subject: What to Expect At "The Club," Sydney [print this page] What to Expect At "The Club," Sydney What to Expect At "The Club," Sydney
Before I say anything else about The Club, I have to say this: yes, it is called The Club and yes, drunk people do ask "which club?" when you say "let's go to The Club". Aside from that though, this place offers a decent night out if you happen to be in the area, or if you've got nowhere else to go on a Friday or Saturday night.
The Club is located right under Hugo's Bar and Lounge in Kings Cross, and has that classic underground feel from the moment that you step past the bouncers. The stairs descend down into an outdoor area where there is always some form of entertainment going on: the night that we went, there were artists that were drawing which created a unique experience. As you enter The Club there is a taste of shabby chic that is consistent throughout the whole venue: the seats all are old school lounges, and the lights cast a dim reddish glow on everything there. It's only one level, which means that there's not a lot of room and everyone has to squish in next to each other (which is perfect if you're trying to get close to someone else!). There's a back room for intimate gatherings or events with its own DJ booth, and the bar sits centrally which means that you have quick access to drinks at any time of the night. However, my favourite part of The Club is the dance floor: the standard area is large enough as it is, but if you feel like getting a little down and freaky there is an elevated platform where poles are there to add some flavour to your dancing.
Where the dance floor wins though, the rest of The Club was a bit of a disappointment to me. The crowd of people there has turned from classy and elegant to a little more trashy: guys in massive hats and sleazy attitudes parade throughout the place while the girls here are not half as beautiful as some of those that you can find on the George St bars and clubs. The crowd dances a little bit, but more than anything else I found that people just kept walking around and bumping into other people. As for the music, The Club goes off of the fact that there is "no house music" but instead old school Ja Rule and Jennifer Lopez play...and I even heard a little bit of Miley Cyrus. While I appreciate music that isn't house, I don't always like to dance to "Party in the USA" or songs from the 90s: sure, it's nice to hear them a few times but every now and then it would be good to hear some T-Pain or Black Eyed Peas.
Drinks were also a reason that I didn't enjoy myself as much as I should have when I went to The Club. Normally when I am out, I expect some schooners on tap and if not, I expect a few affordable drinks...especially at a nightclub where the main reason people go is to lose their inhibitions. The spirits were actually more expensive than the beers ($9 for a vodka and lemonade and $10 for a beer) and the bartenders seemed fairly cold towards a lot of the patrons. While the drinks taste fine, I didn't think the alcohol and the service were worth it. The bathrooms - located right near the bar - also required a bit of a wait and there weren't many stalls so when it gets packed it becomes quite a long wait.
Overall, The Club can be fun but it really isn't the place I'd pick first to go. Like I said, if you're in the area or you have no other events, then it can be a great option. Otherwise, head somewhere else for the night and save The Club for another rainy-Kings-Cross day.
