Just finished reading an article in the Daily Mail online about drinking culture in UK. It wasn’t pleasant reading, but then I’ve never enjoyed the bilge that the Daily Mail spews. The focus of the article was on Wales and Cardiff in particular and provided visual evidence in the problems of binge drinking. The image below is not uncommon to see every weekend, apparently.  But is this the case in London?
I’ve promoted various nightclubs in the West End of London and had first hand experience of the effects of drinking.  Its never going to be a pretty sight to see a girl/woman try a walk over a cobbled street when she’s had a raft of alcohol flowing though her body.  Equally it is never going to be a great sight to see a guy with his face half in a kebab salivating over a female target, without the use of that vital skill we call speech.  I won’t lie, but I did find this funny sometimes, and these sights sometimes provided much needed humour, to what would otherwise have been a thoroughly boring and tedious night.

I am not advocating this kind of behaviour, let me get that straight.  If I saw myself in that state I’d be very concerned. It shows a complete lack of care for your own health, sanity and image.  But that is apparently what alcohol does to you – in the large quantities that is. You can say goodbye to self-control and awareness.

 

 

Forget your bling I want cheese!

Sometimes I hate my job and all the BS that goes with it, especially with regards to the more exclusive nightclubs – the elite members only clubs. Ahem, did I say members only? There’s some prime BS for you already.  I quite often associate these kind of nightclubs with being shallow and essentially having nothing to do with fun. Part of me wants to scream at people who frequent them, and ask them ‘Have you heard about cheese?’

By cheese I am not talking about the kind to eat, I’m talking of a good old cheesy nightclub playing cheesy pop, 80′s and commercial music.  When I think about how depressed this country is right now, and how the majority of us are feeling the screws tighten things financially, I believe what this country needs is a good cheesy night out, to forget all their worries, IMHO.

I’m not putting down the exclusive clubs at all – they have their place and they’re certainly a part of the entertainment landscape in London. But sometimes it’s really good to let go, and not have to worry too much about what to wear, who’s going to be there, how to be, because, you know, you’ve got to be a certain way to be in these clubs (you’ll get found out!), or how much money you need to blow before being excepted into the elite.

Cheesy nightclubs have their place in society and even if the drinks are crap, the service is poor, or the clientele are less than desirable, at least you’ll come out the other side feeling that life isn’t too bad and can only get better. There not all like that though.  On the plus side of cheesy clubs, its all about the music, isn’t it. The DJ playing all those classics from a by gone era – that’s the 80′s. Some of you might be from a different era, and that’s okay, I’m sticking with the principle that the 80′s delivered cheesy pop in volumes and quality (mostly) never to be seen again by man, woman, boy or girl.  I thank my lucky stars that there are plenty of clubs prepared to play these tunes, and deliver a slab of cheese for those whp want it.

I’m also glad to say that I help to organise nights out at some great cheesy nightclubs – by that, I’m talking about the music, and I make no promises about drinks, clientele or service. Its all about the music.  I guarantee that having spent a night on the dance floor going crazy to pop classics from the 80′s you’ll feel at one with yourself and the world again (if not, I recommend seeing a doctor).

Cheese and peace my friends,

Vincent

The Secret to London Fashion Week After Parties

London Fashion Week summons the presence of fashionstas, designers, models, journalists, celebrities from A-Z, and to be fair, a load of wannabes. Everyone who wants to be somebody wants to be there; everyone who is somebody is there (mostly).

A major part of London Fashion Week, is of course the partying. It goes hand in hand with the lifestyle of models and the life. Its a chance to show off how good you look; how much you earn and who you know.

The Best Bouncer in the World

There was a moment during the London riots and looting when I seriously wondered if it would have been better for shopkeepers to hire their own security. I don’t own a shop, but I’d have been seriously tempted if I did, due to the lack of action on behalf of the police.  I don’t mean to single out the police for blame, or to create a political debate, but it does beg the question on whether hired security would have done of better job of preventing the looting. We’ll never know.

Love or Hate? 

So where am I going with this? What does this have to do with clubbing, London nightlife and the like? Every weekend, venues up and down the country pay for security a.k.a. bouncers; doormen and doorwomen.  Just like the police, everyones got a different opinion on doormen and doorwomen.  They divide opinion!  You either love them or you hate them.

Everyone I know has had a crappy experience with a bouncer, including me at some point. Friends I know tend to talk more about their poor experiences than their good experiences with bouncers, if it comes up in conversation. I think this is quite telling in how bouncers can be stigmatized and branded as oafs, unintelligent and so on, and all because of a couple of bad experiences you’ve had with them, or heard about.  A couple of bad experiences isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, if you’re going out regularly. Although, there are always going to be a minority of people who get into trouble with bouncers, many times when they go out clubbing. If you’re one of those you might want to ask yourself why that is, and why you’re going out clubbing in the first place? Rhetorical questions btw;-)

How much do drinks cost in London?

The question of how much drinks cost in London is a tricky one to answer at the best of times, let alone if I’ve had a drink myself. The question of drink prices comes up quite often with friends from overseas coming to visit, to which I will usually reply with my own question “well, where do you want to go, the Dog and Duck, or that Posh club up town?”

So you know, I’m not suggesting that public drinking holes (pubs) named The Dog and Duck are in anyway cheap, as you’ll probably find a Dog and Duck pub somewhere that is now a gastro pub, offering an array of premium beers with the latest trendiest beer from Blugaria or somewhere like that.

So where do you go for cheap drinks in London?

Top Tips for Nights Out in London

Make sure your night out in London is a blast and something to talk about with your friends with my top 10 tips for nights out in London.

There is no doubt that London is a metropolis of clubbing and bars literally offering something for every taste in music, fashion, trend and ambiance. There is a beauty in this, but can also have its problems especially if you are unfamiliar or new to London.  Would you prefer to have a night to forget or one to remember and talk about?

The more exclusive nightclubs in London, like China Whites, Funky Buddha, Penthouse etc usually operate a guest list. Guestlists offer speedy entry and reduced and sometimes free entry. There are plenty of online guestlist companies who work on behalf of these clubs who you can submit your names too, and it’s a free service.

Nightclubs with an electronic/dance music orientated policy usually provide the opportunity to buy advanced tickets. For nights when a popular DJ is playing, you’d be advised to buy advanced tickets, unless you like queuing.

My top 10 tips will help you on your way to a memorable night out in London.

1. Always plan your night out! I know it sounds boring to do this and might take away some of the spontaneity, but the worst nights out I have experienced in London, before I moved to London, have been completely unplanned.  Sure I’ve experienced fantastic spontaneous nights out in London, but that is more down to me knowing the part of London I was going to, rather than based on pure chance. The best nights my friends and I have had are down to some very simple planning.
2. If you are planning to have a few drinks before you go clubbing never rely on one bar. Choose a few options. Its very easy to bar hop in London so if your first choice isn’t up to standard, you’ll never be far away from one that is, and even better if you know the names and locations of the other bars. Your friends will be very impressed.
3. You might be surprised to know that some bars in London have dress codes; entry fee after a certain time; specific age restrictions i.e. 21+; or have a strict no entry to all male groups. Its not always the case, so it might be wise to check on their website if they have one, or call them.
4. Planning to go to a nightclub in London is vastly different to bar hopping and you will definitely need to check the following; age restrictions; music policy; dress code; price of drinks; male group entry policy; do you need tickets or to be on a guest list;
5. Here’s the general rule of thumb in terms of club tickets and guestlists.
6. Dress codes are very much dependant on the type of club your going to. Clubs in the West End of London are typically stricter than say a club in Hoxton or Shoreditch.  There is nothing worse than one person in your group who isn’t dressed correctly and scuppers you’re whole group gaining entry.  Always check with the club before
7. London is not cheap when it comes to alcoholic drinks, especially if you’re a tourist. Even if you’re not a tourist, it can come as a surprise. You’ll find that most nightclubs in London, particularly those in the West End will serve spirits as a double, as standard. You have to ask for a single if you want a single.  Ladies, please keep an eye on drinks. There are unfortunately a minority of people out there who want to take advantage of vulnerable ladies.
8. Don’t expect to gain entry to nightclubs if you are obviously inebriated e.g. slurring words, unstable and wobbling etc. Door staff are trained to spot potential trouble for both the club and for you. And at the end of the day they have the right to refuse entry.
9. Once again if you are rude, belligerent or impolite to door staff chances are you’ll be refused entry.  I always prefer the use of politeness, charm and humour with door staff. It goes a long way and has sometimes resulted in quicker entry, or entry when one of our group is not dressed correctly.
10. Always use a registered taxi service, particularly if travelling on your own, or if you are female. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you why.  Most London nightclubs have links with trusted taxi companies so use them.

Okay so that’s my top 10 tips for nights out in London but watch out for more of my articles about clubbing and entertainment lifestyle in London. I hope you enjoy your nights out in London.  Please contact me if you need help with a night out your planning with friends. It doesn’t matter if it’s a special occasion, a corporate event or simply a night out with friends, I can help keep you in the know with what’s up in the London party circuit.

Exclusive London Nightclubs – Available and accessible to all!

Hi,

My name is Vincent. I am your nightlife concierge. I’ve organised over 10,000 amazing parties for people from all over the world at some of Londons best nightclubs.  I am a born and bred Londoner so I do know my way around by now.

So what are you going to get from reading my blog. I am going to reveal some amazing secrets about how to get access to a whole new world that some of you may of thought wasn’t possible – free entry, the best way to get the VIP treatment at exclusive clubs without spending a fortune, info on the best nights, birthday party ideas and already too much to mention. The majority of the information can be found on my website at circleclubcard.com.

I don’t work with every single night club in London as I don’t want to be all things to all women and men. I have personally selected the clubs I work with for being the creme de la creme, offering the best nights and best deals for those lucky enough to find me.  Here are just some of  the nightclubs I work with in London; Cafe de Paris, Embassy, Funky Buddha, Penthouse, Electric Birdcage, Molton House

I will also give you the best advice on nights out in London and I write prolifically with the aim always to help and please you.

From the start of August, 2010 I will be revealing two amazing and exclusive offers every week. Just check my blog weekly, or subscribe to be kept in the know with the ever evolving party scene in London. Its available to you right here, right now.

For those who already know about Circle Club Card and want to get on a guestlist, simply visit my London night club guestlist page. Its quick, easy and I promise to look after you and ensure you have a fabulous night out.

Thats all for now,

Vincent