London Bars that look like bunkers for 30th birthday
March 14, 2016 10:37 AM Subscribe
My 30th birthday is at the end of June, and I am planning an apocalyptic themed birthday party and want to find a venue that looks as much like a bunker/basement/vault/fallout shelter as possible. I live in London and would prefer somewhere South or East. However, this is proving to be difficult. Snowflakes inside.
I had the idea to throw a "I'm 30 and the world is ending!" themed party, partly because I want to dress up as a Mad Max alter ego, and partly because it hits the perfect theme party sweet spot of not cliche but also something you can either go all out for or get away with just wearing an eyepatch. I have a reputation for throwing extremely good parties (time travelers convention, north london/hawaii hybrid hot tub party, childrens party for grown ups complete with bouncy castle), but this year is the first year I'm not living in a shared house - my flat is tiny, has no outside space, and will not work for this specific idea (or honestly, any idea, it will barely hold 20 people).
I found a perfect venue that I could have walked into tomorrow and thrown the party of my dreams (Call me Mr Lucky underneath the Breakfast Club in London Bridge) but the bar minimum is £6,500 with a capacity of 70 which is just far too rich for my friends and I and the anxiety of making my friends spend that much would go against my previously successful party throwing philosophy of 'hands off once the party starts' (and probably also lose me all my friends).
Do you know of a bar that has a concrete/industrial aesthetic, a capacity of between 50-100 and a bar minimum that works out to under £50 per head? Places that are more out of the way are fine. Railway arches are ideal. The place MUST be licenced or at least allow alcohol to be consumed on the premises, although obviously I'd prefer somewhere to be pretty cheap if I'll also have to supply the booze. I'd rather have a whole space with a private bar than hiring a room in a back of a pub, I think there's something tacky about being in costume and mingling with people just trying to have a nice night out.
Would prefer a barebones place so I can decorate it. My budget for the venue if I am hiring it for a flat fee would be max £500.
The Others is perfect but a bit too far north, however if you know anywhere like this that is South East, or just East, that would be perfect.
If I can't find the right venue I will find another idea - so feel free to say 'no litereally, that's impossible'. I really like this one though, so please let me know if you know the perfect space!
I had the idea to throw a "I'm 30 and the world is ending!" themed party, partly because I want to dress up as a Mad Max alter ego, and partly because it hits the perfect theme party sweet spot of not cliche but also something you can either go all out for or get away with just wearing an eyepatch. I have a reputation for throwing extremely good parties (time travelers convention, north london/hawaii hybrid hot tub party, childrens party for grown ups complete with bouncy castle), but this year is the first year I'm not living in a shared house - my flat is tiny, has no outside space, and will not work for this specific idea (or honestly, any idea, it will barely hold 20 people).
I found a perfect venue that I could have walked into tomorrow and thrown the party of my dreams (Call me Mr Lucky underneath the Breakfast Club in London Bridge) but the bar minimum is £6,500 with a capacity of 70 which is just far too rich for my friends and I and the anxiety of making my friends spend that much would go against my previously successful party throwing philosophy of 'hands off once the party starts' (and probably also lose me all my friends).
Do you know of a bar that has a concrete/industrial aesthetic, a capacity of between 50-100 and a bar minimum that works out to under £50 per head? Places that are more out of the way are fine. Railway arches are ideal. The place MUST be licenced or at least allow alcohol to be consumed on the premises, although obviously I'd prefer somewhere to be pretty cheap if I'll also have to supply the booze. I'd rather have a whole space with a private bar than hiring a room in a back of a pub, I think there's something tacky about being in costume and mingling with people just trying to have a nice night out.
Would prefer a barebones place so I can decorate it. My budget for the venue if I am hiring it for a flat fee would be max £500.
The Others is perfect but a bit too far north, however if you know anywhere like this that is South East, or just East, that would be perfect.
If I can't find the right venue I will find another idea - so feel free to say 'no litereally, that's impossible'. I really like this one though, so please let me know if you know the perfect space!
Why not go the whole hog and rent an actual nuclear bunker for your party?
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:22 AM on March 14, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:22 AM on March 14, 2016 [5 favorites]
Best answer: The Underdog Art Gallery near Bermondsey St is a blank, concrete space underneath an archway, and they do space hire with optional bar. We rented it for a themed party and were pretty satisfied.
posted by Concordia at 1:03 AM on March 15, 2016
posted by Concordia at 1:03 AM on March 15, 2016
Best answer: You might want to check out Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green.
The Albany has some good spaces that might be of interest to you.
There is also The Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury. It is probably outside your stated budget, and you'd need to provide your own bar setup, but it is a lovely space.
posted by sueinnyc at 5:37 PM on March 15, 2016
The Albany has some good spaces that might be of interest to you.
There is also The Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury. It is probably outside your stated budget, and you'd need to provide your own bar setup, but it is a lovely space.
posted by sueinnyc at 5:37 PM on March 15, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks everyone, this really helped me find more event space rather than just focusing on bars. I definitely want to hire the Underdog gallery at some point, its a little expensive for this party but in future I definitely will hold something there!
I have a hold on the event space at the Nines in Peckham for future reference, exactly within my budget (£200 fees, £500 bar minimum), very cool place with a perfect bunker aesthetic. Would never have found it without the tips from you guys, so thanks again.
posted by litereally at 7:49 AM on March 21, 2016
I have a hold on the event space at the Nines in Peckham for future reference, exactly within my budget (£200 fees, £500 bar minimum), very cool place with a perfect bunker aesthetic. Would never have found it without the tips from you guys, so thanks again.
posted by litereally at 7:49 AM on March 21, 2016
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I think you are smart to look into non-pub establishments, as it seems if you rent a whole pub for the night, you must cover their operating costs, losses for closure, etc.
posted by stillmoving at 10:57 AM on March 14, 2016