OPERA CAMDEN! (The Camden Palace)

Member Name: Crypzy

Product:	The Camden Palace
Date:	28/04/01 (373 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant Atmosphere

Disadvantages: Expensive as always!

The first time I ever went clubbing in London, it was to Camden Palace. People had told me that you hadn’t been clubbing properly until you’d been to London, so Camden it was.

We arrived outside at about 12 midnight. The night we went was called Peach on a Friday. It cost £9 before 11pm and £12 after. This is about average for a London club. The queue was quite big and we had to wait at least ½ hour. I was so nervous in the queue – I was only 17 so I didn’t know if they’d let me in or not. Luckily I had no trouble, probably due to the low cut top, or maybe not I thought as I saw a mass of young looking faces everywhere. I was searched quite thoroughly and I tried not to make a face as she felt under my bra. But I do understand they don’t want drugs inside.

After walking through the foyer I dumped my stuff in the cloakroom (£1.50 per item). Then, I walked through the double doors into “my first proper club”. I had to stop and stare because I found myself standing on a balcony overlooking 1500 clubbers below me, dancing in union to the ever so loud music. The music was house and trance with resident DJ Graham Gold. I have to admit, my tastes have changed since then but it was good at the time.

This was when I was told that Camden Palace used to be an opera house, which explained all the balconies. There was still the stage at the front, full of clubbers dancing wildly. The DJ booth was behind the stage overlooking the clubbers. People were everywhere, dancing on the speakers and hanging from the balconies!

The first thing that struck me was the glowsticks. Everywhere I looked someone was waving glowsticks about and it appeared I was the only person without them. After buying my glowsticks – I had to go back outside to get them from some bloke – I found the toilets. At first, I wasn’t sure if they even were the toilets as everyone appeared to be laying around on the f
loor, and as to what sex they were for – God knows. There were an equal number of boys and girls everywhere. When I say boys and girls, there couldn’t have been anyone over the age of 21 unless you were security. But this suited me fine considering I was only 17.

Some mad gurning girl came up to me and said how wonderful it was that I was a Camden virgin. I just grinned at her and tried to avoid the overflowing sinks that were stuffed with flyers. It wasn’t exactly dirty, just a downright mess everywhere, but I normally judge a club on atmosphere and music. So far, I’d only been in the club 10 minutes and had already met about 10 people. Everyone was really friendly, there was a sort of youth club feel to the place but at least there was no trouble.

One thing I really like about Camden is the stairs and corridors everywhere. It is quite easy to get lost and run into the random spliff smokers huddled into the corners.
Considering the searches, there were a lot of drugs in the club. There seemed to be someone dotted on each corner mumbling “pills” under their breath as you walked past. I must have got offered pills at least 6 times.

There are several bars and a food bar. As expected, drinks are a rip-off so buy a bottle of water and fill it up from the tap. There is a tiny extra room upstairs that holds about 30 people – this isn’t even worth looking into – the main dancefloor is big enough. The lighting effects were quite impressive, they have lasers at Camden and really good effects were created on the dancefloor. There is a lot of interesting decor about, check out the cars in the caves?! There are a lot of places to rest and chill-out. The club is quite cool in temperature too. I even knew someone who got cold once – but she wasn’t dancing.

So if you’re up for meeting lots of young clubbers who are off their faces, go to Peach@Camden Palace. I haven
217;t come across a better atmosphere anywhere else.

Summary: