We’ve been sent a wonderful set of photos of The Hope pub, which used to stand at 40 St Matthews Rd, London, Brixton, SW2 1NL.

The pictures by Stuart Kerr reveal the 1970s in its full glory, so there’s dimpled beer tankards, sheepskin jackets and Watneys Red Barrel inside the pub, with a Ford Zephyr 6 Mark IV motor full of geezers passing by outside.

Posting on urban75, Stuart recalls living in the pub as a child:

I used to live there as a small child when my Father ran it back in the 70’s (75/77ish). My earliest memories were of there, and I was sad to see it go. It was quite an ugly building in all honesty, but I have fond memories of it. It had a big mural of a ship on the wall, which as a four-year old thought was stunning. I think ships had something to do with the name of the pub, as they always seemed to hold fancy-dress parties where they dressed up as pirates (or maybe they just had one fancy dress party where they all dressed as pirates). It was a real community pub. As I said my parents ran it mid 70’s (Bill & Priya) and it was taken over after that by a couple called Peggy and Gordon. Peggy, for some reason always reminded me of Elizabeth Taylor. Gordon died whilst still the resident landlord and she moved away in the 80’s sometime.

“My Parents made the local paper when they won a pub in bloom contest. Percy Thrower was the judge and awarded them the prize.”

“Fancy Dress – Don’t remember the name of the guy with glasses, though he drank there a lot.”

“Fancy dress.”

“My Father (Bill) the landlord.”

“Peggy and regulars.”

“Gordon and Peggy”

“Regulars – Hard to believe that back in the 70’s there were still Victorians drinking in pubs.”

“Mother & Hope mural.”

“My Mother, Peggy (landlady) and Regulars.”

“St Matthews Road SW2, 1977.”

Hope to Mango to the end

The pub was taken over by the short-lived Babushka vodka bar chain, before turning into the much loved Mango Landin’ bar.

An urban75 poster added: “Between the Hope and Babushka, it was a ravey squat. I had nights there but strangely with no recollection.”

.

The venue held its closing party in December 2013, and despite efforts by several local bar owners to take over the premises, it closed its doors for good in 2014.

The site was flattened in February 2015 to make way for the inevitable private housing development. Another Brixton pub lost forever.

Edwardian view showing the original public house. [—]

Do you remember the Hope? Or Babushka and Mango Landin’?

Please share your memories in the comments box below or join in with the discussion on the forums.

More:

View lost pub photo features on Brixton Buzz

Comprehensive lost pubs of Brixton listing and features.

All archive photos © Stuart Kerr.