4 Great Queen Street,
Holborn,
London,
WC2B 5DG
07792841798
The ViewLondon Review
The Red Rooms is promising great things – cheap drinks, a lack of pretension and sexy surroundings. They don’t quite deliver on all of their promises, but they certainly offer a fun-fuelled night out.The VenueLocated on Great Queen Street, The Red Rooms is easy to reach from Holborn or Covent Garden tube stations. Occupying the former site of the legendary Brown’s nightclub, the legacy of glamour and opulence is alive and well with an abundance of dark red velvet, black chandeliers, and heavy leather spread across three floors, which offer three bars and a large dancefloor. More effort could have been made to distance itself from the scarlet haze decor that used to feature during Brown’s occupancy of this nightspot, but given the name it would been difficult to avoid the red tones.
The AtmosphereBoasting of a return to good customer service and promising to recreate the spirit of the infamous Moulin Rouge, The Red Rooms is keen to shout about its friendly staff and sexy clientele. With everyone from the Sultan of Brunei’s eldest son, Prince Azim, to pop princess Samantha Mumba turning up, this place can pack in up to 400 up-for-it clubbers. However, the volume of punters distracts from any feeling of exclusivity and, at capacity, there is little to distinguish it from any number of West End hotspots. For a club that boasts an unpretentious door policy, the bouncers are unfriendly and vocal to keep the queue moving, so wear your brightest smile and something smart to avoid missing out.
The MusicThe music at The Red Rooms is a fun and uplifting mix of funky house, pop, disco, retro and R’n’B tunes, a blend that can seem generic in West End clubs. At times, the lack of a cohesive music policy is disconcerting, but it packs the crowd onto the dancefloor and seems to keep everyone happy once they’ve enjoyed a few drinks.
The DrinkPromising to fuel your night out with reasonable drinks prices and offer an alternative to other overpriced West End venues, The Red Rooms charges pretty much exactly the same as every other top end London club. Cocktails come in at around £10, and spirits and mixers are over £7, with quality brands on offer if you ask your bar staff in advance – if you don’t, expect the cheap stuff!
The Last WordThe Red Rooms is an ambitious newcomer to the top end club scene, and it doesn’t do much different to what is already successful at other London venues. However, there is plenty here to guarantee a great night out, with varied music, a vast venue, and a friendly West End crowd.