Mo*vida gets it right every time – just when you think it’s got boring, the latest urban star offers you a drink or a sexy glamour model dances up next to you and you remember exactly what it is you love about this place.

The Venue
Mo*vida is just a couple of minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus tube station, and it’s easy to find if you follow the signs for the London Palladium. Hidden underneath one of the capital’s most famous theatres in dramatic arched vaults, the club is unmistakable once you spot the earpiece-wearing door staff and paparazzi hanging around the entrance in the hope of spotting a Z-lister.

Assuming you’ve made it on to the guestlist and into the club, you’ll get to see the stunning £2 million refurbishment (finished in 2008) that has left the club divided into two main sections: MO*OD and Mo*vida. MO*OD is the little brother to the clubbing stalwart, with its own DJ and a slightly more relaxed vibe. It’s the perfect place to start your night, tucked into one of the alcoves with a cocktail, before heading for a dance in the main club. There’s also two separate VIP rooms, sponsored by Dom Perignon and Grey Goose.

The Atmosphere
Mo*vida is becoming one of the elder statesmen of London’s club scene, having stuck around for longer than most, but yet it still feels fresh and continues to attract a cool, young crowd. You should expect to see the latest chart stars (Tinie Tempah is a regular), as well as both real and wannabe glamour models (patron saint of the Page 3 girl, Katie Price, loves Mo*vida), who join a fun-loving gang of socialites all out to flex daddy’s credit card. The only downsides to the otherwise hedonistic atmosphere are the gratuity-hungry table servers (don’t be surprised to be asked directly “What tip are you giving me?”), and the pretty obnoxious door team who want to shuffle you in and relieve you of £20 without so much as a please or thank you. They get away with these minor annoyances because the bar staff are so friendly and chilled once you’re inside.

The Music
Every celebrity from Jade Jagger to reality TV nobodies has taken a turn on the decks in Mo*vida, and the music policy is about keeping the crowd happy rather than pushing any boundaries. Expect uplifting house, dance, r’n’b and chart music to make you get up and dance. The trend has been towards more urban sounds in recent years but dance music fans won’t be disappointed.

The Drink
Mo*vida has made many newspaper headlines over the years for legendary bar bills, usually racked up by bankers in the days when seven-figure bonuses were free-flowing. They still impose huge minimum spends on some of their VIP tables, and double spirits with a mixer will cost £15 a time, but, in truth, the economic climate has forced them to calm down their excesses somewhat. A phone call to the club will now usually secure a table for a far lower minimum spend than two years ago, but that’s not to say people aren’t splashing the cash still. The tacky champagne-and-sparklers brigade have found their spiritual home here, and there are few signs that they’re planning to move on anytime soon.

The Last Word
Mo*vida is great – yes it’s expensive, and not all the staff are perfect, but their trump card is an unrivalled attitude-free atmosphere and refreshing lack of pretension. Mo*vida still offers one of London’s best nights out.

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