Chariots – Limehouse

Stereotypes aside, want to know which socio-​economic group throws the best parties? Here’s your answer: it’s the anarchists. Limehouse Town Hall, a huge and charmingly dilapidated building at the ‘Docklands end’ of Commercial Road is home to a number of brilliant countercultural groups and events. Whether you want to learn something unusual, meet London’s flashmob organisers and mischief makers, or dress up as a war veteran, spank your mates and drink beer, this is the place to be.
By day, the Limehouse Town Hall Consortium (LTHC) is an eye opening, culturally diverse group of charitable organisations, creative enterprises, artists and co-​operatives. It’s home to art-​as-​protest group The Space Hijackers (
), the ‘creatively antisocial artist’ Lottie Child (
) and Primal Pictures, an organisation that aims to get people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds working together through the arts.
By night, the place turns into a labyrinth of wild party delights. When I went, they had an anarchist marching band called Rhythms of Resistance, DJs playing tunes that mashed up gansta rap and easy listening, beers were a quid and everyone was dressed as a superhero. Many of them were disturbingly convincing as well. There were riding crops, confetti and nipple tassels! Oh the joy. Unlike many places in London these days misbehaviour is encouraged: if you could avoid nicking stuff or kicking people though, that would be ideal.
Here are a couple of links so you get an idea of what you’ve been missing:

and with a huge clothes swap flashmob taking place this coming Saturday outside TopShop, I can honestly say adding yourself to the Hijackers’ mailing list will change your life.