The Roof Gardens

This place is a proper mix. When you first walk in you do feel like you're in a kind of hotel night club (which I guess you are). The drinks are also pricey for what they are and have an optional service charge included even if ordering at the bar! Kind of feels compulsory as they ad it immediately as they ask for payment. However, the gardens are amazing and worth the entry. Up on the roof, they feel like a secret garden even with high walls, trees and in the day, flamingoes walking about. Barbecues are served in the outdoor alleyway in the evening and the DJ was playing a mix of new and old house on the Friday night I attended. The speakers a re a little too big and loud pointing at the small dancefloor so prepare to receive some ear damage. The crowd seemed okay, a mix of ages and backgrounds and a generally friendly vibe. Get there early to avoid the queues and dress to impress. No ID, no entry as well.

Clubbing isn't really my thing anymore. I like my nights out to begin at 7pm and end just short of midnight so I can get home and enjoy my 8 hours sleep (because i'm the kinda 27 year old who's actually in her 50's!), but when I was invited for an almost free night at the Roof Gardens there wasn't a chance in hell I was going to pass it up, even if it meant the earliest my night could begin would be 10pm!!

A rare excuse to get properly dolled up (because this is a no effort no entry kinda place) my friends and I headed up to Kensington and managed to skip the already ridiculously long queue and heading straight up to the VIP area we'd been given for the night. We ordered a £200 bottle of Bombay Sapphire (which I must point out was complementary or i'd have been on the tap waters) which came with plenty of bottles of tonic, and settled into the elegantly decorated area we were to call our base for the evening. We had our own cocktail waitress ready to attend to our every whim, and were spoilt with free "mixed shots" which tasted like j2o... delicious none the less though! 

A bottle of gin deep (between 5 of us) we then ordered a few rounds of tequila shots (10 in total coming in at just shy of £120!!!!) Time flew and we finally made it to the dance floor (where a good mix of pop and remix tunes were blaring) when all of a sudden the lights were brightening and the music stopped and it was time to leave, and it was only 2am. So much for my 8 hours sleep!

It was a great night, though I don't think i'll be returning too soon simply because I can't afford to. Entrance is about £15-20 each, drinks are all over a tenner and i'm just more of a jeans and trainers than a bodycon dress and sky high stilettos kinda gal. But it was awesome to get to give it a try! This is the best place to go if you're really celebrating something... like a big birthday... or a lottery win.

A stunningly beautiful venue. Richard Branson's famous bar is both style and substance. Lots of little areas to explore around the gardens.. You may even bump into a few flamingos along the way! The bar serves delicious breakfasts and snacks throughout the day. It's not cheap but the setting makes you feel like you are far away from the City and the views are impressive.

Forget queuing up on a night out, enjoy the scenery and appreciate the views on a sunny summer lunch break whilst savouring rose petal cocktails with lychee foam

Write a review...Thinking about it now, why do rooftop venues have such buzz-worthy appeal? Do people like getting high in all manners of speaking? Are they tapping into a primal instinct to scope out the horizon? Perhaps I'm overthinking it. I guess, simply, people like to see a pretty view at high altitude. From the comfort of reasonably secure terrace of course. 

Rooftop cinemas, rooftop bars, rooftop restaurants, rooftop gardens...the list goes on. The Roof Gardens at Kensington offers all of these, with the highlight being the gardens. 

Taking the elevator to the top, you'll arrive at the main bar indoors (handy if it decides to rain). Once outside, the gardens are quite extensive and well-maintained, meaning it is the perfect venue for a large event or several smaller events.

However remember we are at Kensington. Be prepared to pay around £5.50 for a 330ML bottle of Peroni - not something I was prepared for! Sometimes on the weekend they run a barbecue. Last time I was there they offered burgers and salads, at reasonable taste and price. 

So while the food/drink ain't cheap, just remember you're paying for the gorgeous venue.

I've only been here on two occasions, the drinks aren't cheap but the open air part of the venue is really nice. Make sure you go on a sunny day, and enjoy a cocktail with the sunset. Make sure you're on a guestlist though, its hard to get in with out that. Or simply make a reservation for their restaurant or something. I haven't tried their food yet, but when they have evening events they usually have a stand making burgers that look and smell amazing.