For many, the real damage of this bleeding recession came when iconic club The End and its upstairs bar AKA closed its doors to business. Ironically, the subsequent slump in the property market saw plans for a swanky block of flats in the once-highly-sought-after central location go up in smoke, with developers preferring to rebrand and reopen the venue instead of throw away top dollar on flats nobody could afford to buy. So, just three months elapsed before the unveiling of The Den & Centro: "a fantasy nightclub and party venue for indulgence in hedonistic pleasure," in schmalzy PR-speak. In truth (and this is no bad thing) the only real difference between The End and The Den - except the odd laser and new LED colour Pallets - is the position of the letter 'd'. Still, Centro has undergone a serious enough facelift, including the addition of a new stage for live acts, to warrant the clever painting of 'Re' above the first three letters of Holborn tube sign on the flyer graphics. The result being "a rare mixture of impressive 90s extravagance and minimalism" according, again, to the PR pen-pushers (who clearly never heard of Oasis). It remains to be seen how the place takes to the changes and whether or not The Den & Centro can attract the big names and parties back into its walls. But given the fact that Jonathan Tana of Space flew in from Ibiza for the opening, it shouldn't be too long before The (D)en(d) is back up to speed and the key residencies return.
This
was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really
shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and
velvet curtains ... More
Built on the site of a Victorian meat cellar, Fabric continues to boast the most sensational line-ups in the capital. Its global reputation is founded ... More
Covent Garden "style" bar serving cocktails and a chilled out, trendy vibe.
Considered to be one of London’s original “style” or “concept” bars, despite being on ... More
Celebrate in style at this elegant yet wholly unpretentious Baroque champagne bar in the heart of Soho. Dimly-lit, effortlessly elegant and with gleaming Mahogany surfaces, ... More
Set in the heart of the West End, Thistle Bloomsbury is well positioned with the British Museum very close by and the entertainments of Covent ... More
Wrapping up the year with the third of its major exhibitions in 2009, the British Museum brings us a selection of recent archaeological discoveries from ...More
When it was discovered in July 2009 by metal detectorist Terry Herbert The Staffordshire Hoard was likened to the discovery of Sutton Hoo. Now select ...More
Combining art with humour, this addition to London's museum-cum-gallery scene is refreshingly vibrant. From political cartoons of Thatcher, Brown, Bush and Blair to rare originals ... More
Historic Victorian family business specialising in umbrellas, walking sticks and canes.
Commonly known as “the Umbrella Shop”, this immaculately presented Victorian outlet in the heart ... More
Urban Retreat and Chakra Rooms 174 High Holborn,Covent Garden,
London,
WC1VMap
2 minutes walk from The Den and Centro
Environmentally conscious hair and make-up brand with 'lifestyle' stores like this one in High Holborn - where there's even a herb garden on the roof ... More
Taking inspiration from Japanese ramman-noodle bars, Wagamama is the ultimate in high-quality, fast food. Huge bowls of steaming, soupy noodles, chicken dumplings with a chilli-soy ... More
Fresh fish, fat hand-cut chips and some fantastic home-made samosas for the more adventurous diner make this the best traditional chippie in the West End ... More
English [Out There!] takes a very hands-on approach to learning English. The course places an emphasis on using what you have learned. Students are taken ... More
Before it was a hip private members' club designed specifically for the creative industries - complete with bar and dining rooms, cinema, TV and recording ... More
In the shadow of both Centrepoint and St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, hidden from most tourists and residents alike, lies this beautiful West End garden. Originally a ... More
Overlooking Covent Garden Piazza, the Cove is a world away from the crowds outside. Tucked up in a worn, leather armchair under the pub’s low, ... More
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For many, the real damage of this bleeding recession came when iconic club The End and its upstairs bar AKA closed its doors to business. Ironically, the subsequent slump in the property market saw plans for a swanky block of flats in the once-highly-sought-after central location go up in smoke, with developers preferring to rebrand and reopen the venue instead of throw away top dollar on flats nobody could afford to buy. So, just three months elapsed before the unveiling of The Den & Centro: "a fantasy nightclub and party venue for indulgence in hedonistic pleasure," in schmalzy PR-speak. In truth (and this is no bad thing) the only real difference between The End and The Den - except the odd laser and new LED colour Pallets - is the position of the letter 'd'. Still, Centro has undergone a serious enough facelift, including the addition of a new stage for live acts, to warrant the clever painting of 'Re' above the first three letters of Holborn tube sign on the flyer graphics. The result being "a rare mixture of impressive 90s extravagance and minimalism" according, again, to the PR pen-pushers (who clearly never heard of Oasis). It remains to be seen how the place takes to the changes and whether or not The Den & Centro can attract the big names and parties back into its walls. But given the fact that Jonathan Tana of Space flew in from Ibiza for the opening, it shouldn't be too long before The (D)en(d) is back up to speed and the key residencies return.
_PQ322630.jpg "The Kingsley, a Thistle Hotel (formerly Thistle Bloomsbury)")
![English [Out There!]](/lycos/assets/MN089802_85x142.jpg "English [Out There!]")
