Whatever your resolutions for 2015, it is so not time to jump on the wagon yet. London always has a wealth of spectacular events on offer to help you see out the old year in style… so whether you’re looking for a long night of Bacchanalian hedonism, a rather more demure evening of culture and cuisine or even if you fancy going the whole traditional hog(manay), here are some Townfish tips for an unforgettable celebration of auld lang syne.
1. Ultimate Power vs Guilty Pleasures- Hullaballoo
Best get the air guitar lessons in now- this December 31ST, The Forum in Kentish Town is hosting the ultimate clash of fist pumping power ballads versus the absolute stinkiest Stilton of cheesy pop pleasures. Whether you be Whitesnake or Wham, join these two club night powerhouses for a raucous riot of acrobats, bands, dancers, musical bingo and of course, oodles of absolutely awesome over the top tuneage
2. Dark Circus
What do you get when you mix the minds behind the prohibition-era cocktail bar ‘Bourne & Hollingsworth’ with the chieftains of fetish ‘Torture Garden’? An invitation to run away and join the circus that’s what! Pack your trunk and say goodbye to the real world- it’s time to enter a surreal and subversive wonderland of freakshows, pole dancers, crops and corsets. Succumb to your senses, sometimes being bad is so terribly good.
3. Blues Kitchen- Tarantino Special
Get memorising the infamous Samuel L Jackson ‘Ezekiel 25:17’ speech as the Blues Kitchen prepares for a New Years Eve ‘Tarantino Special’ at its Shoreditch venue- surf bands, ‘pretty f**king good’ five dollar shakes and twist contests abound on a night that is 100% guaranteed to have the sweetest soundtrack in town.
Fancy dress isn’t obligatory but hey, who doesn’t want to dress as the Bride or Mickey Knox?
4. Elegant Courses at City Social
If NYE is a handy excuse to gorge yourself silly on the finest of foods then look no further than City Social. Up on the 24th floor of Tower 42, take in the vista of the City as the Michelin starred Jason Atherton & co guide you through a playful six course menu to ring in the new year. Tuck into a Newlyn line caught cod, salted cod brandade, chorizo, baby squid with squid ink aioli or get your meat fix with an impeccable Lake District Beef fillet, braised shin, fondant potato, red wine sauce and black perigord truffles. NYE has never been so gourmet!
5.Bavarian NYE
As 2014 moves steadily into 2015, get stuck into gargantuan steiners of the finest beer this side of Deutschland at the Bavarian Beerhouse in Tower Hill. With a buffet for those who don’t adhere to the ‘eating is cheating’ rule, dance the night away to German and international hits as authentically-clad waiting staff keep the booze flowing. Not long until ‘Dry January’, best get the beers in whilst you can.
6. Black Tie Masquerade Ball
NYE used to be all about the ritz, glitz and glamour… something that Kettners in Soho is hoping to bring back in opulent abundance with their Black Tie Masquerade Ball. In homage to the grand Venetian masked extravaganzas, burlesque, cabaret, live music and DJs keep the glamour going to the wee hours in the most fabulous of Georgian surroundings. Feeling peckish? You can even enjoy supper in the very restaurant where Queen Victoria’s son wined & dined the actress Lillie Langtry. To revel in an atmosphere that has soaked up nearly 150 years of bohemian hedonism, make Kettners your celebratory port of call this New Years.
7. The Medieval Banquet
It can be difficult on this particular night to find something to keep the kids happy but look no further, here be an event for all manner of bawdy peasants. Eat, drink and be merry as your own personal wench serves a six course medieval banquet with unlimited ale for the elders- two hours of knights, jugglers and acrobats will be followed by much tomfoolery until the wee hours. Don’t happen to have a jerkin in your wardrobe? Not to worry, for you can rent costumes for all on the night. Now get booking, you mewling, notty-pated hedgepigs.
8. New Year at the Finsbury
For a night of sweaty headbanging and all-round rock ‘n’ roll debauchery, the New Years Eve event at the Finsbury is one of the raddest options on offer. A cheap as chips party for the local moshheads, this music pub will play host to a long, loud night of DJing from the Coolness, a special appearance by Guns 2 Roses and some roof shaking sets from London rock upstarts such as HOO HAs, Jingo and Legend in Japan.
9. Electronicsessions Boat Party
Known for throwing the boat parties to end all boat parties, Electronicsessions are switching the gauge up a notch for NYE 2015 as they take to the highway and byways of the Thames for a right good river-based rave. Joe Varni will be bearing gifts of seriously hard-hitting house music to see you on your way and the icing on the cake? You’ll be able to watch the spectacular annual firework display right there from the boat for no extra cost. What do you think of that Boris?
10. Alternative Ceilidh
If you fancy attending a traditional yet undeniably rowdy Ceilidh with a distinctly London twist, you’d best get yourself down to Hackney Downs studios for your Hogmanay celebrations. Combining the atmosphere of an authentic Gaellic dance with some serious urban beats, there’s also the promise of Scottish-themed cocktails. Here’s hoping for a Buckfast-based Black Russian eh? This is clubbing… but not as we know it.