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.

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

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.

London is a big deal in the fashion circuit and with many leading designers coming from London mixed with the London nightlife available, its no wonder there are plenty of parties – mostly near the end of the week – well we can’t have models falling over on the catwalk can we!

Having worked with a number of the more exclusive London nightclubs, Funky Buddha, Movida, Embassy et al, for a fair few years, let me give you the heads up on London Fashion Week after parties: (I’ll be brief)

• Any official after parties, are official and are always held in the VIP section of the nightclub in question – if you’re not officially involved with the fashion label, model agency or know the father/mother/daughter/son/aunt/uncle/hairdresser of someone who is, forget even trying to get into the VIP section. Sure, you might have gone to the same venue – but you didn’t really go to the ‘official’ party.
• There are some nightclub promoters in London, who being the creative people they are, like to use London Fashion Week as a theme, and will associate themselves with a model agency for example – even if they have had nothing to do with the organisation of the after party.  The flyers/marketing promo fluff, might give you the impression that you are in fact going to the ‘official’ after party – (see my first point).
• Alternatively, you could forget my first two points and decide to go anyway, and just go along with the fantasy believing you’ll enjoy an exclusive VIP night out with the biggies and beauties in fashion and have stories to dine out on for many years. And that is totally cool – nothing wrong with a bit of harmless role play.

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;-)

The gatekeeper is your friend, be nice!

I find it funny how people who go clubbing, particularly in London, give little thought about how to get into a nightclub.  I’m not talking about how much it costs to enter a nightclub, what to wear, or any of the more practical decisions. That’s easy!  I’m talking about how to deal with the people who decide on who actually gets into the nightclubs – gatekeepers!

Bouncers are in a lot of cases the first person you come into contact with at a nightclub venue. Sure there are hosts/hostesses who’ve some say on the matter, but ultimately the bouncers have the last word on whether or not you come in. They are concerned with safety and if you are at risk to your own safety, or anyone else, any doorman/doorwoman worth their salt will not allow you in, so they’re a very important part of your night out. They can quite literally make or break your night.  It’s not some kind of egotistical game they’re playing with you. They are just doing their job (a very challenging job sometimes)

As I’ve said I’ve met some amazing bouncers and here are some of the great qualities I’ve seen in some of the best bouncers in the world:

Ability to herd cats

Cats do what they want mostly, which is very much like us humans. And when you add booze (and other nefarious items) into the mix, their ability to manage this is in some places legendary – and I include the security at The End (sadly no longer) almost certainly the best club in the World IMO – and yes I did shed a tear when it closed. I can recount many occasions when it came for closure – 7 a.m or later sometimes at The End. The ‘cat herders’ were particularly great at being firm, fair and humorous. Quite a feat when you’re dealing with people who think the night isn’t over, were easily distracted at the slightest thing, and wouldn’t think twice about trying to engage the security personal in conversation on the difference between dwarves and midgets, or something totally appropriate/in-appropriate at stupid o’clock in the morning. You make you’re mind up.   

Patience of a Saint

Lets face it, there are some right idiots out there, who we share our World with. These idiots have a tendency to come out at night and frequently show a complete lack of self-awareness as well as wanting to prove to the World and everyone how much an idiot they are, usually through irresponsible behaviour; showing no respect for others; volleys of verbal abuse and violence.  This behaviour usually shows up when they’re confronted by someone, usually a door supervisor.

I’ve seen door personal illustrate and show huge restraint in the face of these idiots countless times, and deal with them in such a way so as to help them see a little sense and stop with their idiotic behaviour. And mostly without the use of physical restraint or force but through wit, charm, and humour. Great!

Humour

I’ve heard some terrible humour splurging from the mouths of door personal over the years, but this has always been trumped by the very best humour from them.  Anyone who is able to respond with a quip to dissolve a potential violent dispute into a agreement that one should have a nice cool beer and its good to have a laugh – is absolute genius. I’ve seen this more than a few times and indeed I believe door personal can have a huge impact on how the clientele are, when they are in the venue.

Jedi-mind tricks

There sometimes comes a point when humour is not enough – probably due to the lack of the all important humour gene being present. In this case, rather than resort to violence, its like there’s some kind of switch that allows the said door person to know in an instant that humour is not going to work, so they look directly into their eyes, and through the power of suggestion and simple words, they’ve caused the troublemaker to decide against their actions. Okay, I have simplified it somewhat, as the door personal I’ve seen using this technique are the kind of guys (mostly), who like to have a cage fight on a Sunday afternoon after they’ve finished their shift at the club.

I appreciate that I have generalized in places here.  I would love to any cool stories people have about great door personal/security/bouncers at nightclub venues, not just in London, but anywhere.  I might even start a competition for the best nightclub door person in the World, who knows. But lets hear what you have to say?

Thanks for reading,

Vincent

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?

Pub or Club

There is a common misconception that pubs are less expensive that nightclubs in London. And additionally you should definitely not assume that because a pub looks grim on the outside that it will be serving up dirt cheap drinks on the inside. I live in Hackney, East London and I remember an occasion when I wanted to watch a football match that was only televised on Sky, so I had to go to a pub. Damn! I I’d left it all a bit last minute, and so decided on the nearest pub to me – The Railway Tavern. On this very rare occasion I wasn’t really up for drinking alcohol – and opted for a pint of lemonade.

I should point out to you that The Railway Tavern was a place I avoided, period. My opinion of it was one of disdain; a cesspit, attracting clientele – sorry that is not an appropriate word – attracting alcoholics from the gutter. Anyway, so there I am at the bar, and eventually I was asked what I wanted by the landlady (or landlord – it was difficult to tell, believe me!).  I made my request “A pint of lemonade, please!” To which she/he responded “It’s more expensive than beer!”.  I stuck with the lemonade, in case you were wondering.

The point is that drinks are so variable in price in London that it’s impossible to nail it down in one really, and sometimes non-alcoholic drinks can be just as expensive as alcoholic drinks.

Admittedly there is a little difference between pubs and nightclubs and that’s because nightclubs of London rely on making profit from drink, whereas pubs can make margin from selling food. The margin to be made on booze is incredibly high, and to be frank they can get away with it, once you’re in, you’re in and you are their captive audience.

Blinded by the Razzle n Dazzle

In London nightclubs operate a little differently than pubs, in that some of the more exclusive clubs will dazzle you with their display of drinks on offer – mainly spirits – this is where they really make their money. Also, for the more exclusive clubbing environment, a bottle of lager doesn’t quite fit the image they want to portray.

Single or Double

The main thing to remember in London nightclubs when buying spirits, is the standard measurement is a double, not a single. This has caught me out a couple of times when I first ventured out into London West End clubs.  You can get a single measurement, you just have to ask, nicely, please.

In the more exclusive clubs and in recent times, I’ve sometimes paid anything between, £8-£12 for a spirit based drink (cocktails included) and £4-£6 for a bottle of lager. Ouch! But hey, sometimes you’ve got to be willing to pay for the thrill. Also to be fair in some of the exclusive nightclubs, e.g. Movida, Funky Buddha, Embassy, and so on, they really know how to make a cocktail, and the bartenders have apparent talent and experience in their craft.

In a number of venues you’ll find drink deals on offer which is handy when we’re a little more careful with our money (allegedly). In some, not all nightclubs you might find, if you arrive earlier, two-for-one deals. Just depends if you want to get in earlier or not.

There is another way to really make a saving on drinks, especially if you’re in a group or 10 or more for instance. I’m surprised people don’t lap up the following deals available at most of, if not all the exclusive West End nightclubs in London and that is the phenomenon known as VIP tables.  Many think it’s out of reach, starting £500. Anyhow, when you book tables at these upscale venues, included within that £500 you’ll have your very own table (yeah, standard, what else), you have table service all night with personal hostess (okay, it’s getting better) includes free entrance for all table guests (great for a girls night out or hen party) and wait for it, alcohol of your choice and free mixers up to the value of £500. Wow!

I struggled with this initially, but lets break it down – its worth it believe me. Lets say your in a group of 10 girls organising a girls night out for a birthday party, to make it easy on the brain. So entrance to most of these clubs is £20 on Fridays and Saturdays. So that’s £200 saved already and you’ve still got a £500 of drinks tab. I’m aware in Funky Buddha nightclub this kind of tab would allow for 2 bottles of Smirnoff Vodka and a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin, all the mixers you need and individual shots all round when you arrive. WOW! A bottle of spirits holds 30 single measures, so that’s 60 drinks in all with the two bottles. If you bought 60 single spirit mixers in Funky Buddha, they would cost £8.50 individually, so that’s £510 already. With the shots on top that would be another £30 at least. I reckon as a group, you’d be saving around £250.  So, individually that’s £25 saving which is great, as long as you don’t mind looking something like this……….

I think a more appropriate question to ask about London’s drink prices, is more like how big a night out do you want?  London is expensive, always has been, and always will be, but if you look hard enough and are clever about it, you can always find deals so you don’t end up with a bill like this from a recent night out in London’s clubland……

What are your experiences of drink prices in London? Do you have any favored spots for great drink deals? What’s the most expensive drink you’ve paid for? Would love to hear about your experiences.

Thanks,

Vincent

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.

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

London is unique in the way it offers myriad nightclub entertainment choices to suit every possible image, trend, permutation of fashion and music.  It has set the standard for years and continues to evolve.  In the ever-changing landscape of London’s nightlife, there is an area of London that has always stuck to its principle, to offer exclusivity.  I am of course talking about London’s West End.

Nightclubs in the West End of London have a strong association with celebrity culture, and with the media attention celebrities receive nowadays, you have the opportunity to have a look into their lifestyle. And that lifestyle includes having a night out.  Even if you don’t want to hangout with celebrities in London, you can at least party where they do.

You can do just that, so as long as you follow a simple set of guidelines.

1. Make sure you are very clear on the dress code.  These clubs are all about image, so make sure you fit the profile.  Give the nightclub a call if you are unsure.
2. Never turn up at a nightclub randomly and expect a speedy entry (unless you’re a celeb that is).
3. Check on any age restrictions. Some of the most exclusive nightclubs operate different age restrictions.
4. One of the easiest ways to gain entrance to exclusive nightclubs in London is by putting your name/s on their guest list.  There are plenty of guest list companies who provide guest lists for these nightclubs.
5. Most of these guestlist companies offer reduced entry fee and in some cases you’ll find that ladies are completely free.
6. Exclusive nightclubs will almost certainly not accept guestlists made up entirely of males – unless you are celeb, or rolling in cash, in which case you would book a table.
7. Booking a table is by far and away the quickest easiest way to guarantee entry, and you don’t have to spend a fortune. Most tables can be booked for between £250 and £500, and includes your entry fee for up to 10 guests, a table for the whole night, and in most cases includes a bottle of spirits/champagne, as well as table service. Bearing in mind entrance to these clubs can be as much as £20 on the most popular nights and drinks can be around £8-£10 for a spirit based drink, it works out to be a good deal. And you won’t have to queue at all.
8. If you want to book a table I would suggest using a guest list company as they offer table-booking services and have more sway with the clubs and will look after you personally.
9. It doesn’t matter whether you are on a guestlist or have booked a table it is always advisable to be friendly and polite with the staff at the nightclub. Charm goes a long way in this world.

These simple guidelines will help you enter a world of exclusivity, the finer things in life and more importantly a fabulous night out with your friends. The likes of The Penthouse, Funky Buddha, Molton House, Cafe de Paris, Embassy, are my top London nightclub venues for spotting celebrities (no guarantee on the class of celebrity).  For free and reduced entry for your fab celeb spotting/party night you can use my free London nightclub guestlist service.

Another excellent way to make sure you and your friends can enjoy the best possible service, free and reduced entry to all of the clubs I work with, for 1 YEAR is to buy a Circle Club Card membership. Visit my membership page, with 100% guarantee money back if you are not satisfied with my service to enjoy Londons best nightclubs.

Have a fabulous weekend,

Vincent

For those that have experience of perceived ‘exclusive’ nightclubs in London, where you might feel odd unless you have a silicon enhanced body or a lack of B-list celebrity credentials, Molton House will come as a welcome surprise.

There is no pretension about this venue whatsoever – it is what it is, flamboyant! With flour floors jam-packed with every conceivable design idea you can imagine, but tasteful nevertheless.  Thankfully the atmosphere lives up to the standard set by the decor which is why I have personally chosen to work with this venue.

You can have access to this fabulous venue via my Molton House Guestlist.  I would recommend that your dress code is sophisticated rather than a showy affair.  Their drinks are amazing and they specialize in champagne and cocktails with a prompt and friendly service (and slightly dearer than usual price tag).

As a suggestion, if you are a party of 10 or more, its definitely worth considering booking a table.  Not only will you and your friends/colleagues receive a superior service whilst there, but you will also benefit from speedier entry and a drink deal included.

Have a great Monday.

Vincent

As I said in my first post I don’t work with every single nightclub in London, I carefully select the venues and nights on offer for each night.

On Wednesdays I work with two clubs namely The Penthouse and Metra, both situated in Leicester Square. Both are free before 11pm with the Circle Club Card guestlist, and offer a great vibrant atmosphere.

You can check out the Penthouse nightclub here, or the Metra nightclub here.

If you already know what you want you can add your names to the Penthouse or Metra nightclub guestlist here.

Have a great day!

Vincent