20 Kensington Church Street,
Kensington,
W84 EP
0872 148 3815
The ViewLondon Review
Having experienced a bit of an identity crisis in recent years (it’s been called Dunes and En Vogue among other things), this venue now takes its name from its address, and offers hot girls, attractive decor and sexy music.The VenueYou might have guessed that this club is located at 20 Kensington Church Street, making it a hop, skip and a jump (or two minutes walk) from Kensington High Street tube station, or less than ten minutes walk from Notting Hill Gate underground, and just opposite royal favourite, Amika.
It’s pretty anonymous from the outside, with nothing to denote its presence, though when it’s open the bouncers and velvet rope make it easy to find. Descend the steep stairs into the venue and you’ll find three main areas – an open bar, a large dancefloor and seating area, and a Champagne/VIP lounge. The main dance area is decorated in sexy blacks and reds, but the knockout room is the VIP area, decorated in pure white, with white leather sofas and marble floors lit from underneath by neon lights.
The Atmosphere20 Kensington Church Street attracts a blend of people with cash to flash and the pretty glamour girls who like to follow them. There is plenty of flesh on display, and the vodka seems to flow endlessly, creating a happy vibe and packing the dance floor with an up-for-it crowd. The staff at the bar aren’t especially friendly, but they do go out of their way to get you what you want, and the bouncers are surprisingly welcome upon your arrival.
The MusicThe DJ starts the night with sexy RnB, and later in the night you can expect commercial dance and house, and even some pop tunes thrown in. It’s a winning if unoriginal formula that packs the dancefloor out from early in the evening. Slightly less appealing are the older foreign gentlemen hovering around the edges for an eyeful – but hey, this is Kensington, and money talks. Don’t be too surprised if you see the pretty girls paying these guys plenty of attention later in the night.
The DrinkWith no cocktail list in sight, 20 Kensington Church Street needs to up its game a little to compete in this market. That said, the bar staff are able to whip up most things if you ask them, even going out of their way to go and get cream to make a White Russian. Prices aren’t as steep as some venues, though most doubles with a mixer still come in at £8, so don’t expect any bargains – this is W8 after all, darlings.
The Last Word20 Kensington Church Street brings a bit of competition back to nightlife in this corner of West London, and holds it own admirably against established favourites. The up-for-it, gregarious crowd make this venue, you won’t fail to meet people and dance the night away with new friends.