Clubs

Popping up around London are some of the cutest, silliest, best-fun-ever parties we’ve seen in a long while. You get DJs and off-kilter live talent just like regular club nights, but getting crafty is key.

The conventional wisdom is that Monday nights are only good for one thing: getting some serious weekend recovery time in on the sofa. But given how busy Notting Hill Arts Club is when Craft Night is on, it would seem there are plenty who disagree. You pay your fiver at the door and get a pack of materials and sweets. Downstairs, find a table (it pays to arrive early!) and let your creativity flow. It’s all about sharing, so don’t hog the best colours. Feature continues

Craft Night people are on hand to help transform your hideous disaster into something worth feeling a lil’ proud about, too.It’s a completely different atmosphere over east at HungMunga. Where Craft Night is a relaxed but organised night of creativity, HungaMunga is an far, far messier affair. Started in May, this is a joint collaboration between Moondog Loves You’s Lloyd Ellis (responsible for the cute cardboard cartoons left all over London) and Playtent’s Vicki Senett.

The tables of the Bethnal Green Working Men’s club fairly heave under the weight of every creative material they could think of (unless you start going into Turner Prize territory). Sewing kits, knitting needles, papier mâché, pencils, paint, cardboard… often used all at the same time. Plastic coverings line parts of the floor for the really big painting sessions, so don’t wear your very best threads.

Group creativity is encouraged, and there’s an activity called Invisible Orchestra. Make your own instrument (or just ask for a kazoo) and ‘play’ along to the orchestral piece.

‘We’re also promoting experimental bands,’ says Lloyd Ellis, ‘as well as experimental art.’ Paul Hawkins – who describes himself as ‘struggling guitarist and tuneless singer’ on his hilarious website, www.paulhawkinsmusic.co.uk, plays at every party.

The most grown-up craft club is easily Paintjam. Not that it isn’t a complete hoot: it’s just pricier than the others, and you get a real canvas and easel instead of paper and crayons. Lots of free food and drink relax everyone before you head to your easel and work your way through as many paints and brushes as you can in the name of creating a masterpiece. Again, friendly folk are on hand to help you through any creative blocks you might experience (or just head back to the bar for a couple of quick ones…)

We’re used to seeing ‘live knitting’ at Adventures in the Beetroot Field’s irregular Sitdown Club, and the arts and crafts table at the Extraordinary Dancing Bazaar on Saturdays heaves with things to do (we particularly loved BYO foil for making a space suit!). Clearly getting your craft on is here to stay.