St Matthews Church,
Brixton Hill,
Brixton,
London,
SW2 1JF
0872 148 3652
The ViewLondon Review
For anyone who ever doubted that God is a DJ, Mass in south London, is enough to dispel all disbelief.The VenueWith three rooms spread across two levels and a capacity for 1500 partygoers, Brixton’s Mass is the perfect spot for a sinfully good night out. Located in the converted St Matthew’s Church, the sombre facade of the holy building belies the nature of the ceremony within. With a thumping sound system that answers the prayers of all revelers and ravers, and a vast space that allows everyone to have a good time without the sardine-factor, this club has cut a name for itself as a popular destination for club and live music.
Downstairs in the crypt is the club’s sister bar, Babalou, and there’s also a converted space that’s used as the dungeon of leading fetish night – Torture Garden. This area is not for the faint hearted and is open on a Friday and Saturday night as the Third Base club.
The AtmosphereThere is a good time, friendly vibe here. The crowd is unpretentious and easy going, most likely attracted by the casual dress code and humble interior. The atmosphere totally depends on which one of the eclectic nights you go on: from the heavy dance kids at the weekend to the more chilled out, reggae fans mid-week and the Latin lovers at Latin Mass once a month.
The DrinkDrinks here aren’t cheap, but they’re not unreasonable for the area. A beer will set you back about £3, and spirits are anywhere from £4.50-£7.50 for a vodka and Red Bull. The bar is busy and loud, with easy to serve mixed drinks and beers being the order of the day. If you’re looking for a few intimate cocktails to start your night, head down to Babalou, where the exotic mixes of liqueur and juice are perfectly tempting from around £7.
The MusicMass is renowned for the full throttle, eclectic music it delivers to beat-hungry patrons. The variety of nights hosted at the club is testament to the success of the venue. A number of well known acts have regular nights here, from Rodigan’s Reggae to drum and bass pioneers, Movement, to the creators of hard house sounds, Tasty. Latin Mass, on the fourth Saturday of every month, adds a shot of Latino spice to the mix.
The Last WordA night out here is a truly religious experience, where you’ll be taken out of this earth by big music and big beats, if only for a night.