The Top 5 Burlesque, Cabaret and Comedy Clubs In London

London's Top Burlesque, Cabaret and Comedy Club

Make a list of the best burlesque and cabaret clubs in London, is partly a fools errand. The requirements say a middle-aged American tourist from the Mid West would be very different from, say, a young city burlesque aficionado or a hen / office party for that matter. And this is before I enter the supper club theater style vs. club vs. club bar, gay vs. straight, or the whole traditional vs. neo-burlesque debate. Below is what I call my five "best of breed". I make no attempt to crown a "Best of Show" - continue my canine simile - because it would be errant nonsense.

Madame Juju

A must for everyone, not just because it is the father of burlesque cabaret scene, but because through his superlative programming it takes into account almost all of my American tourist (go to weekend shows) to my burlesque aficionado Hipsters (go to the shelves and some in the middle weeks show), not to mention having some pretty good club nights (but that is for another article). If anything, the only groups not well taken into account, I would say, are British hen parties and office supplies that can find over the weekend shows too dumped down (well you try to find humor, which may include 20 different nationalities - including the Japanese -- it is not!) and mid week show / showcases a mite inaccessible. Wonderful architecture and a convenient location caps off a great overall package. Other grumbles may be the high prices and so so food and drink, but it is not really the point is. My biggest criticism is that it leans too much to traditional burlesque / cabaret forms and looking increasingly dated in relation to the more Savant Grade rivals - shades of the Royal Academy of Art is perhaps in the mid 90s which goes as a survivor by the likes of Goldsmiths College with all things Brit Art. Nevertheless, one should expect a venerable Grande Dame to be something else - I think you would want your grandmother to be break dancing and "getting it" with the children particularly suitable for tourists

Volute

Again, conveniently located in West End, albeit in a somewhat uninspired (but well dressed) basement Volute is my favorite London Supper Club. Excellent burlesque programming with a good selection of both traditional and neo-burlesque performers and for that matter a great website too with not a flash of flash err. What I particularly like about programming is that both sophisticated and accessible at the same time something from my own experience is very difficult to achieve. Everything is just straight from the still as crisp white linen table clothes with faux Edwardian table lamps. Good food and drink service also with a large stage (albeit somewhat hidden behind the pillars for some tables, so make sure you check when booking!). Grumbles unfortunately as a Supper Club atmosphere may be a little reluctant to put it mildly, and with an address very Holton office party dominated (yards of white canvas only surpassed by acres of white shirts and ties at the office workers who descended pack like) so the audience is somewhat less sophisticated than the show (the management of the way to be commended for ignoring the "I want more tits and ass" brigade). I'm not a big fan of the standing tickets either, and as with all West End venues yes prices am high. An excellent late license caps off a great night out. Oh, and be sure to make avid animal imitations like Piglet’s, as I have heard nothing but bad reports about (Vince Powers really should stick to rock and roll!)

Vauxhall Tavern

The legendary gay cabaret hangout, which has put almost all gay / transvestite crossover comedian and TV host in the United Kingdom and beyond for the past 20 years, which tells you something about quality of acts here. All this in a place without parallel anywhere in the United Kingdom for its grossness from sweat stained black walls of Loops indescribable in their uncleanness - all of which naturally provides the perfect backdrop for the Queen B * etch from hell style of acts that dominate here (Heckler passport on!). Unfortunately, this place is strictly gay so are not accessible to most of us. People often write about how Lost vagueness, savant grade artists like Leigh Bowery and the clubs who have helped torture blow neo burlesque movement. But I suppose that Vauxhall Tavern had a far greater indirect influence than any of these. So for any gay or bi sexual people from abroad visiting London, do not leave till experienced at least one night at The Vauxhall Tavern. But a word of warning not avoid legion of cheap and expensive imitations from Clap ham to Camden - none of them are patch on the real thing. Finally Vauxhall Tavern is obviously much more than a burlesque cabaret venue - you will not see too many girls in feathers is not, unless they are drag queens who are. Grumbles his gay only and could really do with a little bit of a clean and maybe a little bit of air conditioning all naturally, without wishing in any way to change the nature of the place. Oh No! Particularly suited for metropolitan gay and gay friendly customers

Bethany Green Working Mans Club.

I am not quite sure why I have this place because it is not exactly a burlesque or cabaret venue at all - it is as the title suggests a Working Mans club in a really rather unpleasant part of London. It is also very uncomfortable inside, although perhaps of interest to sociologists, as you feel you go back in time from the 1950s - from the ancient treasurer front door to the aging of the beehive hair Harry dance to pass the bar staff (serving some of the most uninspired drinks I've ever seen. Let's just say it mycology revolution forget to get off at Bethany Green tube) not to mention the vinyl and carpeting, so decrepit that it is no wonder you stick to your shoes (oh, and make it busy nights). The programming is inspired and its home to some of the best traveling neo-burlesque club nights (Wham Bam Club for a year) and artists (Chocolate delicious a). But do check listings in advance and make the call in advance or when you arrive you could be very disappointed when you discover that there is no show, and only warm beer in plastic glasses and pieces of entertainment. Particularly suited for metropolitan sophisticated burlesque aficionados and Club

Now I have to admit to some bias here as I order the club and helped create it. But in my defense, Peacock Bar has been rated Top London Burlesque Club, Top London Cabaret Club and the Top Birthday Party venue at View London [plus won almost every other award under the sun in the last six months, including the Top Small London Venue of Function fixers. Our programming is very neo-burlesque - real musical sketch comedy / social commentary in the finest style of Kinks. We also specialize in being interactive and bring the audience on stage with a lot better as well as a bar club instead of a Supper Club. Everything that we believe creates a much more vibrant, exciting and dynamic atmosphere than you get by either supper clubs (although of course we provide food) or traditional burlesque shows (but just how many girls in feathers you can see in a lifetime). We also try and program seasonally adjusted so for Christmas, we present "Christmas lunch and Christmas dinner with a difference with free burlesque and cabaret - put your boss on stage and humiliate him! Particularly suited for birthday, Christmas party, hen party and stag party bookings.