Peckham clubs

Helmed by Rhythm Section boss Bradley Zero, JUMBI is a hi-fi bar in Peckham where dancing is not just encouraged, but irresistible. JUMBI sees a steady stream of weekly events – from DJs at the weekends, to live music, open decks and quieter book clubs during the week – plus, they also serve a menu of Afro-Caribbean bangers (think curried chicken, oxtail stew, plantain nachos, patties and doubles) for lunch Thursdays to Saturday. It’s worth checking out for the rum roasted pineapple dessert alone.

The people behind Corsica Studios have opened another excellent club in South London. This is a small DIY-feeling no-frills space with a banging sound system and top notch programming. Come here to dance to some of London’s best underground DJs – they have nights playing everything from psytrance to Italo disco. Oh and by day, it’s a lovely taco restaurant. 

Brought to Peckham by the people behind pioneering east London nightclub The Cause and Hackney Wick venue All My Friends, The Greyhound is a new pub for the area, with big screens for sport and a menu of burgers, pies and Sunday roasts. It also features a roomy basement that’s perfect for dancing, and a quality roster of local DJs, collectives and record labels stop by to spin tunes on weekends. Fridays and Saturdays get pretty lively, but you’re always likely to get a seat, and you’ll hear some good tunes too. 

From the outside, the Prince of Peckham comes across a bit shouty. ‘WELCOME TO PECKHAM’ is written in ginormous, spotlit letters above the entrance, announcing to passers-by that this pub has arrived in London’s trendiest neighbourhood. Inside, things are more understated, a dim chandelier over the bar and a couple of plump sofas just inside the door giving the place a comfortable, lived-in feel that other boozers spend years trying to create.

On a quiet night midweek, it’s a great place to settle in with a couple of pints and a board game. But don’t expect it to be that sleepy all the time: a packed schedule of events including open mic nights, dance classes and disco yoga (yes, really) mean the place gets plenty more lively. It’s all part of the pub’s aim to provide a platform for local creatives to do their thing.

Whatever you’re there for, make sure you arrive with an empty stomach. The kitchen plays host to Street Feast favourites White Men Can’t Jerk, and these guys make the finest chicken wings you’ll probably ever eat. Doused in Red Stripe and buttermilk then finished with an addictive honey-and-chilli glaze, they’re absolutely killer. Save space for a plate of fries too – they come with a generous dusting of jerk salt and mayo that somehow makes them taste like a posh Maccy D’s.

The Prince of Peckham pulls off all this without looking like it’s trying too hard, and that’s probably the most charming thing about it. While other new joints in up-and-coming neighbourhoods can feel a bit forced, this one manages to avoid those pitfalls. If anything’s worth shouting about, it’s that.