Hope & Anchor: Pub in Brixton, London

Hope & Anchor is a food venue in SW2 where the evening tends to run on music and conversation as much as the plate in front of you. Live DJs and open mic nights make up a lot of the programme, so the room suits people who like to stay put after the meal and see what happens next. Expect a mixed crowd: regulars who come back for the same night, people trying out a set for the first time, and friends who came for dinner and ended up staying for the music. That mix is the appeal. You get a bit of performance without needing to be a performer. If you like a venue that feels like a local's default rather than a destination event, this is the kind of place to know.