Our recommendations of places to eat, drink and sleep before you join us for the finest house party of 2012.
If you don’t know about our New Year’s Eve party by now, where have you been hiding?? We’ve been talking up our end of year blow-out at Electric Brixton for weeks, and as you might expect, we're getting pretty excited about it.
Dennis Ferrer, Deetron, Noir, Copyright, Simon Dunmore and Sam Divine comprise what we’re sure you’ll agree is a truly special line-up, but rather than continue to bang on about the quality of the DJs, we thought we’d make things a little easier – logistically speaking – for those of you planning to join us.
With the main event sorted, it’s probably about this time you’re starting to think about how to get there, what to do beforehand and – if you’re coming from outside of the capital – where to stay. So to give you a helping hand, we’ve put together a little guide that should make those crucial decisions a touch easier.
See you on the dancefloor…
Transport
Tube
On New Year’s Eve the London Underground (affectionately known as the Tube) runs all night, with trains running every 10 - 20 minutes in the central area and every 20 - 30 minutes on the branches. Brixton station is located right at the end of the Victoria line, making it easy to get to and from the party regardless of where you’re staying in London.
Buses
Services linking Brixton to Clapham, Wandsworth and central London run 24 hours over New Year’s Eve, and you can download a PDF of all specific routes in and out of Brixton here.
Trains
Brixton Overground Station has regular trains to Victoria Station in central London as well as about four trains an hour to Orpington, calling at all stations via Herne Hill and Bromley South. If you’re coming from further afield, London is served by multiple national and international train stations. Head to www.nationalrail.co.uk for information about specific routes.
For regular updates and more info about London travel services, hit www.tfl.gov.uk
Eating
On New Year’s Eve, eating is definitely not cheating. Anyone anticipating dancing for the best part of their entire night needs some fuel for the engine, and Brixton has fast become a destination for those seeking a buzzy atmosphere as well as great, affordable food. Here are a few options that might tickle your taste buds.
Elephant Café
Serving authentic Pakistani street food, this family run joint has been getting rave-reviews since it’s opened in the summer of 2011, serving a small but perfectly formed menu from a tiny kitchen.
http://elephantcafeonline.blogspot.co.uk/
Franco Manca
Located pretty much next door to Electric Brixton, Franco Manca pays homage to the best Neapolitan pizzerias, serving incredible sourdough-crust pizzas topped with fantastic British-sourced, Italian-style cheese, cured meats and seasonal vegetables, cooked rapidly at high temperature in a brick oven.
http://francomanca.co.uk/pages/brixton.html
The Bagel Shop
A little further afield, but an absolute must if this is your first time to London. The Bagel Shop feeds hungry revellers though the night (it’s open 24 hours a day) and is renowned for their salt beef bagel.
Roka
If you’re after something a little more extravagant, this is restaurant theatre at its very finest. This classy Japanese joint puts the chefs centre stage as they cook to order, and the seclude bar downstairs is the ideal place for a pre-club cocktail.
www.rokarestaurant.com
Warming Up
Our party kicks off at 9pm, so there’s not much time to spare before you head down, but if you’re looking for somewhere to get started, here are a few options. Bear in mind that as it's New Year’s Eve, you might have to part with a few quid to get in the door.
Brewdog
A newly-opened bar in Shoreditch boasting a huge range of craft beers and lagers. For the more discerning malt and hops fan, the stripped-back décor and wooden tables means the focus is all about the drinks and food, which is also top notch.
www.brewdog.com/blog-article/brewdog-shoreditch
Dogstar
A Brixton institution, Dogstar has undergone several changes of fortune during its time, but has consistently remained one of the most interesting places to have a pint south of the river. An attractive refit in early 2007 saw the interior being given a 'boudoir' look that has smartened it up, but it still retains an undoubted edge.
www.antic-ltd.com/dogstar/
White Horse
Another conveniently located pub for a quick pre-club drink, the White Horse attracts a young crowd and has a good selection behind the bar and clued-up DJs spinning (usually) decent house.
www.whitehorsebrixton.com
Souk
One of the only bars in Clapham with a decent music policy, resident DJs will be spinning house and techno from early doors. Also boasts a decent range of cocktails.
www.soukclapham.co.uk
Sleeping
The hardcore among you might not need to bother with this part (Electric Brixton closes at 7am, just in time to catch the first trains out of London), but for those of you who value your sleep, this is essential. There are hundreds of hotels with rooms still available over New Year's Eve, but here are a few of our favourites.
Peckham Lodge
A 2-star, reasonably priced hotel located in South East London near Peckham tube station. This is about as convenient a place to stay that you could find for our NYE party and at a price that won’t break the bank.
Location: Peckham
Cost: Doubles from £90
www.peckhamlodgelondon.com
The Windmill on the Common
In the heart of Clapham Common, the historic Windmill offers boutique hotel accommodation and free Wi-Fi. 2 tube stations are nearby, offering excellent access to Central London, with regular buses to Brixton (about 15 minutes).
Location: Clapham
Cost: Doubles range from £150-£200
www.windmillclapham.co.uk
The Alma
The Alma is Wandsworth’s newest hotel, with 23 boutique-style rooms, perfect for weekend getaways and conveniently located with quick and easy transport links to Brixton to the South and the City to the North.
Location: Wandsworth
Cost: Doubles from £120
www.almawandsworth.com
The Hoxton
A personal Defected favourite; a little further away from Brixton that the others, but with the tube running all night it’s conveniently located for you to explore East London. Quite pricey but well worth the extra cash.
Location: Shoreditch
Cost: Doubles from £250
www.hoxtonhotels.com
Defected In The House hits Electric Brixton, London this NYE with Dennis Ferrer, Deetron, Noir, Copyright, Simon Dunmore and Sam Divine. Full event info and tickets here.
