Concrete

A-​OK.
I don’t like places that advertise one cover charge but then change the rules whenever they want. I think is disrespectful. It’s not about the amount, of course I can pay 3 extra pounds, it’s just inappropriate to raise the price just because you felt like it.
I also don’t appreciate separating groups that are in the queue together, or for that matter, leaving people in the cold just to make the place look crowded, cooler, funner.
We were in a group of four, they let two friends in and left me and my other friend behind for 45 minutes. We’re texting back and forward the two people that were inside and they said the exact words: «I don’t know why you are still waiting. They could fit 30 people and a jacuzzi down here». So yeah, thanks for that.
So far you would say it was a terrible experience right? Well yes, but the music saved it all. The DJ was great, the drinks were affordable, the toilets were clean and the location is very convenient. If you want to grab something to eat before dancing, just go upstairs to Pizza East and have a nice slice (order one for me too).
Beware: this places closes at 2 am, and if I were you I would pick my coat from the wardrobe 10 or 15 minutes before they start to turn on the lights.

I’d booked a dance class (Itchy Feet Dance Academy) for me and my girlfriend for valentines, so off we went.
Concrete is situated below Pizza East on the High St. We turned up a little early so we sat upstairs and had a drink in the Pizza East Bar, which was great. The time came and after we had loosened up at the bar with a few Italian beers and house wine, the dance class began.
Everyone had a wrist band on entry green or blue. The idea was that half the couples danced while the other half had cocktails and free pizza. Girls faced boys in a line and we were talked through the various dance moves and routines which were based on swing, rhythm and rock and roll. Of which i had no comprehension! So i was more like a dancing penguin. However it was really good fun and I was getting some serious man points!
The only problem was that there was so many hungry people there. It was impossible to get pizza as everyone was like a pack of wolves when the pizza came down. Also the time between pizza’s coming meant the same wolves went back for more and it got a bit ridiculous.
We ended up leaving early because we were hungry but we both really enjoyed the dancing and the service at the drinks bar was quick and pain free.

Concrete’s ‘Work It’ night is one topnotch place to be if you want to hear the best in RnB and Hip Hop.
I decided to mix it up a little and recently visited on the ‘Livin it up’ night, as it was advertised as playing the best of RnB and Hip Hop from 2000 – 2005 (my
prime clubbing years). My man DJ is clearly a big fan a Justin Timberlake as he was played non-​stop throughout the night with the odd Fat Joe/​Terror Squad song thrown in. Unfortunate really as there are so many top tunes from that period that completely got missed off, including the likes of Ludacris, Bubba Sparxx, 112 and Mya.
Will definitely be sticking to ‘Work It’ nights only from now on if I’m at Concrete in future.
Venue wise, plenty of toilets, nice staff, and reasonably priced drinks; a double shot + a mixer from £8.
Dress appropriately as tt can get seriously hot down there, and the queue for the cloakroom can move at a snail’s pace!
TIP: Get there by 10pm if you don’t want to queue. After 10:30 the queue for the ‘Work It’ night at least can get crazy long with the ‘1 in, 1 out’ policy taking place.

Where do i start with this place… Hmmmm!
Medium space!
Hot & Sweaty!
Sweaty walls urh!
Not enough Air-​con!
Too dark!
Great DJ space
Quirky light bulbs!
I like the fact Shorditch High Street is a five minute walk away.
Concrete do various club nights, plus Musical Bingo and Open Mic Nights as well which give Concrete a good vibe, and atmosphere with great music and cheap entry fee.
Despite the first list I still will be attending, Concrete because of second paragraph. :)

Well, I went to concrete for ‘work it’ last night, Jay z and mary j blige. very nice london. the DJ’s deserve a tip o’ the hat. Definitely a good place to know about. I will be going back because of the good atmosphere, music and personage. The one very large problem was trying to get to the bar. Seriously, 30 minute wait at the very least. Not cool. But this venue, right below pizza east, is definitely delivering in every other discernible way, so I would suggest a wee pre-​game, and go pop and lock to your heart’s delight.

Concrete is located at the basement of Pizza East. There are regular club nights which are held at this place, including Guilty Pleasures, Smash & Grab, and the Sounds Familiar pub quiz.
I’ve been here twice now, and found it Concrete’s to be nice and cozy. At the same time, it needs to decide whether it wants to be a bar or a club. There’re canteen-​like tables everywhere, which tends to inhibit dancing, but, at the same time, if there’s a DJ playing dance tunes, I’d assume management does want people to dance. The first time I was here was for a club night, and it was a little empty and just not very happening.
The next time I was here was a Sunday when I was looking for something more relaxed and chilled, so this definitely fit the bill.
Drinks are priced decently for Shoreditch. Beers are about £3.50 each, while a bottle of red was £18. Again, as with Pizza East, wine is served in little water tumblers, which may offend some, but didn’t make a great deal of difference to me (I’d drink wine out of a plastic cup if I had to, just as long as I could get a drink).
This place has a lot of potential. It’s got a great location — smack right in the middle of Shoreditch — and a good line-​up. I really do hope that it’s a little more jumping the next time I return!

Fun, fun, fun!
After being booted from our table on the dot of 8pm upstairs at Pizza East, we wandered down to Concrete to carry on the party. We were ever so early because besides the bar staff, there were only two other people down there. No matter, we were able to make our own fun.
The cocktails here are amazing. After the bar staff dissuaded our friend from ordering Jagerbombs, they persuaded her to order a round of Concrete Flips (Espresso, Amaretto, Kahlua, Egg and Sugar). Yum, yum, yum!
Because we never learnt our lesson about mixing spirits, we ordered a delicious round of white peach Bellinis. I highly recommend. By the time we left, the place was rammed and it looked like people were settling in for a heavy night of drinking and dancing. I’m definitely going back!