10 Adelaide Street,
London,
WC2N 4HZ
0872 148 1412
The ViewLondon Review
Kudos gives its young gay customers the usual mix of dance music and strong drinks in a stylish and unthreatening atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.The VenueLocated on Adelaide Street, just behind the Strand near Charing Cross rail station, Kudos is easily reached from Charing Cross, Embankment and Covent Garden tubes.
A classy maroon signage and tall French windows on this corner venue make it easy to spot, and once inside you’ll find an upstairs bar area with a dancefloor downstairs for when things liven up later in the evening. The decor is stylish and simple with bright lights and neutral walls. There’s nothing original in the concept, but it’s a successful formula.
The AtmosphereKudos mainly attracts a young gay male crowd and is particularly popular with the capital’s Asian population. The open frontage encourages others in though, and particularly early in the evening the after-work crowd stops by. The vibe begins relaxed but the pace increases as the evening wears on and the music cranks up a notch as people arrive to enjoy a pre-club drink.
Downstairs, the atmosphere is cruisy as people enjoy the dance music, all set to huge screens and music videos on the wall. Again, there’s nothing unusual here, but the crowd seems to lap it up and there’s enough going on to keep everyone happy. The bar staff mirror the punters – they’re mostly young, cute and happy to be there.
The FoodDuring the day, this bar offers what it describes as fusion light bites, which basically means a blend of British, European and Pan-Asian snacks all priced very competitively given its location. Food isn’t the focus here though - come dusk the staff whip the menus away.
The DrinkKudos has a well stocked bar with alcopops, strong lagers, and an unpretentious selection of wine. Bottled and draught drinks are all pretty steep but the wines are fairly priced. Service is fast and efficient too, and usually accompanied with a cheeky smile from your cute barman.
The Last WordThere’s nothing on offer at Kudos that isn’t available at several other gay venues across London and there’s a disadvantage in being so far away from the rest of the gay life in Soho. However, the young customers here seem to enjoy the friendly, flirty atmosphere and that’s what makes this an ideal pre-club venue.