150 Brick Lane,
Shoreditch,
London,
E1 6QL
0871 971 6522
The ViewLondon Review
93 Feet East is in that select group of East London’s most inimitable clubs. Others have tried (and failed) to capture its philosophy as it continues to give sway to nights on musical merit, whether they’re neu-mainstream or post-underground.The VenueWander down Brick Lane and steer away from the stooges offering curry for a pound – it just can’t be that good. Head straight down the open road, remembering to flash your eyes up at the dank, dark walls to grab your obligatory dose of Banksy or Obey. 93 Feet East stands just beyond the arch of the Truman Brewery that crosses the lane like a welcome banner that crows out to those in Vogue - ‘this, is living’.
Inside, it’s easy to believe that it is nothing special - there is nothing special about the interior: no theme and no oxymoronic irony in sight. But yet, it is special. The simple nature of the layout brings out the best in people. The entrance bar is a vast space with nowhere to hide, throwing everybody together, while the room next door echoes this on a larger scale. There is a stage that scrutinises the space at one end, while it’s beverage-serving sidekick lays a supporting role alongside the dividing wall.
The AtmosphereAn evening at 93 Feet East takes time to heat up before it becomes the heaving party that it regularly turns into. Maybe this is due to the always large, number of fresh-faced students. They huddle together nervously in groups, edging back and forth - after all, they’re not giving up ‘cool’ for anybody! They bide their time, and with time the self awareness dies as alcohol is swilled and the atmosphere is swayed to positive.
It’s not a shock that the rest of the people represent all aspects of the London demographic. Hipsters and hardcore kids are as tight as the jeans they flaunt, and with so much plaid in attendance there’s a lot of common ground being shared - in fashion terms, and who knows what else! The main room is a sweaty affair. Whatever or whoever the act onstage, people here like to dance. If you can’t get into this then the bar at the entrance is like an after party running simultaneously - synchronically - with the main room party. How many clubs can bend the space-time continuum to do such things? The atmosphere can be cosmic!
The DrinkThe bar serves olives and nuts to be washed down with import beers served by the bottle or can. Prices are average for the bars of Brick Lane. There is draught but who can know when this is available. Scan left-to-right or right-to-left for the usual spirit shelf and wine selection.
The MusicA myriad of musical genres have had their sounds run through the speakers of this club. From unsigned bands to the biggest names in US hip hop, 93 Feet East offers a choice in music that is unrivalled in East London. The relationship between the artist on the stage and the patrons in the crowd is intimate. The physical closeness leaves you feeling spoilt and special. The music in the bar is always chosen with the taste and touch of people that know how to please. It is never allowed to slip into the background; this bland interior is decorated with the musical policy.
The Last Word93 Feet East is experimental, and the nature of the word suggests that the musical tomfoolery that transpires within is always being tried and tested. Maybe it will strike you, maybe it won’t, but as long as it continues to experiment it will always leave unexceptional abandoned ‘up west’.