Rhythm Factory

Laying low on an anonymous stretch of a busy, East End arterial road, this dark, rather rough and-ready venue has shifted its profile since first launching with an alt.rock remit, hosting the first London gig by Babyshambles, after which Peter Doherty adopted it as his spiritual home. Since then, it's opened up an open, café-styled bar on the street front and built on the increasing reputation of its concrete-floored back room for hip hop, R&B, garage/grime, dubstep and bassline acts. Respected club nights (eg Pipedown) are regulars here, often free and running until the small hours.