The Loft is a funky hangout for the cool kids of Clapham, inspired by Manhattan’s Greenwich Village bohemia.

The Venue
As if Clapham High Street didn’t have enough bars already, The Loft (brought to you by the brains behind Brixton’s Plan B) is the latest to move into this increasingly desirable part of town. From the outside it looks nothing special - situated above shops and identifiable largely by the bouncers manning the door - but inside it has a panache that marks it out from the blandly commercial competition down the road. Anyone expecting to find a replica of its flouncy Hollyoaks namesake will be disappointed, it is instead modelled on the art scene of New York’s impoverished Lower East Side - the lift shaft, bare grey stone and industrial air vents making it more a home to William Burroughs than Warren Fox. Although everything’s currently gleaming, it’s done in a style that will suit being a little lived in.

The Atmosphere
With the beat poets and visual artists of America replaced by the scruffed up B-boys and well heeled fashionistas of South London, The Loft draws a diverse crowd united by their desire to party the night away. And credit to the owners for knowing their clientele: the opening mission statement in their drinks menu reads, “We are trying to do things a bit differently around here. We hope you will enjoy it.” Trendy but not overstated, the club has a laidback feel with a spotlit bar, candlelit tables and an outer wall that is more window than brick, inviting you to gaze into the night sky. However, it’s a shame that the panoramic view includes the kebab shops – if The Loft could be transplanted into the midst of the city skyline it would be truly breathtaking. Still, all in all its chilled cool makes it a fantastic warm up venue for the more frenzied beats of its big brother.

The Music
Evidently looking to breed continuity between venues, they have had some big name DJs - including Norman Jay, who performed on the opening night. Smaller in scale than Plan B, there’s no dancefloor as such so it’s doubtful that The Loft will attract the same big names on a regular basis, but it’s groovy music policy is a treat nonetheless - soulful Latin beats fused with funk and disco guaranteeing good times.

The Drink
One for the cocktail lovers, the bar staff are expert mixologists, and they need to be with a menu boasting close to 50 variations, from Andy’s Apple to Zephyr. The downside is that the usual problems with cocktail bars arise in that they take so damn long to prepare that you can be left standing at the bar for a substantial amount of time. If in a rush, there are also some unusual and carefully sourced beers, spirits and ciders available, and the menu offers detailed taste descriptions for those looking to try something new. And brilliantly, all are reasonably priced, although it would be nice if there were more sharer cocktails available for those wishing to buy in bulk.

The Last Word
The Clapham bar scene’s had it good for a while now, but with their streetwise cousins from Brixton moving in upstairs it’s just got even better.

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