House parties are great.
House parties in grand, multi-storey Shoreditch townhouses decked out with stunning retro interiors & vintage design that channels the hedonistic heyday of Studio 54 are even better.
And 25 Paul Street is basically the dictionary definition of that second camp…
It’s a late-night cocktail joint & party palace right in the beating heart of Shoreditch (specifically at, er, 25 Paul Street). The space is a true gem, with three floors of statement vintage design channelling the louche glamour of the ’70s, and the bright, buzzing energy of the ’80s, thanks to iconically eye-catching Verner Panton furnishings, a disco ball in the main room, space-age orange TVs, and patterns inspired by Biba’s highly influential London fashion store.
Everything has been organised by the former general manager at The Jazz Cafe, and the basic idea is that they hold parties on the bottom two floors during the week (helmed by resident DJs), and then open up all five floors on Saturdays, with acts like Disco Disco, The Menendez Brothers and Concrete Music taking the musical reins. But once every few weeks? They push the boat out so far that the shoreline becomes a blurry, distant dot – their flagship monthly house parties feature “risqué performances against a backdrop of disco-balls and mind-bending visuals”, and are a manifestation of pure, decadent joy.
As for what you’re drinking this whole time? Well, the cocktails at 25 Paul Street take their cues from the venue, and draw inspo from the 1970s with simple classics like strawberry daiquiris, New York sours, and Harvey Wallbangers. If you fancy something from the current millennium, there are also a few house originals (called ‘Disco Drinks’) ranging from a Cherry Bomb (Hennessy, Amaretto & lemon) to a concoction blending whisky, marmalade, and Pamplemousse Liqueur called a Clockwork Orange.
And last but not least, the neighbours. Or rather, the housemates. Because it turns out that this whole operation is housed under the same roof as 23 Paul Street, which is home to the upmarket, racy, female-led, London burlesque club appropriately called House of Tease, which is run by Thamila Von Zenthöfer, formerly of Sager & Wilde.
So she’s definitely staying a little wilde.
NOTE: 25 Paul Street is open Tues-Sat. You can find out more on their website here.
25 Paul Street | 25 Paul Street, EC2A 4JU
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