418 Brixton Road,
Brixton,
London,
SW9 7AY
(020) 7733 0926
The ViewLondon Review
Originally more a DJ bar when it opened in the mid-noughties, in late-2009 Plan B underwent a refit that opened up the dancefloor, installed a stage and Funktion One soundsystem, and relocated the DJ booth, giving the space a more raw, club feel.
The Venue
Plan B is firmly on the hip club and discerning dance music map, with A-list guests hosted by leading promoters on the ground floor, while the downstairs gives bright new things a platform to grow. It's also a stop off point for pre-and-post Brixton Academy gig refuelling (Plan B often has gig-related happy hours).
The Atmosphere
Plan B’s cosy, easygoing, and young. It doesn’t suffer from the annoyance of passing hipster traffic that’s become an east London cliché. The quality of programming and nights means people go for a specific night or DJ, which makes for an upbeat, bustling atmosphere.
The Music
Friday night weekly Bump, celebrates young London, with DJs and collectives serving up hip hop, R&B, and grime (Sightracked), dancehall (Heatwave), dubstep and funky house. In short Bump blends London’s freshest urban sounds that have revolutionised pop music in the last few years, true school, block party classics, with Dirty South, strip club rap too.
Downstairs often hosts album launch parties whether drum & bass or post-dubstep, so depending on if you want a raucous party vibe, or heads down lose-yourself in deep music, Plan B offers both. Saturdays might feature a seven hour set from New York house demi-god (Redbull Music Academy presents Kerri Chandler), or garage, funky, dubstep, blurring night Audio Doughnuts (Loefah, MJ Cole, Wookie), deep house (Jimpster’s excellent Freerange label) or innovating bass music from the Submit crew.
The Drink
Expect to pay around £4 for bottles of beer. A solid selection of spirits includes rums, vodka and bourbons. They also have a decent cocktail list.
The Last Word
As Brixton’s nightlife renaissance continues with London’s most happening food hub (Brixton Village Market) and a flurry of recently opened night life spots including The Electric (formerly The Fridge), and the Electric Social bar, Brixton’s should be a plan A for a London night out, and Plan B’s one of its original crown jewels.