In 2002, basement club Ghetto erupted onto the Soho scene, drawing an almost universal sigh of relief from all of those who believed there was more to life than Dannii Minogue. Six years on - and with a brave move away from the bright lights of the West End - is one of London’s great gay clubs beginning to lose its sparkle?

The Venue
Ghetto’s reputation as the rowdy upstart of the club world seems out of place in its new location, a noise abatement order’s throw from a large residential area on the westernmost stretch of Old Street. The bright lights streaming from the top floor bar are lost amid the surrounding brickwork, and – with Old Street Tube a reasonable hike down the road – you’d be wise to print out a map in advance so you won’t be the same.

The club is split over two levels: the Trash Palace bar area upstairs and the club proper down below. Trash Palace is a welcoming, open-plan space, with ‘so naff it’s cool’ wallpaper and a cafe-style table and chair arrangement. A playable retro Nintendo console is a nice touch, as is the (frankly bizarre) walrus head above the cloakroom, while a video jukebox promises hours of fun for those patient enough to wait their turn. Downstairs feels more like the Ghetto of old, a good sized dancefloor with bright red paintwork and white leather seating along the walls. The long bar is central to proceedings, and a small stage will no doubt continue to cause much pushing among over-zealous Britney fans. It doesn’t quite have the sticky-floored, sweat dripping off the walls vibe of its former basement incarnation, but a few spilled drinks may put that right yet.

The Atmosphere
Ghetto was, and still is, a magnet for the ever-growing ‘alternative’ gay crowd, drawn to a gay venue that dares to host metal, grime and electro nights. The new incarnation looks to see more of the same, and – if it can overcome being much more difficult to get to now – the idea is obviously to lure in more East End club kids from their breeding ground in neighbouring Shoreditch. Different nights will attract marginally different crowds, but skinny jeans and kooky haircuts are sure to be a staple. Splitting the club over two floors was a wise move, too, with the upstairs Trash Palace area offering flagging clubbers a slower-paced retreat from the frenetic energy of the dancehall below. Staff are friendly (no mean feat for a gay club), and Ghetto stalwarts will be pleased to hear that the overriding attitude-free atmosphere is as refreshing as ever.

The Music
If variety truly is the spice of life, then casting an eye over the musical offering of Ghetto is like going on a trolley dash round a Mumbai bazaar. The heavy beats of Calling All Tribes (Wednesdays), indie-electro mash-up Miss-shapes (Thursdays), and Bubblegum Pop extravaganza Wigout (Saturdays) have all survived the pilgrimage East. If anything, new nights may expand the club’s range even further, from the trashed-up techno of Kill Your Pets (Fridays), to the banana split beats of Bloody Sundae (Sundays), which starts from 7pm – perfect if you have work or uni the next morning.

The Drink
Three weeks to payday? Credit crunch chewed you up and spat you out? With the drink offering at Ghetto starting from around the £2 mark most nights (and some nights even lower), this may well be the club for you. True, you won’t see the crowd knocking back Cristal and Belvedere cocktails any time soon, but what it lacks in finesse the bar more than claws back in affordability. Cheap beer, cheap wine, cheap vodka; all in a cheap plastic cup. But then, you’d probably only spill it on the dancefloor anyway.

The Last Word
Despite the problems posed by its new location being surrounded by flats and difficult to get to, Ghetto is a club that’s obviously holding on tight to its tried and tested formula: cheap drinks and diverse DJ sets, all in a fun, unpretentious environment. Just try not to make too much noise as you leave.

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