London Nightlife Tips by aaaarrgh

Nightlife Spot: Bar Cuba

Bar Cuba is a colourful, lively night spot on Kensington High Street. Upstairs is a small mezzanine restaurant with a variety of Cuban style tapas and imaginative main dishes for around 4 to 12 GBP. You also have two floors with bars for drinks - they boast 16 different types of rum, for example!

Downstairs the action takes place ~ free salsa dance lessons take place between 7.30 and 9.30pm. Wiggle your hips with attitude. After this time the whole area becomes a late night club with dancing into the early hours. Admission charge after 9.30 ish.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Generally the dress code was very relaxed, particularly amongst the 'dancers'. Its a place to have fun from early till late.
Phone: 020 7938 4137
Address: 11-13 Kensington High Street, Kensington
Directions: Kensington High Street Tube ~ turn right and walk 200 metres. Plenty of buses from central London along Kensington High Street ~ the bar is near the southwest corner of Kensington Gardens.

Nightlife Spot: Shepherd's Bush Empire

Shepherd's Bush Empire is one of London's surviving 'music hall' theatres, dating from 1903. It is nowadays a venue for live bands, sometimes famous and sometimes less famous.

The theatre is delightful with its original layout and features. No longer any seats in the main auditorium (you have to stand here, of course). However, there are two wonderful tiers of curvy, decorated balconies and here you can buy seating tickets (and chuck beer etc. at the people dancing below!).

Most importantly the theatre is small enough to get close to your music heroes, I would estimate the capacity is less than 1000 people.

The nearby pubs get very full before an event at the Empire. I would recommend the imaginative "Defectors Weld" at the Northwest corner of the Green, otherwise there is a big 'Wetherspoons' opposite the Central Line Tube Station.

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Theme: Live Music
Phone: 020 8354 3300
Address: Shepherd's Bush Green
Directions: 'Central' or 'Hammersmith & City' Tube to Shepherd's Bush. The Empire is on the West side of the Green.
Website: http://www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk/
Other Contact: 0870 771 2000 (24 hr ticket sale