Despite its close proximity to KoKo, The Purple Turtle does not suffer in numbers. It does, after all, cater for an alternative, dressed up crowd who prefer their nights somewhat dirtier.

The Venue
This is a great late night live music venue situated in the heart of Camden, just 30 seconds away from Mornington Crescent tube station, under the steady gaze of KoKo.

Housed across two floors, The Purple Turtle is something of a grotty urban gothic affair with heavy industrial looking pillars and aluminium walkways leading up to the second floor, with great views of the main stage. To the side sits a scaffolded viewing area. The elevated stage has a large standing area to the front with a quieter seated area to the rear. The DJ booth sits at the top of a tall ladder. High backed vinyl seating surround the majority of the L-shaped bar. The music is loud but not deafening - and there is always the upstairs viewing area to escape to if things get too noisy. This is not the kind of place to go to for a quiet drink but hey, it is a live music venue in the heart of Camden so what do you expect?

The Atmosphere
As you arrive the door staff greet you as they hold back the door and wave you in. The bar staff are friendly, too, and you soon start to relax as the appreciative and friendly crowd, made up of Goths, music lovers and trendy Camdonites, draw you in. The people who come here love dressing up and there is a definite leather and PVC thing going on and a real theatrical, almost fetish feel to proceedings. Everyone seems to dress up, but there is no dress code here. You can wear what you like, so jeans and trainers are permitted but may be frowned upon by the majority.

The Music
Live music dominates; there’s a definitive guitar-driven metal, glam and electro-clash sound, with a DJ doing his thing in between. This venue plays host to many a promoter’s dream including the infamous Camden Crawl, Stay Beautiful, Deviant and Button Down Disco. They’ve also had some big bands grace the stage here such as The Datsuns, Tom Vek, The Bishops, Towers of London and Orange Goblin to name a few.

The Drink
The drinks list looks surprisingly good for a live music venue where you’d usually just find Red Stripe if you’re lucky. There’s a global selection of beers, ciders and spirits on offer with Amstel, Kronenbourg, Fosters, McEwans, Guinness and Strongbow among those available on draught. The extensive bottled beer and cider mix includes Becks, Budvar, Duvel, Peroni, Coopers, Newcastle Brown, Bulmers, Brothers and Woodpecker. Wine is available to buy by the glass or by the bottle.

The Last Word
The edgy music and cutting edge bands and DJs found at the Purple Turtle have maintained its respected position in Camden’s competitive scene. The surprisingly friendly atmosphere and good drink selection is just the icing on the cake.

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