Recently opened bar-cum-galley Escape is a slice of backpackers chic where you`d leas expect to find it...on the border from Brixton to Herne Hill.

There`s art on the walls, free internet access, good fruit juices and beer for sale.

This is a new concept for South London - affordable art, DJs, liquor and dancing. The art has been of an excellent standard, with the most recent show featuring the DNA Factory, and the venue has been included in the Affordable Art Fair.

Music is patchier, with some great artists appearing and a few flop nights as well, but there`s always a friendly South London crowd in there and it`s a top spot for a chilled out drink-

I have just moved to Herne Hill with a couple of friends, so we are getting round to experiencing all that "the hill" has to offer.

We went to Escape for late night drinks on saturday night, it's open until about 4am, and it was great! The music is really cool, and there is a really mixed crowd in here. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and you definitely wouldn't describe it as upmarket, but if you are quite open-minded and just want somewhere to have a dance and a drink, this is the place.

We have decided that we are going to always make this place the last drink of the night, before we get home (don't know if we will actually stick to this!) just because it seems like such a cool, random place to end up! And hey, it's our local!