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Everyone knows about the big-hitting NYE parties – but what if you’re searching for something else this New Year’s Eve? Fear not, as we’ve unearthed 21 alternative gems around the city. And don’t forget there are plenty more options over on our main New Year’s Eve parties page. And for those who want to keep going – don’t forget New Year’s Day parties too!
EAST LONDON
Just Juice: NYE in the Jungle
Get tropical in Shoreditch as a basement is transformed into a rainforest with vines and animals, plus grime, bass and bashment. Applebottom will be DJing and bass-fiend Plastician will be exploring funkier pastures with a boogie set.
Queen of Hoxton. 8pm-4am. £15-£20.
New Year’s Eve at The Cat & Mutton
Don’t want to spend a fortune? Pay a fiver, head to this lovely watering hole, grab pub grub and dance to funk, hip hop and bangers until 4am. Hello 2016, and hello in-credit bank balance! You rare beast.
The Cat & Mutton. 7pm-4am. £5.
NYE v NYC
It’s all about New York City here, with a soundtrack of strictly NYC bands: Blondie, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Beastie Boys – plus beer pong. All yours for just a fiver.
Shacklewell Arms. 7pm-3am. £5.
R&She
Popular with gay crowds, this always-roadblocked party will be ushering in New Year with a fantastically female playlist exploring the many ladies of R&B – think Aaliyah to Blu Cantrell to Whitney Houston. If you want to fuel your dancing beforehand, there are also tickets that include a two-or three-course meal at the venue’s Cuban restaurant.
Tipsy. 10pm-5am. £12-£15 (£25-£28 with meal).
Percolate’s NYE Party
Despite the name, there’s no time to sit and brew here – how could you when Floating Points, Levon Vincent and Tama Sumo will be igniting the dancefloor with fiery house and mindblowingly deep disco?
Shapes. 9pm-6am. £40.
Daddy’s Got Sweets
NORTH LONDON
Applebum
This lively night of hip hop cuts and R&B slow jams has both the tunes and vibes of a premium party, but without the hefty price tag attached. Bump ’n’ grind to the sounds of Montell Jordan, Naughty By Nature, 3LW and Ashanti, spun by DJs J-Train, Little Prince, Mister Bounce and Queen Shi Shi.
The Garage. 9pm-4am. £5-£10.
Black & White Masquerade Ball
Don a mask and get stuck into the fun – not in an ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ sense, mind, we’re talking dancefloor fun, you filthsters. Held at the hippest of hangouts, this masquerade party is about disco and mirrorballs rather than dogging and sweaty balls, but you’ll still start 2016 out of breath, smiling and wholly satisfied.
Dead Doll’s House Islington. 7pm-6am. £25.
NYE Karaokethon
Sing hard, sing true or just sing really, really LOUD at this event that’ll appeal to both karaoke veterans and casual crooners. Enjoy three whole floors and four rooms dedicated to belting out everything from power ballads to rap anthems to Britney’s finest (that’s ‘Toxic’, FYI). DJs will also be on hand to give singers some breathing room between songs.
Star of Kings. 8pm-3am. £10.
White Heat Dance Party
Lose your shiz on the floor to all kinds of invigorating sounds and riotous fun, courtesy of the White Heat crew. As ever, the residents and Night Train DJs will be hoofing out disco, alt rock and indie bangers at a dizzying rate and the dancefloor will be a guaranteed glorious, mess. This one always sells out, so get ticket-buying right now if you want in on the action – which you really should do.
The Lexington. 9pm-4am. £15.
SOUTH LONDON
The Bird’s Nest New Year’s Eve
Thirty-five hours of bands, DJs, a happy hour at midnight, a NYD breakfast at 9am for those who can hack it, free entry and a brilliant, unspoilt Deptford boozer: if you want more than this you’re a greedy sod and will never be truly happy.
The Bird’s Nest. Noon, Dec 31 – 11pm, Jan 1. Free.
How Does It Feel to Be Loved?
The long-running indie night parks up in Peckham, supplying the kind of indie-pop, Motown and vintage grooves that we’ve all come to love it for. Paul Rains of Allo Darlin’ DJs.
The Montague Arms. 9pm-5am. £10.
Soundtracks: Tarantino Special
‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘Kill Bill’ and probably not ‘Four Rooms’ come to life at the club night which maxes out on movie soundtracks. You’ll be able to buy $5 shakes and damn tasty burgers, and there are hefty cash and booze prizes for costumes. Bonus points for dressing in a gimp suit.
The Exhibit. 8pm-4am. £50 with meal, £25 party only.
Moondance
If you’re more ‘Oi oi!’ than ‘Auld Lang Syne’, get lost in the jungle at this old-school-style bash, where Drumsound and Bassline Smith, Ragga Twins and Uncle Dugs will be rinsing drum ’n’ bass, rave, digital dub and other full-on flavours.
The Coronet. 8pm-6am. £25.
Jonathan Owen
WEST LONDON
New Year’s Eve Brazilian Carnival
West London not glamorous enough for you? Hit this Rio de Janeiro-style party and channel your inner carnivalgoer. There’ll be lashings of Latin funk and shedloads of samba, plus a champagne reception and midnight confetti blasts.
Notting Hill Arts Club. 6pm-2am. £15.
Plastic Factory
If you’re in west London but looking to dodge the high-end scene and high-end prices, climb aboard The Good Ship. There’ll be live bands plus DJs spinning northern soul and freakbeat. Simple, but super-fun.
The Good Ship. 7pm-4am. £5-£10.
Star Wars: The Disco Awakens
Sure, the Force helps you wield a lightsaber, but can it help you find dancefloor nirvana? There’s one way to find out – head to this lighthearted ‘Star Wars’-themed bash and dance your Jedi ass off like Yoda on a speed bender.
The Masons Arms. 9pm-3am. £10.
Paradise New Year’s Eve Masked Ball
Ensure a suitably lavish entry into 2016 at a beautiful pub-cum-club-cum-restaurant. Dress sharp to make a killer first impression, then forget all that while you knock back rum and dance on the tables.
Paradise by Way of Kensal Green. 8.30pm-4.30am. £25.
Kerri Lee Smith
CENTRAL LONDON
Electric Dreams
Enter 2016 through a wave of synth-laden electronic bliss from Soft Cell, Depeche Mode and Visage. Channel the ’80s and power-dress when choosing your outfit – think shoulder pads and sequins.
The London Stone. 10pm-4am. £10.
NYE House Party
Two top party teams – club crew Southern Hospitality and rap superstars Hip Hop Karaoke – host a joint bash over two floors. Live out your rap fantasies with HHK and rhyme Snoop out of the business, then kick back and hear how the actual pros do it as SH residents spin the jams – the very best of both worlds!
The Social. 7pm-4am. £15-£20.
Sounds Familiar
More ramshackle quizzing at a popular central London boozer. The Sounds Familiar team are old hands at hosting great events, so sit back and enjoy the musically quizzical action and a lot of larking around and good-natured boozing.
Jerusalem (W1T). 6pm-3am. £17 (individual ticket)-£200 (team of six).
A Vintage New Year’s Eve Party
A decade-hopping extravaganza as the Royal Festival Hall turns into an arena of pop-up fun. There’ll be ’30s and ’40s entertainment in the Torch Club, a Soul Casino, ’60s scenes galore in The Pick-up Joint, a tiki bar, a vintage hair and beauty salon and The Warehouse, where you can get your rave on via Ashley Beedle and Earl Gateshead.
Southbank Centre. 7pm-2am. £10.
Hanson Leatherby
Still haven’t found your perfect party? Check out even more events on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.