and its brand-new food menu developed by Brixton House Chair, Levi Roots, and local business owner and chef, Karma Sherpa.
The opening comes against the backdrop of several closures in the area over the last two years, with rising rental prices creating increased pressure for small businesses and traders. Brixton House sits within this community, and part of their mission is to provide opportunities for creative and cultural enterprises.
Championing local talent, Karma, owner of nearby BBQ restaurant The Joint, has collaborated with Levi to bring a distinct food menu to Brixton House for the first time. The culinary line up blends Jamaican-flavours with Latin American foods from traditional Colombian dishes, Argentinian and Mexican street foods and inspired favourite bites such as chicken wings, handmade filled dumplings and stacked loaded fries paired with signature serves including a brand new twist on the classic Bloody Mary, reinventing “The Reggae Reggae Bloody Mary” inspired by Levi’s famous sauce and Brixton House’s infamous rum punch.
Reflecting its standing as a home of creativity and expression, the newly developed menu at The House Bar will thematically tie to programmed shows, offering theatre-goers an immersive experience from performance to plate, with the Latin American infused menu to special serves, including the Cuban Rum-based strawberry Daiquiri, Mexican Spicy Margarita and Peruvian Pisco Sour.
Levi Roots, Chair of Brixton House, comments: “Working with Karma to create this refreshed menu has been an absolute joy and we can’t wait to bring it to the table for the local community, and hopefully some new faces too! Brixton House is a theatre that offers more than shows, and we have taken the inspiration from our own stories to curate a menu, so there’s going to be something delicious for everyone.”
Karma Sherpa, local chef, comments: “I feel honoured to embark on this collaboration with Levi Roots, both Brixtonians we connected and built a friendship around our shared passions for food and cooking, and how dining together brings people together. Brixton House is the perfect home to tell our story and many others. I have been honoured to curate this new menu under Levi’s mentorship, sharing our cultural and culinary stories to develop a brand-new food menu for Brixton House in the heart of our hometown.”
Brixton House serves its local community, contributing to the local economy, and this new collaborative partnership champions local talent, creates real opportunities and offers a safe space for local people to come together and socialise both day and night.
During the day, visitors will be able to enjoy a range of treats from local Portuguese bakery, Madeira, a family run business that’s been providing nearby residents with traditional baked goods since 1988. Alongside a new range of Arabic blends and specialty coffee including blends with Guyanese Caribbean rums for our Brixton House Espresso Martini.
After dark, Brixton’s evening crowd can expect Masterclasses and Rum and Dominoes nights, soulful music from across the generations and late-night events at the bar. The House Bar has been revamped to further the venue’s commitment towards local talent and trade, with locally sourced suppliers from Brixton, including the likes of Brixton Spirits – gin, vodka and rums; Brixton Brewery beers on tap, Latin American tequila importer and a range of sustainable wines and artisan juices by Brother Joe’s.
Delia Barker, CEO at Brixton House, comments: “We want The House Bar to be part of our story that roots us in Brixton. We have found a way to work with local businesses to open up our House as a place to gather and socialise. Supporting talent is in our DNA, and we want that reflected in everything we do, from our stages to our bar and kitchen.”
“We want local people to feel they can drop in whether for a show, to meet friends, or just for a plate or a pastry. Creating this kind of vibe is what showcases Brixton House at its best: open and accessible to the communities around us. Several small businesses in Brixton have been struggling, but this pocket of South London has such a rich cultural tapestry that we feel it’s our civic duty to support efforts to keep its cultural and creative energy alive.”
Located in the heart of Brixton, less than five minutes walk from Brixton tube and train station, The House Bar will be open from Thursday 30th April at 385 Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8GL.
