Ginglik Review

Imagine being blindfolded, spun around three times and put in the back of a black cab. Disorientated, you're then driven through the streets of London. Arriving at a secret location, you are guided down some steep steps. A buzzer sounds and you hear a heavy door creak open. Once inside, your blindfold is removed and you're told to guess where you are.

Your eyes adjust to the gloom. Thanks to the steps and the loud funky music you quickly figure out that you're in an underground bar. The floor is scuffed bare concrete and the shabby furniture looks like it had been bought from an office closing-down sale. It's cramped and lit solely with small candles and fluorescent fairy lights shining through red gauze. It's a touch too cold.

Got it yet? You're in at a hyper-trendy club, somewhere in East London, right? The kind of club where having a good time has been completely redefined. Drinks are sipped mirthlessly, laughing replaced by posing, and the only thing not frowned upon is frowning itself.

But hang on, look a bit closer. Even though you're 12-feet underground and it's been dark for a good two hours, no one here is wearing sunglasses. Weird. Where are all the asymmetric haircuts? Where are the ironic t-shirts? Wait, is that person in the corner over 40?

Things get truly Twilight Zone when the girl who serves you behind the bar actually smiles. Toto, I don't think we're in Shoreditch anymore...

Nope. you're at Ginglik, West London's answer to a cool members club, where being hip and being happy are not mutually exclusive.

Ginglik, a tiny three-roomed venue housed in a converted Edwardian public loo under Shepherd's Bush Green, is only open when they're playing host to one of their highly popular live music, comedy, cabaret and club nights.

Hence, it's not somewhere to go if you're just looking for dinner so the menu is a bit jejune, offering burgers, wraps and the like. It's catering for hungry people, not foodies, after all.

However, every meal is prepared on the premises, the beef and bacon are organic and the chicken is free range. Even more surprising is the large number of dishes prefaced with a little green ‘v’, one being the least insipid veggie bean burger I've ever been served.

I was genuinely impressed at the standard of the food, especially when they could have got away with much lower quality without complaint. It's like they actually care if you to enjoy yourself or something. In the name of balance I'll add that the house white wine is best avoided but that's not a point exclusive to Ginglik, more of a general motto for life.

Don't forget, to check out Ginglik for yourself you need to become a member. An annual fee of £80 gets you and a guest either free or discounted entry. If you don't want to pay up front you can sign in for free and become a 'pay as you go' member which entitles you and four guests to pay on the door.

Though it's likely that, like me, you'll arrive via less sinister and more conventional means than I described above (such as the conveniently located Shepherd's Bush tube) I'll wager that you'll still be surprised at what you find. An edgy venue with loads to keep things interesting while remaining fun, warm and welcoming. Unlike anywhere else around.

As for the comedy I saw on my visit, it was OK but not as funny as the rather eloquent and neatly written graffiti I saw in the (unisex) toilets which read 'the butt of Daniel the barman is very very firm.' What more's to say? Well done Daniel, and well done Ginglik. We Ginglike.
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Kate Williams 29 Mar 2010

Customer Reviews for Ginglik

Average (based on 3 votes): 3 Atmosphere: Value: Quality:

The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Ginglik.

“Good 2-4-1 cocktail deals before 11pm on a aSAturday and only 6 quid to get in. Plenty of bands and burlesque and a DJ for that price. Compact little club with a mixed crowd, which is great. Good tunes too. A tad cold though. And the toilet are minging. Ironic considering it used to be a public loo.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
The Restaurant Hunter, London (4 months ago)

“This has to be one of the best new venues in West London. You have to check out the website.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Mike, London (8 years 4 months ago)

“Superb funk venue, awesome live bands”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
James Trent, [ Unknown ] (8 years 6 months 19 days ago)

Additional Information

• Average Price: £10
• Dress Code: Not Specified
• Group: (Independent/Freehouse)