Welcome to the Latin Quarter. Once inside this vibrant yet tawdry Holbon club, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were the star of the latest Bacardi advert.

The Venue
Sway is situated within a stone’s throw of Holbon tube. In such a picturesque area of London, the walk there leaves you hoping that the venue will live up to its surroundings. To some extent it does. Inside the bar area looks luxurious, if a little showy. The walls are decorated with swirling creams on browns, and lined up against them are large booths that invite you to sit down, stretch out and relax. However, with faux crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and numerous boards and signs displaying price lists and booking opportunities, (it’s best to book a booth if you plan to attend at the weekend) it leaves itself short of the decadence it seems to be trying so hard to achieve.

Despite the echoes of a Wetherspoon pub, the possession of the kind of seating that makes you feel like Pacino in a Scarface era Miami, saves the club by pulling on the heart strings of the dreamer within. Although the bar has a dancefloor, there’s a separate club that’s plenty large enough for the salsa aficionados on London to strut their stuff.

The Atmosphere
Whilst people at Sway are here to have fun, there can be a feeling of introspection that seems to run throughout the club. The atmosphere depends on which night you go on – weekends are inevitably busy and buzzier, but during the week nights such as a salsa night, are held.

The Music
Although salsa nights are held on some nights, the rest of the week shares out the spoils of RnB, pop and funky house. The mixture of genres is an attractive policy to promote. It is commendable that Sway incorporates salsa nights into its weekly listings, and it certainly turns a mild weeknight into a spicy early week treat!

The Drink
A tall, impressive bar keeps the customers in drinks. Just as well, as the dynamic dancing that goes on is thirsty work. The bar is home to a whole host of different beers (all sold in bottles) and spirits although the cocktail list does not encourage adventure. The prices are average for the area and won’t break the bank, with a bottle of Corona coming in at around £3.50.

The Last Word
Judging by the numbers on the dance floor, Sway has a prospering Latin scene. If you’re looking for a place to dance then you could do far worse. However; it’s all a little tacky and you half expect to bump into an ex Big Brother star spending their last buck on the way back down… whether this is a good or a bad thing is up to you.

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