NIGHTLIFE
Originally published on Tuesday, 09 September 2008
Help The Aged
It may have had the darkest, dankest, most foul-smelling toilets this side of an unofficial US army detainee centre, but I miss the old Dragon Bar in Shoreditch. Yet it sits, caught between a demolition site and a still-unopened replacement venue round on Shoreditch High Street (it’s been due for a while: so eyes peeled!).
And now the infamous Colony Room Club – home to 60 years of legendary art and debauched artists, from Francis Bacon to Damien Hirst (Google it for a few cracking yarns) – is closing in December, because developers want to turn the Dean Street bar into high-end apartments.
Meanwhile, a mere stone’s throw from the old Dragon, the uninspiring Tabernacle is chucking cash at unnecessary revamps (the launch of their rumoured Daft Punk/Electricity Showrooms style dancefloor is now set for the 24th). Is there really no alcohol justice?
We may be a fickle lot here at UJ, but that’s not to say we don’t appreciate a bit of history. So if you have a spare few grand lying around, the old Colony are auctioning of their legendary art collection to raise a few bob for the relocation. We’re pooling our pennies as we speak…
Colony Room Club auction on Sept 27, 11am • (lots on view from Sept 24) • 1 Marylebone Rd, NW1 4GD
The Colony Room Club • 41 Dean St, WC1D 4PY
The Tabernacle relaunches on Sept 24 • 55-61 Tabernacle St, EC2A 4AA