Nightlife
Originally published on Tuesday, 2nd November 2010
East, But Not Too East
Two new late-night bars bring a little more drinking variety to the accessible East
So East London has bars? No way!
Ditch the too-cool-for-school sarcasm, kids, and listen up. If only because neither of East’s newest watering holes are in deepest Dalston (for a change) – and they both promise some more-than-decent drinking fare.
The first, ClubTEN, offers a solution to those who’ve ever found themselves stuck in St. Paul’s, dying of thirst, without a single spot for a drink that isn’t a City pub. Instead it’s right by the cathedral (albeit three-floors below the ground so don’t expect much of a view) and boasts the usual Mayfair army of expensive lighting, DJs and live sets, and a bevy of banquettes, beads and bubbles by the bottle.
Sure there’s still the old £350 p.a. membership chestnut. But what’s interesting is that (coupled with the One New Change monolith) St. Paul’s might no longer be quite the middle-of-nightlife-nowhere it once was. Plus Mica Paris is singing at the launch, if that’s your thing…
Further towards Old Street, meanwhile, tucked amidst the usual spread of City Road caffs stands a new local speakeasy treat… So not only does The Nightjar finally offer a late-night drinking escape that isn’t a heaving subterranean club, but the drinks menu by ex-Langham/Montgomery-alumnus, Marian Beke, promises a cocktail-heavy selection to really stand out – especially given the immediate area.
I mean, this is the ropier City Road bit of Old Street. And elderberry-infused chocolate eau de vie is a million miles from the usual late-night tins of Red Stripe and a kebab.
Info
ClubTEN launches today
10 Godliman Street, EC4V 5AJ
Tues-Sat 6pm-1am
NightJar opens Nov 18
129-131 City Road, EC1V 1JB
Mon closed; Tues, Wed, Sun 5pm-1:30am; Thurs-Sat 5pm-3:30am