Club 701

A joke - I wanted to give 0 stars

I was hired to Perform last night at a show at this venue. My boss rented out the venue and paid to have it to ourselves, including the cost of the venue and security.

The way we where treated was shocking and disgusting form the minuet we entered. (Even before as we where refused entry multiple times) In 10 years I have never been ID Checked, bag searched, and refused a jacket to my own job. I was not there as a customer but as a trained professional performer.

We had to fight to have a female search our work bags full of lingerie and then had a fight to take our jackets in. (I’m not going in wearing lingerie without a coat for safety and any security guard caring about my safety would understand this). After being surrounded by 5 male members of staff I then had a bar staff member in my face constantly flash a torch in my eyes when I HAVE SEIZURES. She was repeatedly asked to stop and didn’t. I then had another member of staff man handle my friend who was also performing while they checked her bag.

The women who was running the night had sent a list of what was expected from the venue and gave them a chance to read and respond or add to it. They did not. So any “enforcements” could have been told to our company before hand!

I have managed a RNB night club myself, worked and visited many in and around london and never ever have I seen or even herd of a jacket rule being enforced EVER.
And if you are forced to do something like that by the council you should not be charging for it.

You don’t have a sex licence to have strippers in the past on your Instagram yet have had them so why In force a coat rule so much. Pick and choose I say.

Considering we where paying to be there and paying people’s wages for the night. We would think we could of gotten better reception.

Never using this venue again and will be telling other companies I know who wish to book.

Absolutely terrible. Bar service is extremely slow with no sense of urgency from staff.

The security are awful and extremely rude I’ve never experienced such rude staff at a venue. I literally did not even want to enter the building due to the behaviour of security but had no choice as it was my friends birthday.

You are forced to put your jacket in the cloakroom I have never experienced this ever! This is clearly a scam to pull in more money.

Such a shame because I’d love to support this black run business but they never receive another penny from me. The worst hospitality I have ever experienced.

Surprised these guys are still in business.

Honestly, I don't understand why we had to pay 20 pounds to get in? The DJ talked WAY too much, we couldn't even enjoy the music. At face value it appeared the dress code was strict, but it wasn't. Guys were wearing durags, women wearing shoes... It's more for the 18-24 year old crowd in my humble opinion. Not worth 20 pounds.

I love this club. Been coming here for the past couple of years . The atmosphere is great. Everyone enjoying themselves and the DJs are great. I come here for the dancehall music and u never been let down. Security is strict but polite. I Iove the airy smoking area. I am from West London and feel very safe at this South London club. I definitely recommend you come here if you like your bashment/dancehall music. I am heading there now 😃!

Main concern: Lacks security.
Other issues: DJ talks too much (tried to be an MC) and entry fee is way too high for what the place is.

No sense of security: Security generally lackadaisical and no visible presence inside the venue or in the smoking area - this place really does need good security considering some of the questionable clientele. On entry, they carried out a frisk search which was so incomplete they might as well not have bothered. On the night I went, present was a large group of young men with a number of them wearing full face balaclavas and at one point entered the DJ booth to intimidate the DJ into playing 'drill' music - which noone wants to hear on a night out (apart from that group of course). It appeared as if the group were looking for trouble and there was no security intervention, are your security colleagues afraid to do their job or are they just not paid enough?

Minor issues: DJ plays good music but cuts in way too much over the music to speak, almost trying to be an MC which he's not actually great at. Also, £20 entry fee for this type of venue on Old Kent Road - really?

I went there on the 23rd of December 2022 for a good night out

So let's start with the good points
1. My date looked super hot 🔥 🥰
2. The music was banging 🎶
3. There was a 24-hour McDonald's next door, and you will see why important later

Now for the bad points
1. On flyer it said 10pm to 4am and as I was working on Saturday I wanted to get in early as was not planning on staying until 4am, now it wasn't open at 10pm OK I have been to enough clubs to know most don't open on time. So off to McDonald's to sit in the warm to wait for club to open, club was not open at 10:30 😱 or 11pm come on now someone is taking the P, the club opened at 11:30pm now normally I would be gone but we had got tickets in advance so pretty much had to wait. Also no one said sorry for the late opening.
2. Cost of putting in your coat is different from cash to card, now come on who carry cash now days
3. On the flyer there was a dress code smart casual 😂🤣😂 there was no point so many people were wearing trainers I thought I was at the gym, as well as hats, tracksuits, hoodie etc. Now I don't mind what people wear but don't put one thing on the flyer and do another on the night.
4. £10 minimum at the bar for paying with cards, yet again I say who carrys cash now days

So my final words on the night out are it was a good night out(thanks to my date and the music), and I'm not saying I will never go there again but definitely will not get there early 🤣

This place here is absolutely appalling, shocking I don’t even know how such a place can be open in 2022 it’s got the worse security man who thinks his the boss / owner and an awful clock room assistant who’s got no class/ personality at all ! He basically decides what he wanst to charge people! With some its 2 and some it’s £3 I will not recommend I will never even bother not worth it at all

Easy bus routes to get there..
Staff were good.. services were excellent..