Each Halloween, London seems to host an ever-expanding roster of club nights and this year is no exception — there’s a blood-stained bucket load.
Not least because this time round, the scariest day of the year falls on a Thursday, meaning venues can get away with hosting Halloween-themed club nights the weekend before, on the day itself and the following weekend, without raising too many eyebrows.
It does also mean that should you want to get a second wear out of that Beetlejuice costume, you can. Dressing up without the anxiety? God bless the undead.
Should the spookiest of nights not call for nightmare-fuelled dress-up, then fret not: there are kinky evenings for leather lovers, a Matrix-inspired option for futurists and even a night out for those who don’t feel like dressing up at all.
Clubbed to Death at the Standard
This Halloween, the Standard Hotel is reviving Nineties party-core with a Matrix inspired bash across both Townhouse 9 and Sweeties. Take the red pill (the red lift, actually) to follow the rabbit, with what they describe as a glitch-fuelled gritty bender of para-reality and long leathers. Redolent of the nightclub scene at the start of the first Matrix movie, with Agent Smith-inspired office core get-ups, this night is best enjoyed after donning your finest futurist.
Elrow x Boomtown at Drumsheds
Broadwick Live
This year the lineup for the Drumsheds Halloween special looks better than ever. Elrow and Boomtown have put this one together, with Claptone back-to-back with Solardo, supported by the likes of Eats Everything and Ben Hemsley. Bass fans can expect floor-fillers from Born on Road and Deekline ft. Killa P, while sets from Cheetah, George Privatti, and Kink “live” are set to raise the roof. Only Sunday tickets are left, so act fast.
This one is geared up for fans of techno and house, with Sam Supplier, Mark Radford and James Trystan headlining a techy treat. The haunted house theme is far more than a strapline: high-tech 3D projectors are set to display a series of immersive imagery upon the various E1 rooms, promising an absorbing and head-spinning night. The state of the art mapping and lighting might be more than a little trippy, with the zombie Halloween fashion show hosted by I LOVE FASHION catwalk DJs offering the very best of spooky season.
£5.50, October 31, Pennington Street, E1W 2BB, ra.co
Electric Brixton Halloween Ball
Act fast if you’re keen for this one: it has sold out six years on the bounce and is guaranteed to sell out this year too. The near 2,000 capacity venue will be jumping this Halloween with a huge host of stage performers and the Brixton Killer’s very own trick-or-treat station. Themed cocktails will keep things going alongside DJ martin2smoove, who is set to play to revellers until about 4am. Don’t miss this one.
£10, October 31, Electric Brixton, SW2 1RJ, dice.fm
TG Halloween Ball at Scala
This year, Torture Garden and Scala are collaborating a whopping four Halloween parties over two weekends, ensuring that no one misses out on not only one of the best Halloween parties in town, but the UK’s leading fetish nightclub producers too. At this one in Scala, Torture Garden advise “there’s no specific theme for this one, so you have free reign to embrace the Halloween fetish alter-ego that suits you best!” So, don your leathers and get ready for a kinky night of Halloween naughtiness across multiple dance floors, a dungeon and naturally, a couples room.
£38, October 26, Pentonville Road, N1 9NL, scala.co.uk
Prophet Magazine Halloween party at Cafe Koko
An altogether less ghoulish affair, the Prophet Magazine party at Cafe Koko promises a more laid back Halloween experience. Yes, there’ll no doubt be dressing up, but it’ll be more subtle, more chic; less Joker face paint and fake blood. Yellowlabz, Cheyselcta, and Sithgod are bringing the hip hop, house and amapiano beats in the pleasingly casual Cafe Koko setting.
£10, October 31, 74 Crowndale Road, NW1 1TP, koko.co.uk
Hip Hop Halloween at Sway
Sway bar in Holborn is hosting the return of the Hip Hop Halloween party, from producers Milkshake by Ministry of Sound, after something like a five-year hiatus. Less geared for raving and more for rapping, expect hits from Kanye, Snoop, Drake, DA BABY and plenty more besides.
From £4, October 31, Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BZ, dice.fm
FUTURE x Protocol Halloween: Nicky Romero at Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound is set to host a handful of Halloween club nights, but Nicky Romero headlining on October 25 is the one to opt for. Set to be the biggest night of the bunch, electronic, commercial EDM, dance and house are all on the table as revellers get their freak on. Make a little effort and dress up, this one will be big.
Scary Things Halloween at Colour Factory
The Hackney nightlife venue is a mecca for party-goers seeking for one of the very best club nights in town and this scary season, it brings back the beloved Scary Things Halloween party for its third year. Awards and prizes await the best dressed, judged by the in-house team, with hip hop, dance and commercial beats keeping the party going till the wee hours of the morning.
Tickets £10, October 25, Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN, ra.co