How to Spend a Night Clubbing at The Fridge

The Fridge is a celebrated nightclub in Brixton, South London. The club was started in 1981 and became central to the 80’s New Romantic Movement. The Fridge moved venues in 1985 and began hosting nights focusing on Hip Hop music and Funk. It currently hosts mainly dance, trance and hard dance club nights.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Before heading to The Fridge, check the name, music and theme of the night on The Fridge website or in a London listings magazine. The Fridge hosts both straight nights (such as “Escape From Samsara”) and gay nights (such as the renowned “Love Muslce”) and music varies every night from commercial house to hard dance to Hip Hop.
2. Find out where The Fridge is so that you don’t get lost on the way. The Fridge changed venues in 1985. Make sure your directions are correct by calling the venue beforehand to check. The venue has undergone periods of renovation in the past too. Make sure that it is open before heading there!
3. Make sure you arrive at a reasonable time. The Fridge is a very popular venue and queues can be fairly long! If you are travelling a reasonable distance to The Fridge, or if it is a special occasion, try calling the venue beforehand to arrange putting your name on the guest list. If you can arrange this, you will save time by not queuing for tickets on the door.
4. Do not take any illicit substances to The Fridge. In April 2006 the venue was raided by police during a club night. The venue’s lights were turned on and clubbers were searched as part of a crackdown on the drugs trade in London. Arrests were made.
5. Develop a fall back plan! Even the best made plans can fall apart. If you arrive late, can’t find the venue or don’t like it when you get there it is very useful to have a fall back option to go to instead. Before you set off, investigate other venues nearby where you might also be able to go.
6. Expect to pay reasonably high drinks prices inside The Fridge, as it is a famous London venue. Try to take a limited but sufficient supply of cash with you on the night and leave your card at home. By doing this you won’t have to look for a cash machine late in the evening and you won’t be tempted to buy all your friends flaming sambuccas in the wee morning hours.
7. Getting home can sometimes prove difficult after a night out clubbing! Taxis wait for revellers throughout the night at The Fridge and Brixton’s night buses should be able to take you home throughout the night. If getting a taxi, try not to travel alone or use unlicensed cars.

Tips & Warnings

• The Fridge welcomes anyone to any club night. But be warned, “Love Muscle” can be particularly raunchy and possibly intimidating for straight clubbers!
• Like all areas in London it is sensible to look after yourself, especially at night and after drinking. Brixton has been particularly affected by gun and gang related crime and any aggressive incidents with other revellers, no matter how small, should be downplayed.
• Some people (if only a very small percentage) may be carrying guns, either inside or outside the club.