There are so many clubs out there that have themed music nights but it’s rare to see a club that is devoted to all things ‘80s, and that is the beauty of Maggie’s.

The Venue
Fulham Road is a bit of a dead area for public transport, so your best bet is to either get off at Gloucester Road or South Kensington and go on a bit of a walk. Placed right next door to Hache, the neon sign brightens up the small entrance and once you have made yourself known, you descend the stairs and enter the club. You are greeted by staff who wear ‘80s-themed clothes such as bum bags, neon leggings, aviators and stick on moustaches. It’s quite a sight.

When taking in the club, you can tell that they have gone all out with their homage to the ‘80s. Tables are large Rubik’s cubes, banquettes are emblazoned with zebra and leopard print designs, a mirror ball rotates giving it the pure ‘80s feel and there is a fish tank which has empty Malibu bottles in it and a Rubik’s cube floating on the top. Graffitied on the wall are iconic ‘80s figures like Sonic the Hedgehog, Timmy Mallet, Maggie herself, Mario and Luigi and Mr T stating: “I ain’t payin no poll tax fool!” It all looks fantastic and you can tell that they have gone to a lot of trouble to get it spot on. There are also various pictures framed on the walls, such as a signed picture of Jason Donovan and a 1985 Private Eye cover with the headline ‘Maggie’s Back’.

The theme continues into the bathrooms as well. Playing on a loop is a selection of Thatcher’s speeches, so if you’re not too plastered you can get a little snippet of history whilst you freshen up. Making your way to the back of the venue are small areas for private parties, and a curtain can be drawn over your area if you want it to be a bit more secluded.

The Atmosphere
As Maggie’s is gloriously kitsch, you can’t help but get into the spirit of the ‘80s once you’re inside. The bar staff are dressed up like Tom Cruise in Cocktail and the servers are in full ‘80s get up too. Customers even dress up with sweatbands, huge shiny dresses, big hairsprayed creations and leg warmers. People see Maggie’s as a fun themed club and come dressed accordingly. However, as it is quite a small venue, it would be advisable to book a table beforehand as it gets uber busy very quickly.

The Music
The tracks that are played here is another reason why Maggie’s is so fun. All tracks are ‘80s classics like Human League, Bon Jovi, Prince, Rick Astley, Michael Jackson, Wham, Genesis and Pet Shop Boys, to name a few. Everyone knows the words to each song and will loudly sing them to anyone who wants to listen. The DJ knows the right tracks to put on through out the night as punters get more drunk, particularly if it’s Livin’ on a Prayer, which is guaranteed to get everyone going.

The Drink
You can’t go back to the ‘80s without having a Pina Colada, which is exactly what they have on their extensive menu. For £10 a pop, the yellow coloured drink comes complete with colourful straws, paper umbrella and sparkler, which is ace. Other drinks on the menu are Pacman (£10.50), a blend of rum, Malibu, triple sec and Grenadine, the classic Sex on the Beach (£9.50) and Purple Rain (£10.50) which essentially tastes like alcoholic Ribena and is the best of the bunch. It is, however, very sneakily strong, so watch out.

If you are in a group, then the sharing options section of the menu is for you. When trying to decide on which of the seven drinks to choose from, you are handed a Viewmaster where you can see pictures of the cocktails. All look amazing; particularly the Thirst and Cap (£30) which is a drinking cap with two drinks placed each side of the cap. Visualise Homer from the Simpsons with a beer hat and you’ll get the picture. The School Lunch Box (£65) is packed full of sweeties like Wham bars, Dip Dabs and jelly shots.

You can also buy your spirits by the bottle such as Bombay Sapphire (£150), Grey Goose (£270), Patron Silver (£220), Havana Club (£140), Jack Daniel’s (£140) and Jagermeister (£160). The list of spirits is very comprehensive and has drinks for all varying levels of wealth. If you’re more of a spirit mixer/beer type, then that will set you back £9 and a fiver for either a bottle of Asahi or Sam Adams.

The Last Word
Maggie’s is a place where you can time travel back to the ‘80s for the night and have a superb time in the process. Dust off your legwarmers, crimp your hair and get down to Maggie’s.

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