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Kehn Ajayi-Coker

Culture, Music

This Is What Black London Nightlife Looks Like Now

May 30, 2024 | By Ata-Owaji Victor

A renaissance is underway in the London nightlife scene. While in recent years, high-tempo clubs may have given way to a more low-fi pub-come-dancefloor scene in the capital – due in part to the closure of around 1,100 bars and clubs since the pandemic – for many Black Londoners, the night has never been so buzzy.

This has been spurred on by a mixture of new-gen event spaces such as The Outnet, Boxpark and The Cause, alongside homegrown talent pools. Welcome to the thriving world of Black London nightlife…

DLT London opener- April 2nd 2023 at Outernet

DLT (Days Like This)

“We held our first event in 2016, using personal capital in a Black-owned venue in South London,” explains DLT co-founder Ife Awosika. “The space no longer exists, but it was crucial in helping us tackle the biggest barrier to entry for many Black event runners.”

The brunch-turned-multi-event company has since become a standout in London’s going-out scene as a haven for lovers of good food, music and community vibes, and has hosted international pop stars including Rema. When asked what makes it uniquely ‘London’, Awosika explains: “Each event is created by people that have a mixture of heritages, from the branding to the DJ sets, so every element is reflective of what it is to be a first-, second- or third-generation Black British person. [That’s] something you can’t expect from your local bar.”

The multi-heritage community focus is evident in DLT’s choice to host parties on Sundays. It’s a day that “holds such significance for many Black people,” explains Awosika, “whether it’s going to church or brunch with family and friends. For so many Black events, it’s often the only day that venues were willing to work with us.”

As for what’s next: “DLT, but global,” says Awosika. It’s a future that feels not too distant, with events already running in Malta and Ghana.

Recess

Birthed in the strobe-lit basement of the East London’s Ace Hotel (now One Hundred Shoreditch) in 2013, Recess – founded by JoJo Sonubi – leads a new wave of events appealing to long-underserved Black British party goers. “Shoreditch is now known for a specific type of creative crowd, but back in the 2010s it was a popular area for Black events and I felt like there was a market for more,” says Sonubi.

Although the brand now boasts a multi-strand approach to the cultural landscape – including their radio station No Signal and an annual seaside escape Recessland, which takes place just outside the capital in Margate – “much of the mission remains the same,” says Sonubi. “We want our community to have access to different grades of nightlife. If you look at genres such as EDM, you have small parties, squat raves, all the way up to festivals. We want the same for people who love Afrobeats, Amapiano and Soca.”

Sonubi’s emphasis is on crafting unique experiences infused with a keen understanding of Black London life. “From lighting to graphic design, it’s important to me that we have Black talent both on and off the stage,” she says. “It’s something you don’t often see in creative spaces.”

After its large event to date earlier this year at North London’s Drumsheds – which saw partygoers don merch with reimagined London borough logos and a cameo from UK hip-hop heavyweight Giggs – it’s clear this is only the beginning of Recess’ mark on London.

The photo was taken at Jazz Cafe night party 5th May 2024 bank holiday weekend — _{@bloomedindarkroom}_s

SlowJamsWithA

New kid on the events block SlowJamsWithA offers partygoers a slower-tempo, more intimate option, via everything from Amapiano earworms through to R&B lilts. “The first event we hosted was at Soho House’s Brixton Studio in 2021, ” explains SJWA’s Ty and Aura. “It ended up becoming oversubscribed and shut down, and it was as in that moment that we realised we had something here.”

For Black Londoners who are passionate about R&B and soul – or fans of DJ AAA – SJWA has become one of the hottest tickets in town. “At its heart, SJWA is about creating a safe space within R&B that people can come to,” says Ty. “[We’re] building a community of fellow ‘slow jam’ lovers.”

For R&B aficionados used to only hearing US-based artists, “R&B music made in the UK is just as important for the genre as what we hear coming over from the US and our nights reflect that,” say SJWA’s Ty and Aura. “Our support for homegrown talent means that [these artists] have organically become part of the SJWA ecosystem – the people we play on the decks at the party are also the people that come to the party.”

SJWA events embody many of the same tenets of their predecessors: community first and good vibes always. “We want people to come to SJWA and let their hair down, with everything going on in the world right now. Sometimes that’s the best kind of weekend,” says Ty.

Much like how ’90s garage rave culture birthed genres including jungle and funky house, the passion behind these new events will hopefully hold the blueprint for London’s club scene in a way that preserves it for years to come.

4 Black-Owned London Spots To Visit For Your Next Night Out

Prince of Peckham – By day, it’s a south London pub serving up food by White Men Can’t Jerk. By night, the music gets louder and the main area turns into a dancefloor, with Saturdays playing host to Culture, where resident DJs playing the best in Afrobeats, Hip-Hop and R&B.

Trailer Happiness – This rum-focused bar in Notting Hill is influenced by a range of cultures, particularly Asia, the Polynesian islands and the Caribbean. Expect unique takes on classic cocktails, such as grapefruit-infused daiquiris and scotch bonnet margaritas, plus bar snacks including Jamaican patties and plantain crisps.

LIMIN SOUTHBANK – What started as a pop-up bar and restaurant in Old Spitalfields Market in 2018 soon turned into LIMIN on London’s Southbank: a “Caribbean food and drink experience” by Trinidadian-born chef Sam Mahabir. Serving home-style food, from jerk chicken to spinach fritters, plus a signature range of cocktails.

Two Spoons – In Honor Oak Park, southeast London, Two Spoons is a cafe by day, serving locally sourced produce and brunch specials; and a cocktail bar by night, offering everything from cocktails to craft spirits. Keep an eye out for regular supper clubs and evening specials, from gumbo nights to mac and cheese Thursdays.