6-7 The Piazza,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2E 8HA
0871 971 6516
The ViewLondon Review
Not a fraternity for Alan Titchmarsh and his green-fingered cohorts but a basement bar in the plush urban environs of Covent Garden.The VenueGiven the name, you’d expect maybe a bit of plant life for decoration, but it’s hard to imagine anything being able to grow in the darkness of the Gardening Club off Covent Garden Piazza. The sobriquet actually derives from next door’s Rock Garden restaurant, with which the club is affiliated. Instead, the decor is more brick than botanical, softened by red drapes and gold mirrors that, with the addition of a small stage, adds a touch of theatricality. Against the walls and in the cordoned off VIP area (available for hire) are leather loungers whilst dotted around the floor are intimate, candlelit tables, which are ushered back to create more dance room later in the evenings.
The Gardening Club is small to the extent that at quiet times the doorway entry is almost imperceptible, but at weekends it’s easily spotted by the queues snaking down the street as it reaches capacity early. This can make life inside uncomfortable as the air conditioning isn’t entirely up to task, and it should also be noted that there’s no direct access to The Rock Garden, so dining at the restaurant doesn’t guarantee entry to the club.
The AtmosphereThe Gardening Club is set up as a laidback venue with a friendly vibe, open to all. In fact, it’s one of the few student-friendly clubs in Central London, but perhaps it’s too inviting because it can become a victim of its own popularity.
Best enjoyed when not so busy so you can kick back and enjoy a cocktail, at peak times you’ll be lucky to reach the tiny bar and not have your Mai Tai spilt everywhere as you work your way back through the throng. That said, the nights are deliberately geared towards a raucous party atmosphere, and the different ambience is very much reflected in the music.
The MusicDuring the day and the early evenings, The Gardening Club specialises in chilled beats and mellow sounds to unwind to after a day in the office or, if you’re lucky, at the shops. The nights mix funk, soul, disco, cheese and feel-good floor fillers of every genre, typified by Saturday’s flagship night Brown Sugar, which has been running for years. Special mention also goes to Monday’s student night Kitsch, and Sunday’s Jealous of the Daylight, which provides a live stage for new and unsigned bands.
With a proud history of hosting live music stretching back thirty years, the Gardening Club (formerly The Rock Garden Venue) has previously witnessed U2’s first London gig and a Dire Straits residency.
The DrinkNo wonder it’s popular with students; as well as being free entry with an NUS card, Monday’s happy hours last all night long, offering bottles of wine and cocktails at half price. Every night has a generous happy hour, with bar food also on offer, but this isn’t entirely bargain-bin stuff. At the other end of the scale, a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal will set you back £150 and, slightly more affordably, deluxe spirits such as Belvedere vodka, Courvoisier VSOP and Oban 14 year old malt whisky go for £7.50 for a double plus mixer.
The Last WordThere are plenty more exclusive and trendier venues around Covent Garden, but few that combine the classicism and affordability of the Gardening Club.