Kricket Brixton

Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell first launched Kricket onto an adoring public at Pop Brixton in 2016 before re-locating to an equally loved permanent site in Soho. Now they’re back where their success story first started with this new site under the railway arches by Brixton Market (they opened a flagship site in White City in the summer of 2018).

The new Brixton branch is larger than Soho and incorporates a separate bar where you can sample punchy cocktails such as the rum-based Dark Matter ahead of a table in the colonial-meets-industrial dining room (all dark-wood tables and house plants) – although as this Kricket takes bookings, you won’t have to wait to sit down.

As in Soho, the short menu has a core list of Kricket classics joined by dishes that change every couple of months. The now legendary Keralan fried chicken, dusted with pepper and served with a tangy curry leaf mayonnaise for dipping, is worth ordering whether this is your first visit or your fifteenth. The crunchy bhel puris also make a welcome appearance with their swirl of tamarind stickiness, puffed rice and dollops of yoghurt.

Elsewhere, Goan sausage pao are like intensely meaty mini burger buns with a mild afterglow of chilli heat, while a colourful bowl of juicy tomatoes livened up with hints of spring onion, ginger and sesame is one of several veggie options – although like all the cooking, spice levels are toned down for Western palates. A smooth lassi-style mango parfait is the sole dessert.

Pocket-friendly, cool and complemented by fun and chatty staff, this branch of Kricket is a welcome return to a buzzing Brixton restaurant scene it helped to kick-start.   

Kricket Brixton is a restaurant and bar located beneath the railway arches on Atlantic Road in the centre of Brixton. It occupies one of the original arches close to Brixton Village Market and was the first permanent site for the Kricket brand. The restaurant is built around the character of its setting, with exposed brick walls, low ceilings and industrial fittings that reflect the structure of the viaduct above. The space is divided into a bar area near the entrance and a dining section towards the rear, with both zones operating together during service. Seating is a mix of high stools, shared tables and smaller two-person settings, designed to accommodate the flow of the room rather than a formal table plan.

The open kitchen sits along one wall of the dining area, allowing guests to see the chefs preparing dishes throughout service. The atmosphere is lively but compact, with lighting and music adjusted to match the time of day. The materials used in the interior (timber, metal and brick) are practical and consistent with the utilitarian style of the arches, keeping the space simple and functional.

The menu focuses on Indian-inspired small plates made with British ingredients. Dishes are designed for sharing and change seasonally, with a balance of vegetarian, seafood and meat options. Cooking techniques draw on both Indian street food and modern restaurant preparation, creating a concise menu that works for casual meals or full dinners.

The bar serves cocktails, beer and wine, with drinks available throughout the space rather than in a separate area. Service is informal and paced to suit short visits as well as longer meals.

Kricket Brixton functions as a neighbourhood restaurant within a busy part of South London. Its layout, open kitchen and use of the railway arch setting define its identity, combining a compact space with a modern approach to Indian cooking and casual dining.