Page 350 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

348  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Clubs

The old cliché that London dies when the pubs shut no longer for those wishing to perfect
holds true. Europe has long scoffed at Londoners going to bed their moves. Cargo, with a
at 11pm when the night is only just beginning in Paris, Madrid calendar of live acts, features
and Rome, but London has caught on at last and you can revel some of London’s funkiest
sounds. 93 Feet East showcases
all night if you want to. The best clubs are not all confined to a variety of live music and club
the city’s centre – initial disappointment that your hotel is a nights from indie and rock to
half-hour Tube ride from Leicester Square can be offset by techno beats.
the discovery of a trendy club right on your doorstep. In Kensington, The Roof
Gardens is London’s only roof-
Practical Information Traditional disco-type clubs top private members club.
include the Café de Paris, It opens on Friday and Saturday
Fashions and club nights change where you can dine and boogie nights, admits over-21s only
very rapidly and nightspots the night away. For those keen and has a “no effort, no entry”
open and close down all the on samba and Latin beats dress code. Apply for entry
time. Some of the best club Guanabara in Covent Garden is via the website, www.
nights are one-nighters – check friendly, unpretentious and fun. roofgardensclub.com.
listings magazines (see p338). Further north, the Forum
Be aware that most clubs have hosts popular club nights, which
bouncers on the door who feature classic soul, funk and R&B. LGBT
may check your ID, look inside Similar clubs are East Village in London’s best-known gay bars
your bag (for security reasons) Shoreditch and the Tattershall and late-night clubs can be
and ensure that your attire Castle, a disco boat moored on found in Soho. One of the most
conforms with the club dress the bank of the Thames. popular clubs is The Village on
code. If you are heading out Wardour Street, which has disco
to a particular club, it’s worth Fashionable Venues and nights on Thursday and Friday,
doing a bit of research before and podium dancers every
you go. Club Nights Saturday. The iconic G-A-Y Bar
A few clubs require that London is easily one of the most is renowned for its mixed gay
you arrange membership innovative club capitals in the nights. In Piccadilly, The Electric
48 hours in advance, and you world and there are plenty of Carousel (a reincarnation
may also find that you have to venues that explain why. of Soho’s legendary Madame
be introduced by a member. Heaven, the city’s best-known Jojo’s) is a fabulous whirl of
Again, check these details in gay club, hosts an excellent glittering colour and extreme
listings magazines. Groups of house night. With its huge high camp. Heaven, with its
men may not be welcome, so dance floor, excellent lasers, huge dance floor, bar and video
split up before going in; sound systems and lightshows lounge under the arches at
expect to queue to get in. it’s very popular, so start queuing Charing Cross station, continues
Entrance fees may seem early. The Roxy in Soho is a to draw big crowds.
reasonable, but drinks tend relaxed club and bar playing a South of the river, Vauxhall
to be overpriced. mixture of indie, electronic and is home to several clubs that
Opening times are usually pop. The Ministry of Sound is stay open until the early hours.
10pm–3am Monday to Saturday, a New York-style club that set Though not technically a club,
although many clubs stay open the pattern for others to follow, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern is an
until 6am at the weekend and hosting some of the world’s best- institution and is worth visiting
some open on Sunday from known DJs. If you are feeling for its cabaret events alone.
about 8pm to midnight. energetic, club nights are also
run at the Queen of Hoxton in Casinos
trendy Shoreditch. Try XOYO
Mainstream
also in Shoreditch, or the To gamble in London, you
London offers a broad selection cavernous, warehouse-style must be a member, or at least
of nightclubs that cater for all Egg near King’s Cross for funky the guest of a member, of a
musical tastes and budgets. house, electro and old skool, licensed gaming club. Most
Most of the more upmarket and for die-hard clubbers there’s clubs are happy to let you join
nightclubs in London, for always Fabric. Electric Brixton, but member ship must be
example Annabel’s, have a strict formerly the much-loved Fridge, arranged 48 hours in advance.
members-only policy; they hosts club events and live music. Many will let you in to use
require nominations by current As with many clubs, Bar facilities other than the gambling
members and have long waiting Rumba has different themes on tables until about 4am, when
lists, so unless you mix in different evenings. One of the most close. Many clubs also
privileged circles you are unlikely most popular is salsa night have “hostesses” – beware the
to get in. and the club runs dance classes cost of their company.

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