Kingsland Road is the new hotspot where the hippest clubs and chicest bars are placed and the A10 Russian Bar is capitalising on this popularity.

The Venue
Away from all the painfully cool bars is this understated and somewhat disguised venue right near the canal. It’s easy to walk straight past it, so pay attention and look out for the big A10 sign. A very small and dark venue, you feel as if you have entered someone’s private party. A huge projector screen is the focal point of the bar as is the table football. To the right of the screen is a UV sun and moon blended together, which gives some much needed brightness to the venue.

Behind the bar and dotted around the place are Russian and Soviet paraphernalia and large scummy mirrors to perfect the dirty seediness this bar is trying to portray. Downstairs is where the clubbing happens. With a huge space and the sickest tunes, you can see why people come here in their packs to experience the underground vibe of the A10 Russian Bar.

The Atmosphere
There’s not much going on during the week here, and the vibe can end up being a little stale. However, come the weekend A10 Russian Bar blossoms into a highly popular haunt for house, dance and electronic music enthusiasts. Its dinginess and compact nature is what brings the Shoreditch hoards in and having fairly reasonable drinks prices for the area, makes it a good place to soak up the unpretentious atmosphere. Also being open until 5am is a distinct advantage.

The Music
Most days A10 Russian Bar is just what the name implies: a bar. On selected nights, though, a party of DJs shakes the venue with all denominations of house music possible and the results are definitely pleasing. On some weekends the main fair is techno, and sometimes alternative dance can also be heard. The loud sound system is surprisingly good in comparison to the rest of the bar.

The Drink
You’d expect, being a Russian bar, there would be lots of vodka on offer; unfortunately, this is not the case and you’ll only get your bog standard stuff here. Beers bottles and draught are both £3.50, including the Russian Baltika so you feel you’re getting at least a taste of the Russian experience. Other beers on offer include Strongbow, Fosters, Guinness, Stella and Kronenbourg. A spirit mixer is £3.50 and alcopops are £3.

The Last Word
A10 Russian Bar is a surprisingly good bar that has been secreted away by those in the know – now it’s your turn.

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