The Knowhere Guide

Going Out in Highbury and Islington, Greater London*

Highbury and Islington, Greater London Clubs, Music Venues, Cinemas

Clubs (Dance Music) and Music Bars

• The good ones are full of people that seem to be aching to ask for your phone
• the slimelight in torrens street is THE best club in london if you're into alternative/goth. only on saturdays, its memebers only but if you wanna go just hang around outside, and some kind member will sign you in!!
• The Blue Note, (formerly the Complex, before that the Paradise Club) near the Angel. Especially Camouflage on Saturdays - check out the groovy red 'lurve lounge' upstairs, and Metalheadz on a Sunday. 4 floors. At last, a great non-indie club in North London.
• The Garage on Highbury Corner! Excellent and noticeably less trendy/more relaxed than some clubs down the road in Central London. There are two entrances: one downstairs to admit known heterosexuals - the gay (mixed) bit is upstairs. Every week a few people go to the wrong entrance - you see them wandering about trying to work out what isn't quite right. Music edges into Brit pop and Indie and sometimes into that indiscri- minate "your eardrums wont see morning" beat, and is generally vg. Furthermore my mates, who like to be addressed as "The Icons" sometimes play there. Cool!
• You've got the Mega Club, just off Liverpool Road and owned by Vince Power, but I can't remember its name. Don't go anyway... it's crap: no atmosphere, abysmal chill out room, and the punters come from hell. Slimelight near Angel is good for a techno pierced fetishy sorta do.

Live Music Venues

• Loads of people have already mentioned how cool The Garage is just north of Highbury Corner on Holloway Road - but I just want to re-iterate. It's cool.
• The hope and anchor doesnt quite attract bands and groups like it did but still a good place (get some wkd shots!!!)
• The Garage in Highbury offers the chance to see great bands in a small venue. Sounds quality. Good vibe. The place ROCKS!
• The 12 Bar, just off Charing Cross Road. Cushy Productions has a night - something like one Thursday a month - which has some really cool young talent. Also great venue, tiny but friendly, always have a good night here.
• for free live accoustic sets on sunday afternoons, try the purple turtle on essex road,
• The Garage, 20-22 High Street.
• I think the Embassy has started to do music but I am not sure.
• Crossbar which is more Kings Cross direction has a thumping hip hop night on Thursdays: real old skool with breakdancing to boot!
• Disgracelands has really been getting pretty good on a Wednesday night: Earthtribe, Spring Heel Jack and other nights cater for other tastes.
• There's a pub at the end of Chapel Market (not the twee pub, the other end) that has some live stuff as well.
• The Rythmic on Chapel Market is getting its act together, nice Sunday jazz, and Fridays are pretty good as well.

Cinemas

• Screen on the Green on Upper Street has some decent indy movies as well as showing some mainstream stuff but at a price (£8 I believe)
• Screen on the Green - support your local fleapit before it goes the way of the Florida in Enfield Town!
• Screen on the Green on Upper Street, Islington. Always has some good alternative stuff on and an interesting mix. Love the comfy seats too.
• Screen on the Green - small and yet perfect.
• Screen on the Green. Lots of atmosphere, sells out in advance, small theatre- a good 'date' cinema.
• The Screen on the Green: a pretty good independant cinema, only one screen but fairly good programming, and cheaper on Mondays.

The Knowhere Guide started out as a list of places to skateboard in the UK. It is a compilation of (unedited) information and views supplied by users like yourself. It is not a conventional tourist guide!

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Credits

Last updated: 2007-12-06