‘I visited London’s newest music venue – the future of small clubs is frightening’

I went to London’s newest music venue to see if the city’s late-night culture can survive — after spending £20 on one drink, I’m not convinced.

Anyone who has gone on a night out in London recently will have been told that small and late-night venues are struggling to stay afloat.

While the disappearance of independent live music spaces is a big focus, nightclubs are also under pressure thanks to noise restrictions and the downfall of drinking culture.

Even legendary nightclub Corsica Studios recently revealed it is shutting its doors next year, with noise complaints and dwindling profit rumoured to be a factor.

So it was refreshing to hear that a brand new late-night space was opening in the heart of Marylebone, simply called 77 (Seventy-Seven).

With a capacity of just 550 people — similar to Corsica’s size — the venue is tucked away beneath the BoTree Hotel with an unassuming front for those in the know.

I left the house anticipating a wild night out that raged until 3am with Skepta as my soundtrack but was a little underwhelmed.

Visually, it’s got all: a classic laser light show with air jets and LED screens covering the walls and ceiling, showing various graphics, all easily viewed from both ground and the mezzanine levels.

The sound quality was also impressive, with the DJ booth featuring prominently in the dance space, so you are mere inches away from whoever is on the decks.

That DJ was beloved rapper Skepta when I went to 77, who put on a good set for two hours, but even that wasn’t enough to move the masses.

Since Skepta hadn’t been introduced and didn’t speak to the crowd, it was hard to tell if the club-goers even realised he was on stage.

My suspicion was confirmed by one woman who was desperate to show him her ‘marry me’ sign written on her phone but had no clue he was performing.

Most had their phones out filming him, while others stood around facing the decks and barely moving at all or chatting while sitting on the (bottle service only) sofas.

And here lies the crux of the issue with modern clubs — we’ve forgotten how to let go, have fun, and just dance.

Pressure to always be cool mixed with fear of being filmed and mocked online means we’d rather stand around like sardines than just enjoy ourselves.

77 had the right elements for a fun environment, but in its strive to be sleek and modern, the warmth and personality went a little astray.

Then again, maybe it’s simply that they hadn’t had enough to drink to let loose, which is highly possible when you consider the prices.

‘I can’t believe how expensive the drinks are,’ a couple who were visiting from Dublin, Ireland — and had paid £40 each to enter — told me.

They were right. My double rum and cola set me back £20, with no single-shot prices visible on the menu. The mixer by itself was almost the price of a pint elsewhere.

Most people had clearly paid for bottle service, with the many sofas and tables surrounding the dancefloor showing that this premium option is what 77 is focusing on.

That being said, the ticket prices for events start from £20, which is fairly standard in London; it just depends on who is performing and the level of service you’re willing to pay for.

The couple I spoke to had not paid for bottle service, raising an odd issue — the only space to sit was on three sofas near the staircase, outside of the dancefloor.

It’s a shame that the energy put into the captivating screens and stage set-up fell away quickly, with the space filled with plain black sofas, a nondescript bar, and a spiral staircase to a near-identical mezzanine floor.

I don’t think this air of premium neutrality is the fault of the club at all but rather a direct outcome of the suffocating arts culture in the city.

77 is pitching itself as an exclusive venue, giving the impression it’s where your favourite influencer might go to catch a DJ set — it is, after all, in Marylebone.

I wanted so desperately to love this venue, to find a new place to take my friends and maybe dive deeper into electronic or house music, but sadly, it’s just a little lifeless.

Maybe that’s the truth of nightlife in London at the moment: we’re too obsessed with the influencer aesthetics that the regular people living here have been forgotten.

While 77 is a hopeful step for those who can afford it, London’s late-night ecosystem is still crumbling around them.

It’s impossible to have a thriving culture — both late night and regular hours — if nobody there is willing to bring the place to life.

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