Club entertainment in London
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A
Ronnie Scott's
London's legendary jazz club has been pulling in the hep cats since 1959.
reviewed
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B
Comedy Store
One of London's first comedy clubs, featuring the capital's most famous improvisers, the Comedy Store Players, on Wednesdays and Sundays.
reviewed
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C
Last Days of Decadence
A brand new club that opened in the height of the recession, this is a place that celebrates the 1930s through its heady, abandon-fuelled parties and through its Great Depression–inspired name. Not that it sticks to 1930s music, however – you’ll find regular nights hosting DJs such as the out-there trannie DJ Jodie Harsh on Fridays’ Circus, and Last Days of Decadence’s eponymous night that mixes up D&B, nu-rave and jungle. On a quieter note, there are free jazz gigs on Tuesdays, and Monday nights are life-drawing classes – £10 a go.
reviewed
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D
Passing Clouds
One of those little flickers of nightlife brilliance, Passing Clouds is a ‘members club’ that actually hosts massive parties open to everyone (admission around £8) and go on until the early hours of the morning. The music is predominantly world oriented, with a lot of African influence and regular Afrobeat bands; the parties are a healthy mix of DJs and live music with a multicultural crowd that really makes you feel you’re in London. The decor is makeshift bar, colourful lanterns and tropical titbits, and the atmosphere is just exhilarating. Well worth checking out.
reviewed
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E
Ghetto
Having moved out of Soho, the Ghetto is now the biggest and smartest gay venue around Shoreditch, London’s most sizzlingly alternative and creative neighbourhood. The two-floor bar and club contains the wood-panelled Trash Palace upstairs, a haven of self-styled ‘odd glamour’ where you can also get free or discounted entry tickets to the Ghetto proper, the downstairs club. This is a friendly, pioneering venue with plenty of interesting nights, not least pop-classic night Wigout, on Saturday.
reviewed
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F
Cherry Jam
Once a must-experience club, part owned by Ben Watt of the Notting Hill Arts Club and Everything But the Girl (who still sometimes DJs on Saturdays), Cherry Jam has lost the edge it had some years ago. It's still worth a peek, though, especially for the music and good, reasonably priced cocktails (around £7). Friday and Saturday nights have electro and house DJs and the atmosphere is always good. Might need a shake-up or a face-lift soon, though.
reviewed
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G
Heaven
This long-standing and perennially popular gay club, under the arches beneath Charing Cross station, has always been host to good club nights, but after languishing rather in the past few years it has been rejuvenated by the arrival of G-A-Y here, doing nights on Thursday (G-A-Y Porn Idol), Friday (G-A-Y Camp Attack) and Saturday (plain ol’ G-A-Y). Also check out Monday’s Latin-themed cheap night out, Popcorn.
reviewed
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H
East Village
The old Medicine Bar’s popularity flagged so much that it was only a matter of time before someone snapped up the fine location and did something worthwhile with it. Well, finally the space has been transformed into a club that has seen house lovers flocking from all over London. There’s a wide array of quality DJs on the program, though our favourite is the New York–style disco punk night, Sweatshop.
reviewed
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Underworld
Hear ye, all ye metal heads out there! The Underworld awaits! Metallica, Black Sabbath, Sepultura and other skull-clad screamers have made their appearance either live or as a DJ’s choice in this underground warren beneath the World’s End pub. It’s got plenty of nooks and crannies for ritual head-banging, but it does also host some ‘softer’ musicians such as KT Tunstall and Radiohead.
reviewed
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J
Catch
It doesn’t look like much, but Catch is one of the best nights out in Shoreditch. Upstairs, every other Saturday, you can hear Get Rude, hosted by DJ duo Zombie Disco Squad, which mixes bass, tropical and electro music. Downstairs you get a big house-party vibe with DJs who mix up pretty much anything from ‘90s Euro disco to chart hits to electro and techno. It’s free, open late and great fun.
reviewed
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K
Jazz Cafe
Jazz is just one part of the picture at this intimate club that stages a full roster of rock, pop, hip hop and dance, including famous names.
reviewed
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100 Club
This legendary London venue once showcased the Stones and was at the centre of the punk revolution. It now divides its time between jazz, rock and even a little swing.
reviewed
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M
Fiesta Havana
The epitome of a cheesy night out, you'll have to be up for it (in every sense) to enjoy yourself at Fiesta Havana, a neonlike turquoise-and-mustard 'little bit of Cuba' that you couldn't miss even if you did blink. The music (groovy Latin beats) is great, happens almost nightly and there are free dance classes at the beginning of the evening.
reviewed
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N
Neighbourhood
Cherry Jam and Notting Hill Arts Club supremo Ben Watt's (another) excellent venue, Neighbourhood has a capacity of 500 and a mixed programme from author readings to house, electro and R'n'B nights, and there's even an occasional burlesque bonanza; so check what's on when you're around.
reviewed
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O
Aquarium
The Saturday-night hitch-up between ‘70s disco evening Carwash and this converted gym seems like a great match: clubbers dressed in sexy, retro gear – compulsory, but disco wigs not allowed – now mingle around the huge pool or in the trendy bar. Trainers are not welcome here.
reviewed
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P
On the Rocks
If a place could ever be described as a den, this is it: small, dark, sweaty and in a category of its own, On The Rocks caters to a mixed crowd of trendsters, trashy youngsters and a lost soul or two, all of whom are pretty much only interested in carrying on the party.
reviewed
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Q
Hoist
One of Europe’s most famous fetish clubs, the Hoist is a one-stop shop for guys into leather and uniforms. The dress code is very strict – everyone has to wear boots, and rubber, leather or uniform. Check out the array of fetish nights on the website.
reviewed
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R
Fire
Sealing Vauxhall’s reputation as the new gay nightlife centre of London, Fire is another expansive, smart space under the railway arches, hosting the centrepieces of the Vauxhall weekend A:M on Friday, Beyond on Saturday, and Sunday all-nighter Orange.
reviewed
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Area
Home from home for circuit party boys but still very welcoming to all, Area describes itself as ‘polysexual’ and hosts some of the most inventive nights in town, including monthly Queer Kandi and Saturday-nighter Evolve.
reviewed
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U
XXL
The world’s biggest club for bears (hairy, stocky gay men) and their admirers is a real event. A very friendly crowd is spread out over a wonderfully quirky space, with two dance floors and a ‘recreational maze’.
reviewed
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V
Turnmills
This cavernous, long-running institution gets rammed on weekends when mini-festival Together kicks up a storm with its DJs, and all-weekend parties take over with big names and tonnes of good fun.
reviewed
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X
Koko Club
Occupying the grand Camden Palace theatre, Koko hosts live bands most nights and the regular Club NME (£5) on Friday.
reviewed
