Walking down Coldharbour Lane, in search of booze, I decided to visit Brixton's most vibrant off licence, The House of Bottles. This Friday evening the place, which seldom closes, was shuttered up. Not only that, the Bottles' accompanying phalanx of black-attired black men standing outside it, drinking bottled lager, was not there.
I considered the possibilities. It was Good Friday. Perhaps these people have a religious streak, and are off at evening mass. On the whole, unlikely.
Moving closer, I noticed a sign outside the lonely shop from Lambeth Council. The House of Bottles had temporarily been relieved of its licence to sell booze, because of 'serious criminal activity' on the premises. My first thought was - there might be some truth in this. My second thought was - why take action now?
Surely the local council had always been aware that the place had a certain subterranean charm to it. I thought these kind of premises were allowed to thrive so that Brixton retains its distinctive flavour and keeps those Claphamites from roaming down Acre Lane. What signal does this send out to the rest of the folks trying to do business in Brixton in these times of economic strife?
There was at least one beneficiary from this punitive strike: Liquor Supply was doing a brisk trade as I popped in for four Heineken.
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