Town Hall Parade,
Brixton,
London,
SW2 1RJ
(020) 7274 2290
The ViewLondon Review
The legendary Brixton venue formerly known as The Fridge relaunched in September 2011 and rebranded itself as Electric Brixton, although those who've frequented it in the past will be relieved to hear that neither its historic interior nor its music policy, a mixture of live performance and club nights, has changed very much.
The Venue
The 1,500 capacity building itself dates back to 1913, when it first opened as the Palladium Picture House, and many of its ornately decorated fittings have remained ever since, giving it a vintage feel and atmosphere that most nightclubs lack. Enter on the ground floor and pick up a drink at the bar, which offers a raised view of the sizeable dancefloor and the stage. There aren't many places to rest your posterior, although a few barriers offer temporary respite for sore feet. Otherwise, wander upstairs, where there's another bar and you can stand and watch from the much smaller balcony or, if you're lucky enough, grab one of its single circle of seats which overlook the dancefloor.
The Atmosphere
Whether it’s hosting live music or club nights, the atmosphere is full on, as the venue's heavyweight sound system penetrates almost every corner of the building. Likewise, the lack of seats mean you're here to dance and not much else. Like The Fridge, Electric Brixton seems to appeal more to clubbers in their 20s and 30s rather than teens, so although the action is unrestrained, it's a little more mature than some clubbing experiences.
The Music
Felix da Housecat and DJ Hell have already appeared; heavyweight promoters Spectrum and Lock and Load are putting on regular events here including a weekly Get Loaded party; and there are plans for a mixture of live bands and genre-busting dance and indie DJs.
The Drink
There's a limited selection of drinks on tap, namely Carlsberg and Tuborg (both £4.10 a pint), Gaymers (£4.30) and Red Stripe (£4.50). If bottles are more to your taste then choose from Budweiser, Corona, Becks (all £4.60) or Kopperberg (£4.80), Crabbies (£4.80), VK (£4.20) or Smirnoff Ice (£4.20). Spirits-wise there's a choice of Smirnoff vodka, Jack Daniel's, Gordon's gin, Bacardi, Bells, all at £3.10 for a single, or the likes of Havana Club, Bombay Sapphire and house sambuca and tequila at £3.50. Mixers are extra. There's also a house wine available at £4.20 a glass.
The Last Word
It's great that one of London's oldest and most beautiful clubbing landmarks is back in action, and the new owners have managed to subtly update the venue without ruining any of its olde worlde charm. The only thing stopping it from gaining full marks is the bar prices, which, while not extortionate, are definitely at the higher end. Sink a few in one of the nearby pubs beforehand, then be prepared to spend most of the night on the dancefloor, however, and you’ll have a great night.
Electric Brixton has been reviewed by 3 users