Nightlife
Originally published on Tuesday, 1st March 2011
Bigger is Better
Proud 2 and The Playboy Club lead a push back to proper-sized clubs
Not so long ago, small subterranean speakeasies were the perfect antidote to the anonymous insta-clubs that were London’s nightlife mainstay. But as the tables turn, what can the antidote be for a city now thick with speakeasies?
The answer, clearly, is a smattering of proper clubs. None of that old basement identikit trash, mind. Oh no. We’re talking real places – to dance, to frolic and thoroughly let loose…
This Thursday sees the official launch of Proud 2 (despite being the group’s third space after Camden and Cabaret – go figure). Emerging from the cooled, £1m-refurbished ashes of what was the 2600-capacity Matter, it promises a Vegas theme, dedicated VIP section, even their own bus connection (well, this is Greenwich remember), and judging from the opening line-up (Mystery Jets, Friendly Fires, Horse Meat Disco) a cracking run of talent to lure us out to the sticks.
And if that’s not ‘slick club’ enough, the new Alphabet City members’ club will also be launching in the O2 – this time in early May – to offer gig attendees and performing talent a more leather-and-oak luxury option.
Back in London-proper, meanwhile, and fresh from the first round of Bunny auditions, The Playboy Club now has a confirmed launch date of June 4. Expect a whopping 17k square feet in Mayfair of gorgeous Bunnies, grand-scale Heffner-approved entertainment, and much to our excitement a new home for Salvatore Calabrese, one of our favourite old-school cocktail bartenders in town.
The Playboy Club is huge. Proud 2 is huge. Hell, the 02 is huge. And if you still haven’t been, The Box has its huge queues, huge drink bills and huger transgender bodybuilders. And folks say size doesn’t matter…
Info
Playboy Club opens June 4.
Proud 2 launches this Thursday: The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX
