This London nightclub is one of the best in Europe, according to Time Out

We’re forever being told that London's nightlife is in trouble - gentrification, noise complaints and redevelopments are making clubs close down at worrying rates, and we’re definitely not a 24 hour party city like our neighbours on the continent. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Time Out recently asked clubbers to pick the very best spots from all over Europe, and south London's Venue MOT ranked in the top 10.

Unsurprisingly, partying haven Berlin topped the list with Sisyphos, an outdoor club that serves up festival vibes all summer long. Amsterdam’s brutalist dancing den Shelter came in at number two, followed by Ibiza’s UNVRS, Paris’s Essaim, and Athens’ Island Club. But at number six, London enters the chat, with south Bermondsey's underground electronic music haven Venue MOT.

With a capacity of just 250, it’s a lot smaller than most venues on the list, and you’ll have to weave your way through an industrial estate after dark to find it. But make the trek and you'll be well rewarded with rare-in-London late license that lets you dance ‘til 7am at the weekend. Its programming spans big names, like Jamie XX and Batu, to more underground and local acts, the sound systems is earth-quakingly powerful, and its no frills approach makes it an unpretentious place to dance ‘til dawn.

On Google reviews, visitors praised Venue MOT for having ‘hints of the old illegal Warehouse party vibes’ and have warned clubbers to ‘dress to sweat’ as the small space gets seriously hot. ‘Some of the most beautifully depressed people walk around the place wearing a mixture of Victorian-era clothing and surf brands from the 2000s. Had the best and worst discussions of my entire life in the courtyard, felt like I found a family I was not looking for. I do not know where my car is anymore. 5 stars,’ wrote another reviewer, wittily summing up the vibe.

In short, it's not going to be the one for you if you’re looking for a glam Ibiza mega-club experience, but for serious ravers, it’s up there at the top. 

🪩 Read Time Out's full rankings of Europe's best nightclubs.

📍 These are the best clubs in London, according to us. 

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