93 Feet East

Description

Wander down Brick Lane and head straight down the open road, remembering to flash your eyes up at the dank, dark walls to grab your obligatory dose of Banksy or Obey. 93 Feet East stands just beyond the arch of the Truman Brewery.

The interior is a black canvas, with no theme and no oxymoronic irony in sight. But yet, it is special. The simple nature of the layout brings out the best in people. The entrance bar is a vast space with nowhere to hide, throwing everybody together, while the room next door echoes this on a larger scale. There is a stage that scrutinises the space at one end, while it´s beverage-serving sidekick lays a supporting role alongside the dividing wall.

An evening at 93 Feet East takes time to heat up before it becomes a heaving party. The regular student crowd huddle together nervously in groups, edging back and forth, but with time the self awareness dies as alcohol is swilled and the atmosphere is swayed to positive.

It´s not a shock that the rest of the people represent all aspects of the London demographic. Hipsters and hardcore kids are as tight as the jeans they flaunt, and with so much plaid in attendance there´s a lot of common ground being shared, in fashion terms.

The main room is a sweaty affair. Whatever or whoever the act onstage, people here like to dance. If you can´t get into this then the bar at the entrance is like an after party running simultaneously with the main room party. The atmosphere can be cosmic.