Spending Night’s Out Without Spending Too Much
By Kath Butler (follow Kath on Twitter: @k_butler92)
With London being the nightlife mecca it is, you’ll be hard pressed to find a resident who doesn’t enjoy a night, or five, out on the town. It may not be globally dubbed the city that never sleeps, but it certainly gets very little of it, with a huge proportion of the population squeaking their sneakers in the depths of the city’s clubs. However, unless armed with insider knowledge and a good sense of direction (or city mapper – no one’s judging), club nights can end up costing your average punter something looking terrifyingly like half a month’s rent.
Hence, the reason for a list that strategically pinpoints London’s cheapest, and if I may say so, coolest club nights, as a night without the sting of a depleted bank balance is always monumentally cooler than with one. So in no particular order and covering a vast array of music genres and geographical locations, London’s cheapest club nights await.
#1 Jubilee Club | Chalk Farm | Every Friday
Jubilee Club via The Sense of Doubt
Found yourself looking for your inner Doherty in Camden? Look no further than the Barfly’s Jubilee Club that takes place every Friday. £5 entry if you post your name on the night’s event page and drinks at the mythical rates of £2.80, Jubilee club hosts bands upstairs and DJ’s playing indie and alternative rock and pop downstairs. If you’re looking for a no frills, good rock and roll night out, this is your one.
Where: The Barfly, 49 Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN
Price: £5 entry (By posting name on FB event here)
#2 Starshaped | Highbury | First Saturday of every Month
Starshaped at The Garage via Carabas
Bang on trend with the current retro obsession with the 90’s, is The Garage’s monthly Britpop spectacular. Hosted in one of Highbury’s most well-known music venues, expect Jarvis, Damon, Justine & co. whilst reliving the modern reincarnation of Britain’s version of generation X angst.
Where: The Garage, 20-22 Highbury Cres, N5 1RD
Price: £6
#3 Uncontrollable Urge | Dalston | Every Wednesday
Via Hello Giggles
If you’re hump day is beckoning for a painfully hip experience, head over to Dalston Superstore for their weekly dance music extravaganza. Expect nothing but an irresistible impulse to swing your hips and tap your toes to music ranging from electro, pop and disco. All this, topped with the sweetest cherry that is free entry.
Where: Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland High St, E8 2PB
Price: Free
#4 White Heat Club | Kings Cross/Angel | Every Friday
White Heat Club via White Heat Mayfair
The Lexington between Angel and Kings Cross, is a bit of a late night club stalwart, often being the destination of choice to pub goers who don’t want to lose the buzz they slaved away to attain at post-work drinks. White Heat Club, takes place every Friday night and is free. Very danceable tunes are on the bill ranging from care-free disco to left-field electronica as well as the occasional live act and well known DJ’s.
Where: The Lexington, 96-98 Pentonville Rd, N1 9JB
Price: Free (with a ticket from Dice.com)
#5 Viva Cuba | Soho | Every Friday
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club via Music Tour
Particularly poignant in the midst of the February chill, head over to Ronnie Scott’s on a Friday to indulge in the fiery oasis that is its Cuban themed club nights. Authentic live Cuban bands and DJ’s set the Jazz venue on fire and salsa, tango its patrons into the early Saturday hours. Get there before 8PM and entry is only £5.
Where: Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, 47 Frith St, W1D 4HT
Price: £5 before 8PM, £12 after 8PM
#6 Fiesta | Dalston | 2nd Saturday Every Month
Via Birthdays Dalston
Living up to its namesake this monthly night at Birthdays in Dalston is nothing short of one big party. Hip Hop, Garage, Grime, Bass and Bashment make up this eclectic night’s soundtrack and DJ’s from NTS Radio, Boiler Room and Soullection have taken to its hallowed decks to bestow on the crowds such auditory treats.
Where: Birthdays, 33-35 Stoke Newington Rd, N16 8BJ
Price: £5 before 11PM
#7 Flawless | Hoxton | TBA
Via The Macbeth Website
Every now and then The Macbeth puts on a night themed around worshipping at the altar that is Queen Bey. Naturally such an affair is very popular and the night routinely sells out after it’s announced so keep an eye on The Macbeth’s page, because much like its inspiration it is prone to dropping unexpected announcements on the internet. Musically, expect anything fierce and staying true to its namesake, flawless – TLC to Nina Simone to Nicki Minaj and obvs some Beyonce for good measure.
Where: The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton St, Shoreditch N1 6LP
Price: £5 presale
#8 Propaganda | Camden | Every Saturday
Propganda Electric Ballroom via Fatsoma
Rock n’ roll party extraordinaire Propaganda has made The Electric Ballroom in Camden home to their London club night. Expect loads of drunken students and fiendishly cheap drinks, so basically the best night ever. Music is mostly classic indie pop and rock tunes, easy to sing along to and difficult to resist dancing to, may be the drinks too.
Where: Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High St, NW1 8QP
Price: £6 before 11 (By posting name on FB event here)
#9 South London Soul Train | Peckham | Every 2nd Saturday
The Bussey Building via Time Out London
Rolling into Peckham the first and third Saturday of every month is the musical powerhouse that is the SLST. Not skimping on expanse, the collective takes over the multi-levelled goodness of the Bussey Building. Funk, Jazz, Blues, Soul are the name of the game at this giant party. Tickets sell out for this one rather fast but 500 are guaranteed to be reserved at the door so get down early.
Where: The Bussey Building, 133 Rye Ln, SE15 4ST
Price: £5 adv, £7 otd
#10 Flattery Acid | Kentish Town | Every 2nd Saturday
The Abbey Tavern Via Phileas Hog
If you’re in Kentish Town on the second or fourth Saturday or any given month and looking for some musical goodness, head over to this no nonsense club night at The Abbey Tavern. By sampling the best from each decade, 60’s rock, 70’s soul, 80’s pop, 90’s indie and 00’s hip hop, Flattery Acid uses no clever marketing gimmicks, just good old playtime.
Where: The Abbey Tavern, 124 Kentish Town Rd, NW1 9QB
Price: Free
#11 Ukebox | New Cross | Every 2nd Sunday of the month
Ukebox Via The Amersham Arms Website
The Brockley ukulele group takes to the Amersham Arms in New Cross to gently ease you out of your Sunday blues, with some cheerful smile-inducing tunes. Known for taking requests shouted by the audience this tiny guitar playing trio will make Monday all the more bearable.
Where: Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Rd, SE14 6TY
Price: Free
#12 Adored | Camden | Every Wednesday
Proud Camden By Morgan O’Donovan
Proud Camden hosts a new band showcase organized by the guys at Leech events and Bark. Expect a weekly variance in genres that could be anything ranging from punk to acoustic, but fresh on London’s live music scene. DJ’s carry on the party till 1AM and you get all of this for the great cost of zero pounds.
Where: Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH
Price: Free
#13 Club NME | Mornington Crescent | Every Friday
Club NME via NME Magazine
Koko plays host to a late club night every Friday, with live up and coming bands taking the stage at around 11:30 PM. The night usually takes place post-gig with DJ sets from the headliner band occasionally warming up the night, if not the tunes are generally good and the vibe even better.
Where: Koko, 1A Camden High St, NW1 7JE
Price: £4 for students, £5 otherwise
Be safe and be sure not to lose your oyster card, or dignity for that matter. Happy clubbing you lot!
We’ve also created a map of the above cheapest club nights in London:
