London’s nightlife has a new contender – and it’s already drawing in some of the capital’s most recognisable faces. In a city where venues open and close with dizzying speed, the latest hotspot is cutting through the noise, luring in celebrities, creatives and curious Londoners alike.Now, guided by Top Boy star Alessandro Babalola, the London Evening Standard is offering an exclusive first look inside. From its meticulously designed interiors to the crowd it attracts and the vision behind its launch, this is your access-all-areas pass to the venue everyone will be talking about this season.
A first look inside Londons hottest new venue with Top Boy star Alessandro Babalola
Under the low-slung industrial beams and a canopy of programmable LED strips, Alessandro Babalola moves through the room like he owns it – and, in a way, he does. The actor, best known for his turn in Top Boy, has helped shape this space into a cinematic playground for London’s after-dark crowd. Concrete pillars are softened by velvet banquettes, while an illuminated central bar glows like a film set, its mirrored back wall catching every flash of glass and chrome. Behind it all, a discreet DJ booth rises on a mezzanine, wired directly into a custom sound system tuned for bass-heavy grime, amapiano and late-night R&B.
Every corner has been engineered to feel like a scene waiting to be shot, from the softly lit private booths to a speakeasy-style side room hidden behind a faux loading-bay door. Thoughtful touches nod to the city outside – street-map etchings on tabletops, moody Hackney skyline prints on the walls – while the drinks list leans into bold, performance-ready flavours.
- Lighting: Reactive LEDs that shift with the music’s intensity
- Sound: Club-grade system calibrated for cinematic clarity
- Design flourishes: Industrial textures offset with luxe fabrics
- Signature experience: Cocktails served to a curated London rap playlist
| Spot | Vibe | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Main bar | High-energy, neon-lit | Pre-show drinks |
| Side room | Low-key, speakeasy | Date nights |
| Booth row | Intimate, discreet | Cast and crew hangouts |
Design secrets and standout spaces that set this London venue apart
Step through the doors and it’s clear this isn’t just another glossy opening in the capital. The space has been choreographed like a film set: sightlines are carefully staged so that every turn offers a new visual hit, from smoked-glass partitions that catch the light like camera lenses to concrete columns softened with cascading greenery. A palette of charcoal, burnished brass and deep oxblood runs throughout, punctuated by sharp lines of neon that nod subtly to east London’s street energy. Alessandro Babalola’s influence is threaded through in cinematic touches – think low-slung banquettes that feel like director’s chairs turned lounge-ready, and lighting rigs that can morph from intimate drama to full-blown premiere with a single dimmer sweep.
Beyond the theatrics,the venue has been designed to work hard for the city’s most demanding crowds. Modular furniture and hidden track systems mean entire zones can pivot from private screening to late-night club in under an hour, while acoustically treated wall panels keep the bass inside and the neighbours happy. Texture is everything here: cool terrazzo underfoot, tactile boucle on seating, and velvet drapes that double as sound baffles. Key spaces showcase this flexibility:
- The Gallery Bar – a long, sculptural counter framed by rotating art installations from emerging London creatives.
- The Warehouse Room – double-height, with exposed steel beams and a movable stage for live sets or talks.
- The Neon Corridor – an Instagram magnet with programmable LEDs and mirrored alcoves.
- The Listening Lounge – a low-lit hideaway with vinyl-only DJ booth and deep, cinema-style seating.
| Space | Signature Detail | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Bar | Backlit marble and rotating art wall | Pre-show cocktails |
| Warehouse Room | Movable stage and rig lighting | Launch parties |
| Neon Corridor | Customisable LED light scripts | Photo moments |
| Listening Lounge | Immersive sound and velvet booths | Late-night sessions |
What to eat drink and experience on your first visit to the citys buzziest hotspot
Let Babalola’s route be your north star: start at the ground-floor bar, where mixologists pour cinema-worthy cocktails named after East London landmarks. Order the Hackney Negroni – bittersweet and unapologetically punchy – or a Peckham Paloma with a chilli-salt rim that nods to the area’s fiery food scene.To soak it up, graze on small plates with a London twist: jerk-spiced chicken sliders, plantain croquettes and Brick Lane bhaji bites arrive fast, designed to be shared and snapped. Between courses,slip to the mezzanine DJ booth,where rising selectors blend grime edits with soulful house,turning background noise into the city’s unofficial soundtrack.
- Signature flavours: Bold, layered, unapologetically London.
- Best seat: Counter stools facing the open kitchen for full theater.
- Soundtrack: Live sets on weekends, curated playlists midweek.
- Dress code: Street-luxe; trainers welcome, effort appreciated.
| When to Go | What to Order | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Early evening | Hackney Negroni | People-watch at the bar |
| Prime time | Jerk sliders & plantain | Catch the live DJ set |
| Late night | Dealer’s choice mocktail | Explore the rooftop terrace |
Once fed and watered, follow the soft glow of neon to the upper levels, where the venue turns from hangout to full-blown set piece.A tucked-away listening lounge lets you sink into low sofas under moody lighting, cocktails in hand, while curated visuals loop on wall projections like scenes from an unreleased episode of Top Boy. Outside,the rooftop terrace is the city’s new open-air front row: skyscrapers on one side,railway lines on the other,heat lamps humming above.Here, conversations stretch past last orders, as Alessandro’s world – part TV drama, part real London night – plays out around you in real time.
Insider tips for booking beating the queues and making the most of your night out
Landing a prime spot at London’s most talked‑about venue takes more than luck – it’s about timing, tactics and a little insider know‑how worthy of a Top Boy cameo. Aim for early‑week nights or late‑evening arrivals to slip past the peak‑time crush, and always keep an eye on soft‑launch offers quietly dropped to newsletter subscribers and social followers. When booking, pair your reservation with a bar tab or set menu; door staff are far more likely to fast‑track guests with a clear spend attached. For those who live life on standby, wait‑list alerts are gold dust – cancellations are frequent after 4pm, and reacting within minutes can turn a near miss into a front‑row table beneath the neon glow.
- Book smart: Reserve two time slots – an earlier dinner and a later drinks window – then cancel one once your plans firm up.
- Travel light: Minimal bags mean quicker security checks and less time stuck at the cloakroom queue.
- Name‑drop wisely: Referencing a recent event or set from Alessandro Babalola or a resident DJ shows you’re there for the culture,not just the clout.
- Use the floor plan: When confirming, ask for specific zones – bar rail, mezzanine, or booths – to avoid being tucked away from the action.
| Insider Move | Best Time | Payoff |
|---|---|---|
| DM the venue on socials | Day before | Priority on cancellations |
| Arrive pre‑headliner | 60-90 mins early | Shorter bar queues |
| Order at the side bar | Headline set | Faster service |
| Settle up mid‑set | Before final track | No card queue at the end |
Concluding Remarks
As London’s nightlife scene continues to evolve at pace, this latest opening – seen through the eyes of Top Boy star Alessandro Babalola – underscores just how ambitious the capital’s cultural offering has become.Part playground for tastemakers,part stage for the next wave of talent,it is a venue designed as much for the Instagram age as for those who still care about a finely mixed drink and a well-tuned sound system.
Whether it will cement itself as a long-term fixture or simply define a moment remains to be seen. But for now, it stands as a striking snapshot of where London is heading: a city intent on fusing celebrity cachet, immersive design and boundary-pushing programming into one meticulously curated night out.
