8-9 Argyll Street,
Soho,
London,
W1F 7TF
0872 148 3556
The ViewLondon Review
Attracting the glitterati in their droves, with everyone from Hollywood A-listers to reality TV’s finest stopping by for a boogie, Mo*vida is reassuringly expensive and always packed, but still manages to be fun and (mostly) unpretentious.The VenueYou can walk to Mo*vida in a few minutes from Oxford Street tube station, and it’s easy to find by following signs towards the London Palladium. Located in the dramatic arched vaults beneath this theatreland stalwart, you’ll spot the velvet rope and huge team of earpiece-wearing door staff before you get there.
If you’re on the guestlist you might just make it past them to descend the stairs into the main club area with booths and seating sections, a curvy, fairylight-lined bar, and bright pink neon panelling adorning some of the walls. Although some of the decor may seem generic now - and it’s hard to believe its launch cost £350,000 - it still feels classy, particularly in the VIP room where constant retouches and refurbishments have kept it looking fresh and elegant.
The AtmosphereMo*vida is fun-loving and hedonistic with a lively crowd dancing to the latest tunes. Attracting flashy, good looking socialites flexing daddy’s credit card and every celebrity from Jordan and Girls Aloud to Hollywood’s finest such as Scarlett Johansson, this place feels surprisingly unpretentious and easygoing once you’re past the obnoxious door team who want to tick you off the guestlist and relieve you of £20 as quickly as possible. The bar staff are friendly and seem knowledgeable, although they need to be at this price - just as you need to be aware of the gratuity-hungry table servers.
The MusicWith a fine selection of house, commercial dance, RnB and chart music keeping the crowd grooving, there’s something to keep everyone uplifted and tapping their feet, despite the lack of a proper dancefloor. Attracting top name DJs and celebrities keeps the crowd happy, too, even Jade Jagger has taken a turn on the decks here.
The DrinkThe prices at Mo*vida are nothing short of legendary, with a £5,000 minimum spend to get into the VIP room, and drinks in the main club costing upwards of £15 for a double vodka and mixer.
With a Champagne list longer than most Paris restaurants (it’s got to be Cristal here though, hasn’t it?), it’s hard to understand how so many good looking young Londoners manage to spend a night here. Just plan ahead for the amount you’ll need to spend and take comfort in the fact that if the drinks are this pricey, you must be in the right place.
The Last WordMo*vida charges over the odds but it’s still one of London’s top nights out, attracting the beautiful people to shake their thing in an unrivalled attitude-free atmosphere. It’s a must, so long as you’re prepared to flex the credit card.