9-17 Highgate Road,
Kentish Town,
London,
NW5 1JY
0871 971 3806
The ViewLondon Review
Whether you’re looking for a dark and gritty venue to watch a band at, or a Sunday afternoon of drinking fun, The Forum in Kentish Town is a top spot.The VenueThe Mean Fiddler-owned Forum in Kentish Town is a stone’s throw away from Kentish Town’s Thameslink and underground station. On Sunday afternoons, just follow the hoards of people in fancy dress making the journey towards the Church - a celebration for the consumption of alcohol. Exactly what you’d imagine decor-wise from a rather unloved 1930’s cinema, the floor is always sticky with a combination of spilled beer and sawdust.
The AtmosphereThe atmosphere at The Forum changes dramatically depending on what event you’re there for. If it’s a Sunday afternoon at The Church, the atmosphere is loud, trashy and full of antipodean hyperactivity. If you’re there for one of the many indie/rock gigs, the atmosphere is more intimate, but still rocking hard, just like any dark and dismal venue.
The MusicAgain, this is down to what you’re attending The Forum for. For The Church, it’s hyped-up tunes from a range of DJs. A combination of the latest indie tunes plus pure cheese and dance tracks - it’s all there for the party. The majority of bands that play at The Forum are big indie and rock ‘n’ roll bands who want to play in an intimate venue. Warm-up tunes consist of anthems that have everyone singing along in anticipation.
The DrinkThe Church doesn’t have a licence for alcohol, so there’s a strange system of buying tokens, which you then exchange for a bag of beer, cider or JD and coke. For gig nights, you’ll find a decent selection of draught beers, wines and spirits, but nothing too unusual. Prices are your average for gig nights, and cheap for The Church – after all, what’s the point of worshipping alcohol if it’s too pricey to buy?
The Last WordThe Forum is like a Chameleon – it changes dramatically according to what it’s hosting. Dirty and grimy with graffiti decorating the toilet walls and a sticky floor makes this a perfect venue for gigging or drinking yourself into oblivion!