12 Cool Going-Out Venues In London
LUKE DYSON
FOR BIG-NAME ARTISTS
The Beams
You might have already spotted it on social media, but if you’re late to the party, The Beams is east London’s latest venue to have on your radar. Created by Broadwick Live – the team behind soon-to-close Printworks and Drumsheds – the 5,000-capacity venue occupies an impressive industrial space that revolves around a stage lit up by a huge light construction that ‘beams’ down on the DJ booth. The venue is hosting immersive exhibition ‘Thin Air’ until the start of June before its next line-up of day parties and gigs is released. Previous artists on the bill have included Skepta, the Martinez Brothers, Honey Dijon and Idris Elba.
Thameside Industrial Estate, West End of Thames Refinery, Factory Road, Silvertown, E16 2HB
Visit TheBeamsLondon.com
FOR EARLY SHOWS
Here At Outernet
Here At Outernet opened a few months ago, and Justin Bieber and DJ Khalid have already been spotted on the dancefloor. Set four storeys underground, the live events space has hosted fashion shows, exhibitions and gigs from the likes of Sam Ryder, Chase & Status and Miraa May. Most excitingly, Annie Mac has a new ‘Before Midnight’ club residency, but you’ve got to be quick if you want to secure tickets to the next show.
Charing Cross Road, West End, WC2H 8LH
Visit HereLdn.com
FOR LATE-NIGHT DANCING
Colour Factory
Colour Factory made a name for itself supporting female, non-binary and queer artists. Now a live music venue and nightclub, it’s still committed to showcasing a diverse range of talent from drag queens to queer DJs. Weekends draw in big-name acts – who play sets until 4am – while lesser-known names take to the decks during the week. There’s also a food court with a rotating kitchen for post-party food. We’re excited for Lady Shaka’s new DJ residency, which kicks off tomorrow night.
8 Queen's Yard, Hackney, E9 5EN
Visit ColourFactory.com
@MRTRIPPER
FOR THROWBACK PARTIES
B London
Boujis was the famous nightclub where the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Harry and Cara Delevingne partied back in the day. Now, the team behind Raffles and Mahiki has reopened the venue on the Old Brompton Road with a new look and feel. Guests can access the speakeasy-style bar by dialling a number in the phone booth. From there you’ll enter the Cuban-inspired bar and adjoining club with its five-tonne DJ booth for vinyl-only sets. We’re looking forward to seeing the latest line-up of DJs and music acts.
92B Old Brompton Road, Kensington, SW7 3LQ
Visit BClubLondon.com
FOR DRINKS & LIVE BANDS
Stereo
Experimental Group is behind some of our favourite Covent Garden spots, including Henrietta Hotel, so we were excited when it announced a new venue on the Piazza. Having opened its doors at the end of last year, Stereo is now one of our go-to spots for drinks and live music. Guests can start at the restaurant headed up by Acme Fire Cult’s Andrew Clarke to enjoy American-diner dishes like deep fried chicken wings, burgers and nachos, plus classic cocktails. Every night, bands set the vibe from 8pm before DJs take to the stage. There’s a relaxed atmosphere during the week before the high-octane late-night parties kick off at the weekend.
35 The Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2E 8BE
Visit StereoCoventGarden.com
FOR A TOUCH OF GLAM:
Isabel, Mayfair
This Mayfair institution was made for nights out with friends – it has hosted dozens of famous faces since opening in 2017, including Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and Sienna Miller. Guests book in for dinner and often stay for live music and late-night cocktails. Groups can dine in the opulent gilded dining room with its art-deco and chinoiseries décor or ask for a table by the bar to watch the mixologists at work. Late-night events take place each week at The Dragon Room downstairs which has a lounge, two bars and a DJ booth which hosts the venue’s resident DJs and special guests.
26 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, W1S 4HY
Visit IsabelW1.London
FOR HOUSE PARTY VIBES
The Little Scarlet Door
Known across town for creating fun, house-party style venues, the Little Door & Co opened its Soho outpost last year. Set across two floors in a townhouse on Greek Street, The Little Scarlet Door is the group’s first central London venue. Unlike its original trio of sites, all of which have interiors inspired by a London maisonette, this one is open plan and metropolitan, taking cues from New York’s loft apartments. The kitchen doubles up as the bar – complete with Smeg fridge – plus, there’s a living room, laundry room and a series of breakaway areas to drink in. Wednesdays through to Saturdays see DJs take to the decks, while drinks come in the form of sharing cocktails served in vases and mixing bowls. Sharing plates include charcuterie boards, mezze plates and late-night toasties.
12-13 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4DL
FOR A LAID-BACK BOOGIE
Dalston Jazz Bar
For a low-key night out, it doesn’t get better than Dalston Jazz Bar. Fun and unpretentious, guests are encouraged to show up as they are (sneakers and all) to dance to jazz throughout the decades until 3am on weekends. Decked out in old transport signs and retro posters, the venue turns into a restaurant during the week when you can tuck into seafood specials while live jazz musicians play. If you’re lucky you might even see the venue’s owner, Robert, spinning his favourite tunes on the decks.
4 Bradbury Street, Dalston, N16 8JN
Visit DalstonJazzBar.co.uk
FOR POST-WORK DRINKS
25 Paul Street
This multi-storey townhouse is a bit of a hidden gem. With colourful interiors designed to transport guests back to the 70s and 80s, nights here have a house party feel thanks to disco balls, cool lighting and a small DJ deck. There are regular disco and soul parties – and on Tuesdays to Thursdays, happy hour drinks are 50% off from 7-10pm. Keep your eyes peeled for nights hosted by the likes of Big Mamma Group and east London fashion brands – as well as the venue’s own ‘Secret Mansion Party’…
25 Paul Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4JU
Visit 25PaulStreet.com
FOR MEZCAL & MUSIC
Doña
Doña is the mezcal and music bar in Stoke Newington to know about. Starting life as a pop-up in 2019, the all-female brand opened a permanent space last year for late-night cocktails and live music sessions. Tucked away behind a bright red sequin door, walk down the stairs to find a seriously cool basement bar complete with velvet sofas, red interiors and a pink marble bar. Drinks include the ‘Margaret’, a new take on a mezcal margarita; the ‘Doña’ made with Dangerous Don Café mezcal, white vermouth, freshly squeezed ginger and lime; and a ‘Monika’ featuring Cocchi Americano, amaretto and Midnight Oil foam. Every night from 6pm to 10pm, you can order tacos and small plates from Tigre Tacos upstairs.
92 Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, N16 7NY
Visit BarDonaLondon.com
JAMIE NOISE
STEVE JOYCE
FOR OLD-SCHOOL RAVES
Phonox
XOYO’s sister venue Phonox gets it right with its simple concept: one dancefloor, one DJ deck and one great sound system. With events each weekend, the venue attracts some of London’s best selectors and DJs, who play everything from techno and house to drum ’n’ bass and jungle. The club stays open until 4am – and bank holidays have a particularly buzzy feel. Early bird slots can be had for just £5. A great spot after a gig at the nearby O2 Academy.
418 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 7AY
Visit Phonox.co.uk
FOR DAY PARTIES
Night Tales
Night Tales is east London’s biggest event space and club. It’s a great spot during the summer, when guests can sit outdoors on the terrace or head into the warehouse club with its cool lighting installations and impressive sound system. We like the venue for its fun day parties which start in the afternoon and go on until the early hours – think disco and soul events, house raves and sessions with DJs like Jordan Nocturne, Jody Wisternoff and Barac.
14 Bohemia Place, Hackney, E8 1DU
Visit NightTales.co.uk
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