418 Brixton Road,
Brixton,
London,
SW9 7AY
(020) 7733 0926
The ViewLondon Review
Love dancing all night to top DJs in a laid back environment? Then you'll love this dance-oriented club in Brixton.
The Venue
Sat on Brixton road, a two-minute walk from Brixton tube station, Plan B is easy to find, usually helped by the bundle of people queuing in the gated area outside. Once inside, past a couple of burly bouncers, you can head through a large entrance area to the main club space.
The main room at Plan B is somewhere between a bare bones warehouse-style dance hall and a trendy DJ bar. Although the club itself isn’t that big, the focus of the room is the dance floor and it's certainly more impressive than what you find at many similar venues. There's also a Funktion 1 sound system, which kicks out the thumping beats. On one side of the room is the bar and on the other is a selection of trendy black leather sofas and glass tables set over a wooden floor. One of the best features of this area, however, is the lighting. The venue hired Simian Mobile Disco's lighting designer David Cohen to design the lights and spotlights and they definitely add to the atmosphere. There are also some interesting posters and mock windows and curtains scattered around.
Downstairs you'll find the toilets, cloakroom and another more intimate dance space with exposed brickwork, the same tables as upstairs and a smaller bar at the back. Smokers will certainly love the upstairs outdoor area. It appears as if you're heading out of a back fire exit but persist and you'll find a large space with benches, manned by another bouncer.
The Atmosphere
Plan B attracts an eclectic selection of people, although exactly who you’ll find partying here depends on who is playing on the night. You’ll find some people dressed in comfortable dancing clobber whilst others make a big effort and come done up in their trendiest gear. Due to its 24 hour licence and close proximity to Brixton Academy, it's also a favourite with people heading out of gigs not wanting to call an end to their night.
Whatever the night, it's always popular with students, so expect a relatively young crowd. The staff are friendly, helpful and surprisingly well trained when it comes to cocktails. There are also plenty of people behind the bar, cutting back on wait times.
The Music
The music at Plan B varies massively – sometimes they even have different genres of music upstairs and down. Generally, though, if listening to commerical music is your bag, then this place isn't for you. Whilst you might hear part of your favourite chart track, it’s more likely to be mixed into a breakbeat, dubstep or other dance track. They manage to pull in more than their fair share of big name DJs, such as Hot Chip, Disco Bloodbath, Goldie, A-Trak and Bugz in the Attic.
The Drink
The selection at Plan B is pretty impressive. Bottled beers (£3.70-£3.80) include Brahma, Nastro Azzurro, Staropramen and Stella and they even have draught beer (£3.60-£4) such as Stella, Guinness and Staropramen. There's a good selection of wine – four red, four white, one of each available by the glass – and eleven types of Champagne, including a £250 bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal. It costs around £4 for a single spirit and mixer and the bar is very well stocked and they even offer cocktails (£6.80-£8).
The Melonius Funk, made of Putinka vodka, homemade watermelon sugar syrup, melon liqueur, lemon juice and sugar is served tall over ice and looks great – like something you'd imagine getting on a beach somewhere hot. The watermelon sugar syrup ensures the melon flavour isn't too weak and the lemon juice gives it a good citrus tang to stop it from being too sweet. The mojito is a better option if you want something less sweet. Lime and lemon juices gave it a tang without being too sour and it’s suitably minty without being overpowering.
The Last Word
Young and happy with a serious side when it comes to the music policy, Plan B is sure to continue to draw in big crowds following its renovation.
Plan B has been reviewed by 19 users