But fabric rips so easily... (Fabric in general)

Name: spacelamb

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Product:	Fabric in general
Date:	30/01/01 (80 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great DJs, no difficult doormen

Disadvantages: layout, bar prices, queue time

I'm very confused about the popularity of Fabric. That isn't to say I haven't enjoyed the nights out I've had there because I have, but I can't fathom the scale of people's praise for it. To me it's a very average venue with a good PR department and that is the main reason so many people consider it the 'coolest' club in the city.

In their favour they do have excellent line-ups on a regular basis, and good high-profile regulars such as James Lavelle, Grooverider and the Scratch Perverts. They leave no genre of dance music unrepresented, and they're very cool about the crowd they let in (there's no dress code at all). I have no music-related complaints...

HOWEVER...

My main issue with Fabric is the layout, which is really confusing. I've been four or five times now and have only just figured out how the rooms, bars, cloakrooms and staircases seem to fit together. I know it's a big venue, and that it's dark, and that it's full of people, but there are no helpful arrows or signs. Do I sound like someone's mum??

The other thing is that because of its popularity, it is always full 'to capacity' - to me it has always seemed a bit too full. If you arrive any time after 11.30 you literally cannot get onto a dance floor for people happily elbowing each other in the eyes/ribs/whatever. ALSO if you arrive any time after 11.30 you are very likely to be queueing outside until around 2am before you are let in. Which does beg the question, is it worth it?

Bars in big clubs are always expensive, because they know they can charge what they like and people will just accept it, but Fabric really is cheeky. They also seem to charge a bit randomly - I have been charged between £1.50 and £3 for a bottle of water on the same night, and always check your change - the best tips tend to come from people with distorted vision...dear me, I am being a cynical old witch. I apologi
se, but I'm sure this has been done to me.

The security is very slack, which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you do for fun - there are no door checks at all and it seems exceptionally easy to buy and sell drugs in the club.

Usually admission is between £10-15, and based solely on the DJs they have I would say this normally represents good value for money. A lot of other factors are really patience-testing though - I'd say give it a try at least once, because a lot of people really seem to rate it, but get there early!

Summary: