Bacchus is an alternative music venue in Kingston Upon Thames with the name referring to the Roman god of wine and intoxication. If you crave something different from the norm then this could be for you, provided you can stomach the unpleasant door staff that is.

The Venue
Bacchus can be located on Kingston’s Union Street, just off the High Street. It’s not the easiest place to find but if you know the area you shouldn’t have too much trouble.

Walking down the stairs that lead into the club feels almost like entering a dungeon – this club is underground, dark, and resembles a medieval keep, which may not be to everyone’s taste. However, this setup does do well to set the scene for the alternative side of clubland that prevails here and does offer a certain quirky charm. Located within the confines of Bacchus is a bar, dancefloor, booth-style tables and a smoking area outside.

The Atmosphere
First impressions upon arrival are most definitely swayed by the attitude of the door staff. The bellowing sarcastic remarks of the bouncers are something to remember and it’s certainly not recommended you upset them. The clientele is mixed but predominantly comprises the twenties alternative crowd, complete with skinny jeans and messy hair. It’s a good place for a dance and people are more than happy to oblige with a real up for it attitude. They are, by and large, a peaceful crowd out to have a good night, although it’s not uncommon for patrons to be dragged out by bouncers for misbehaving.

The Music
The music at Bacchus varies from night to night but the main theme is alternative. Nights tend to run every other week; Mondays offer either SuperFreak playing pornfunk classics, or Truffle Shuffle playing the likes of Elvis. Tuesdays is either Misfits with fruity live bands and DJs or Modern Life is Rubbish with old skool indie. On Wednesdays you’ve got New Noise, a ska night, or Planet of Sound, an indie one. Thursdays bring you Braille for hip-hop and funk or Waxworks for drum and bass and breaks. Fridays are either Collision or Lavish, both indie. Saturdays are Disco Donkey, which is indie versus electro house versus hip hop or Souper Saturday offering up good time tunes. On Sunday they have either Requiem Nocturnus with anything heavy or Ska Burger when apparently ‘Sunday is for skanking’.

The Drink
Drinks at Bacchus are pretty basic but fairly priced and there are usually drinks promotions on selected shooters. Card payments must be over ten pounds, which can be a hassle so buy in rounds if paying by card.

The Last Word
All in all, Bacchus can be a good club if you’re with a big group of friends and a definite bonus if you get a table, just remember to stay on the good side of the bouncers. If the alternative scene is your thing then why not give it a go, if not then chances are this venue probably isn’t for you.

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