The atmosphere is rather manufactured but the drinks are cheap and there’s lively company every day of the week. The Generator has only one stipulation: you need to be a resident to join the party.

The Venue
The Generator is one of the largest hostels in Europe, with over 800 beds housed in a historical brick building in a private courtyard in Bloomsbury. Different from many hostels that are traditionally a bit ramshackle in decor, The Generator has brushed patterned steel and a profusion of blue neon tubes at the entrance, delivering a fun, futuristic feeling.

There’s a large room filled with slouchy bean bags in browns, greens, yellows and more, interspersed with low tables, couches and computer workstations for those browsing the net. The effect is a bit shabby but it is conducive to the favourite pastime of travellers: chilling. The bar has more space-age lighting while a small shop sells all you could need for a backpacking trip through Europe, glow-in-the-dark gear included!

The Atmosphere
800 beds equals 800 backpackers which means 800 people (nerds excluded) ready to party under one gigantic roof! This ought to be one of the hottest party locations in town, but the door policy is fierce: guests are issued key cards which you need to gain access to the premises. Especially after dark, you won’t be allowed in unless you are a registered or an expected guest, and the tough security staff are no pushovers.

As prison-like as it may sound, if you are a guest (or if you manage to sneak in), a good time is sort of guaranteed. The bar hosts a number of fun events ranging from pub quizzes to karaoke to sport nights to treasure hunts (with rum as prize) to pool tournaments. Even blind date events aren’t ruled out of the busy event schedule! Once a month there is a theme night: Australian Day, Oktoberfest and Traffic Light Party sound like fun but they’re pretty tame in comparison with the saucier themes you can find elsewhere. Expect the staff to go all out with costumes, although hardly anyone else will bother: backpackers are not known to carry fancy dresses around the world. The clientele are consequently rather young - most are travelers aged around 18-25.

The Food
The hostel canteen will sort you out with breakfast and pre-made hot lunches and dinners. Beef and veggie burgers, lasagna, curry and a couple of sandwiches are the sort of fare you can expect and, if prices are cheap (about £5 for a main meal), quality is not to be expected. The food you order goes straight to the microwave where it gets zapped quickly before being served to you at scalding temperature. Crisps, in comparison, seem a much better option.

The Drink
The bar’s main quality is how cheap it is. During the happy hour, which stretches all the way until 9pm, selected drinks are a mere £1.50 and the normal price is only £2.50-£3. You can choose between vodka, gin, Scotch, Bacardi, tequila, McEwan’s lager, alcohol free drinks and many more. Cocktails and shooters are marginally more expensive but there are loads to choose from: Tequila Sunrise, White Russian, Cosmopolitan and their own Generator Hardman and Sex on the Pool Table are amongst the list. Do not expect fresh fruit or even puree, the ingredients are as synthetic as it gets but you won’t notice after a couple and the price is right for those on a budget.

The Last Word
For non-residents, getting in is the main problem at The Generator. Whether you want to make the effort is another question. If you’re young, happy and free-spirited you are more likely to fit in and love the party atmosphere, but if you’re backpacking days are behind you, you’re better off exploring the rest of the area in search of a real bar.

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