Everyone remembers the scene in Lost In Translation when Bill Murray takes to the stage to perform karaoke. Whether you think it’s kitsch and cool or just not your bag, the K Box gives you the chance to find out without hordes of pub goers watching you.

The Venue
With all the cheesy glamour of Leicester Square, K Box couldn’t be better situated. Located just on the opening to the Square, it stands firm amongst the garish colours and bright lights of one of the biggest tourist traps in London.

Inside you may be surprised at what greets you. Rather than a cool karaoke bar, you need to book an individual room for a party of your friends. These rooms are surprisingly simple in their design – more akin to a plastic version of your living room at home. Leather seating in either green, orange purple or red lines the outside of the room with a table in the middle providing a resting place for food and drink. On one wall hangs a large TV screen – and that’s pretty much it. Lighting is coloured (to match the sofas) and are dim. The rooms are rather small, but can happily cater for parties of 8 or more (depending on which room you book). The control panel is easy to use and is nicely tucked away in the corner, although this can cause problems if you all want to have a look at the same time.

The Atmosphere
This is where the K Box is unique to other bars. The atmosphere depends totally on who you choose to go out with as there’s nobody else around. Inevitably the vibe will be slightly tentative and awkward at first, as everyone nervously eyes the microphones and TV screen. However, after a few drinks and one brave soul breaking the ice to have the first go, the ball starts to roll and you’ll be hard pushed not to get caught up in all the fun. Karaoke is all about singing badly, and after a while nobody cares that you’re all tone deaf.

The staff are professional and courteous and drinks are provided by calling down to the reception, whereby a waiter is sent to take your order. They smile at the cheesy jokes they’ve no doubt heard a thousand times before and go about their business quickly and efficiently.

The Food
The food here is nice and not overly expensive. There’s also a rather weird mix of the usual bar fare such as chips and kebab skewers, along with Dim Sum baskets, which are a welcome if random offering. Dim Sum is priced at around £8 and chips and nibbles £5 a dish. So if you eat first and order nibbles for the party, the bill won’t be astronomical at the end.

The Drink
Drinks are reasonable for the area. There are a nice range of oriental beers on offer, including Tiger and Asahi, and a surprisingly large selection of wines, which can only be ordered by the bottle. If you’re celebrating there are also some expensive champagnes to choose from, including a bottle of Cristal. There are even cocktails available. Just don’t expect these to be the usual western offerings. Unusual flavours may be too much for the palette of those more accustomed to Mojitos and Pina Coladas.

The Last Word
The K Box is a fun night out and even those who hate karaoke should give it a go and make a fool of themselves in the comfort of an individual room.

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