Roxx Club (Bar, Club)

Top 10 things we learned about Roxx club:

1) Pop-up club Roxx, having previously ‘popped up’ in Notting Hill, is back, this time in central London.

2) Co-founder Kamran Dehdashti set out to create the atmosphere of a charisma-charged rock after-party, where the superstars of tomorrow, high on the ecstasy of performance and drunk on destiny, have us mortals craving a piece of the action.

3) To this end, the whole club is themed to look a bit rough around the edges. Street artists have graffiti’d up the venue, and strategically positioned skull/horns pay homage to glam rock.

4) Kamran wanted to create somewhere that plays great rock, but where “you could take your girlfriend”. The unpretentious door policy (free and guaranteed before 10:30, £10 after) as well as the music, give it a Camden vibe. But with a Fitzrovia address above the distinctly non-grungey Libertine, this is a hygienic take on the live music scene.

5) That’s not to say it lacks personality. Roxx is a labour of love, with superb attention to detail. Tables feature skull-shaped pitchers filled with little plastic bags of ‘Crystal Meth’ candy and mirrored tiles with sherbet ‘lines’ – a cheeky allusion to the drugs element of the sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll equation.

6) It’s all about the music. One punter said he loved it because, “They play the Rolling Stones, on a Saturday night, in central London. Where else do you get that?” What’s more, management eschew the usual scantily-clad, vacant-eyed podium dancers in favour of live musicians who pop up at different points in the evening. One minute there’s electric guitar coming from the DJ box, the next, a trumpeter and trombonist performing on the bar (yes, on, not next to).

7) Which brings us to the drinks – a large neon sign above the bar asks, ‘What’s your poison’? There’s plenty to choose from, with all the usual suspects, plus some killer cocktails. If you can, share a ROXXSTAR with friends – vodka, crème de cassis and passionfruit puree, topped with champagne and served in a skull-shaped beaker.

8) The awesome loo-transportation lift deserves special mention - with shagpile carpet, electric guitar and charming lift operative – going to the loo was never so groovy.

9) If Carlsberg did crazy backstage parties, they’d be at Roxx.

10) It’s a pop-up, which means it’ll pop back down. Go while you can!...read more