The Candlelight Club

The Candlelight Club has been running as a pop-​up for a few years now. I say pop-​up but it’s always in the same location and it’s original air of secrecy has somewhat disappeared, but that isn’t to say it’s not a good night out.
There are some extremely charming aspects of the Candlelight Club. Firstly it is entirely lit by candlelight (with the only exception being the stairs which have some fairylights). Furthermore all patrons wear 1920s attire. The girls often dress as flappers or molls and the guys come as dandies or gangsters. It really gets you in the mood and is a nice conversation starter.
Since the last reviews were written the price has gone up a bit. Tickets are now £20 + booking fee. For me this is quite prohibitive and would put me off coming regularly. The cocktails are £8 each and with the entrance price this makes it an expensive night out. You have the option to have a 3-​course dinner ahead of the night and can also book a table in advance which comes with a bottle or two of champagne, but again this is an additional cost.
There are usually a few non-​reserved tables available but they only allow you to sit at one if you order a bottle of champagne. In fairness the cheap bottle of champagne is good value so I’d recommend going with that and then ordering your preferred drink for the rest of the night.
For the past couple of years I’ve been learning to Lindy Hop so I was excited to put my moves into practice on the dance floor. Alas, as the popularity of the night has grown, the dance floor has diminished. There’s a small area in front of the stage but it’s quite cramped and doesn’t provide the space needed for much more than a simple solo Charleston and occasional turn with your partner. For me, this is a really downer and the reason I only gave 3 stars. For others who just want to drink and have a little boogie I think you’d have a whale of a time.
The band and DJ were lot of fun but when Mambo Number 5 started playing I felt the illusion of the night was over.

The Candlelight Club is one of the better Jazz Age-​themed events in London at the moment.
I think its two biggest strengths are the music and the high 1920s costume count. Practically everyone makes an effort with their outfit, some spectacularly so. The music is really good too: authentic, but also perfect for strutting some Charleston moves to. Together, the two combine to create a very escapist atmosphere. Other pluses are the reasonable ticket price (£15) and of course the cosy, candlelit feel.
It’s not without its weaknesses though. Food options are minimal: no 1920s fare here — try decidedly 21^st century doughnuts, hamburgers and hot dogs served on the chilly patio outside instead.
There’s also very little structure to the evening. All the Candlelight Club really is is a candlelit room with a load of chairs and tables, waiters selling booze, a couple of hours of live music from a swing band and occasionally, encouragement from the host to ‘buy some alcohol’. Contrast this with the Jive Party at the Rivoli Ballroom, where, for the same price (less, even) you get a dance lesson, the chance to meet large numbers of the people there, the same kind and amount of live music (and then 2 hours of recorded music afterwards) and endless dancing to get stuck into or simply admire (on the other hand, the 1920s costume count at the Rivoli is much lower than at the Candlelight Club)
Still, I had fun. There’s something very infectious about 1920s Charleston and the crowd there that prevents you from having a bad time. So I’ll probably be returning. once I have a few more Charleston moves under my belt.

A secret but really not so secret pop up bar that says it’s a random location but seems to always be in Angel. This is truly a gem, take a whitewashed warehouse, light it entirely with candles, add people in 20s gear and a pop up bar with absinth cocktails and garnish with a live band.
To add to it all theres even food at the venue. I do love going to this place, its never too packed, people have really made an effort and they are all just lovely. Frankly, I’ve not seen anywhere like this in London but will return. Again and again. My words for this place are pretty poor but I have pictures! People are dressed in feathers and flowers, suits and flappers and best of all everyone is just smiling.
Tips for the place: arrive there at 7.30 to get a table or pay a premium for the privilege; remember things end at around 12.30 and you have to pre-​buy a ticket from the site for £15.