Digress is one of the smaller venues in a chain that includes two of Central London’s biggest clubs; Tiger Tiger and On Anon. What it lacks in demeanour, however, it more than makes up for in trashy fun and boozed up nights out.

The Venue
There isn’t a great deal to Digress, they keep it simple as far as decor and layout goes, and once it gets pumping on a Friday or Saturday night the background soon fades away into a sea of sweaty bodies.

Upstairs is a reasonably-sized bar area, able to accommodate a post-work crush and downstairs is the dancefloor for grinding away into the early hours. What few seats there are can be found around the main bar area, however, you’ll be lucky to perch yourself down during peak hours and the chairs appear to have seen better days with a shabby chic appearance that’s less designer and more incidental.

The Atmosphere
Expect the usual Friday-Saturday divide at Digress. Friday evenings will see a large after-work contingent out to celebrate the start of the weekend. Suits aren’t uncommon and people are out to let loose and get bladdered. However, Saturday skews more towards tourists and visitors from out of town hunting down a slice of the West End’s nightlife. Guys watch the girls and it can get a little predatory but it’s all in the name of fun and guys and girls are up for a laugh.

The Music
Expect a commercial mix of RnB, dance and pop hits. It's not exactly groundbreaking stuff but it gets bums off seats and onto the dancefloor as Beyonce, Madonna and JT pump out of the surprisingly decent sound system. This is no Pacha, but it's not trying to be.

The Food
A cheap and easy menu is the order of the day at Digress. Chips, burgers, bangers and mash, hotdogs and the ubiquitous sharing platters are pretty much as exciting as it gets. However, at prices ranging from just £3 to a reasonable £13 for a mountain of platter snacks you can’t complain. The quality isn’t half bad either, just don’t go comparing it to haute cuisine.

The Drink
One of the big draws of these venues – Digress, in particular – are the low, low prices of the drinks. It may not be the best quality plonk in London but it certainly won’t cause a dent in the bank account. There’s a choice of 10 reds and white all coming in at under a tenner. Even the Champers is cheap with Dom Perignon Brut Vintage France costing just £110.

Cocktails aren’t great but they’re cheap. Mojitos will be loaded up with a teaspoon of white sugar but for £6 it does the job of getting you well on your way to merriment. They cover all the bases in terms of the classics and although you won’t be challenged by the range, you’re sure to spot something you like. If you’re a beer connoisseur you’ll be similarly disappointed as Becks nudges its way inevitably into the fridges. Still, for cheap drink in a lively atmosphere it does the job.

The Last Word
Digress may not win any awards for style and originality but for a cheap night on the tiles with a good bunch of mates you’ll leave without a lightened wallet or heavy heart.

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