The weekend ahead in Brixton

The weather forecast, let’s face it, is terrible this weekend. So abandon your hopes of planting those tomatoes or basking by the lido and check out our suggestions for a keep-dry weekend in Brixton Town.

Friday 20 April

ALE EXPERTS: The new Crown and Anchor has 25 beers on tap at any time

Its not that much of a trek down Brixton Road to the Crown and Anchor. Opposite the Jamm, the formerly intimidating locals boozer was reopened yesterday by north London pub pro Martin Harley. He has gone for a real and “craft” ale experience, and the bar sports an amazing rang of niche beers with 25 beers on tap at one time. By all accounts it looks like the opening night was banging, so why not line your stomach, and your pockets, before heading down for some beer tasting yourself?

Saturday 21 April

Rain or shine, if you are brave you could start the weekend with a chilly dip in Brockwell Lido. Alternatively, head to Brixton Recreation Centre for a swim in somewhat warmer waters – which also benefit from four walls and a roof.

We’re particularly excited about something called French Dip which sounds naughty but is in fact a new type of sandwich straight out of Los Angeles. It’s a food stall run by food writer @RosieFoodie and offers meaty sandwiches dipped in the cooking juices, from what we can work out. Sounds delicious. They will be at the Brixton Makers Market, Station Road, all day on Saturday.

For evening entertainment under cover – Ed and Mylon will be at Mango Landin, Water Lane, playing their selection of funk, soul, reggae, blue-beat with a dash of Motown until the early hours, with free entry, as ever. Great now that Hootenanny has started charging for entrance after 11pm on Saturdays.

Sunday 22 April

If the rain holds off, the Brockwell Park miniature railway is running from 11am until 4pm.

At the Ritzy our resident film expert Ashley Clark has recommended you catch a screening of Dog Day Afternoon, the 1975 masterpiece starring Al Pacino. It starts at 1.30pm, and is followed by The Conversation at 4pm.

On the eve of World Book Day, the charming and cosy Herne Hill Books, in Railton Road, will have local author Howard Cunnell reading from his latest book, The Sea on Fire. The free event starts at 6.30pm. And, of course you can get ready for World Book Day on Monday. Brixtonian Eve Roberts has hidden some 25 copies of Small Island by Andrea Levy and the Brixton Blog will be tweeting clues on how to find them throughout the day.