The CLF Art Cafe

Took the wrong tube, then missed the bus stop on the way here. Nothing like walking around a dark, foreboding London 'hood to get some adrenaline flowing! The 'hood has a very "Massive Attack" / "Aphex Twin" vibe going on - leave Posh Spice at home, she *will* be forced to boogie!

Big place, cool layout given I only saw the courtyard and 2nd floor. Good vibe from bartenders and staff inside, but security will give you the grumps - it's what they do - just be chill!

There's definitely a low-key, community vibe here, says a lot about Peckham, and reminded me of Detroit!

PS. There is a rooftop here with awesome views.

CLF Bussey Is So Good It Should Be Illegal

The South London Soul Train Prince 1 Year Birthday Special 22nd April 2017 had been in my diary for months - This fab venue just 15 minutes walk from my front door is one of my fave clubs in London - Mikey Jazzheadchronic is the key to all this - you have created a winning formula on about what five levels - of course the main event on clubbing nights is always in the main room but there is so much more to explore and my only frustration is that I often want to be in at least three rooms at once - Bussey is so good it should be illegal and to imagine if it was not for a MASSIVE community effort spearheaded by Mickey in 2015 one of the best clubs in London would have been no more - if luxury flats near the venue had been approved Bussey and so much more would have become a memory.

Despite breaking my right ankle in two places just two days before Christmas I managed to last for the duration until 5am.

Mickey has created something so special - often using live bands as part of events and the crowds love the combo. Brother Strut were a previous personal highlight.

At 58 no doubt I am usually what 20 years in advance of anyone - I just LOVE being with a young crowd, and wow does Bussey attract a young crowd - although my sexuality is quite obvious I have NEVER experienced ANY hostility.

A previous highlight was dancing to a Diana Ross Gay Anthem with a female couple who were very 'Out' and Proud - it was so heartwarming that nobody was bothered.

For me the benchmark for a great club is not 'is it gay or str8?' I am looking merely for a good all round vibe, and where security don't get hung up about Dress Code!

I previously responded to a negative review when allegedly a 'friend of a friend' was turned away because he looked 'too gay' - the REALITY is completely the OPPOSITE - I often feel more welcome in 'str8' rather than 'gay' venues. Sorry I hate using the terms but it helps explain the context.

Previously I have been barred THREE times from a well known gay venue that celebrates Disco every week - on the last occasion wearing a tank top and speedos I was instructed by security to 'cover up.'

Ironic that Disco was born by the gay underground movement in New York - hedonism was celebrated, and clothing often very optional - remember Studio 54!

The chemistry of the Bussey crowd is very special - everyone is just there to have a great time, without any attitude. Touch wood in the five years attending I have never seen a fight.
Also the staff and security team are brilliant.

Even though most events are at capacity there is always plenty of space with plenty of chill out areas and seats. This quirky venue has so much character and would fit like a glove in a city like Berlin.

I could go on so much more - but IF what I have shared encourages anyone who has never tried Bussey to GO FOR IT.

TIP 1: Get Early Bird tickets.
TIP 2: Arrive EARLY the Queues are legendary.

I wish I didn't live at the other end of town. The CLF Art Cafe is one of these places I'd love to call my local. It is located in the Bussey Building which is one of these buzzing names I heard mentioned over and over again before finding a good reason for venturing to Peckham Rye.

The fact that I have been only twice in a year says it all, Peckham Rye is just a bit of a trek for me. On both occasions I attended a daytime conference hosted by the Southwark Art Forum - no real buzz from the slightly sleepy staff who are more accustomed to serving cocktails than making coffees (according to the website they don't normally open in the mornings).

While last year, London ground to a halt due to the tube strike, last week the Overground (my lifeline to this part of town) had more trains cancelled than on schedule. It's a lovely building though and I got a sense of what I may be missing out on for not returning for one of their club or comedy nights.

I came here with a few friends for NYE, and while the door staff were horrible to deal with we ended up having a great night in the end.

When we arrived, it was just before 11PM and it took us a couple minutes to talk to the person managing the guest list (he was talking to someone else) but by the time we spoke with him it was 11:03PM, and he didn't want to let us in because we were on the guest list and the gust list closed at 11PM. After trying to negotiate, eventually we were able to go inside. Mind you, at this point there were only about 20 people on the queue and it was still pretty empty inside on all the levels - and it didn't start to get packed till just before midnight.

But that aside, once we were in it was really great! The bar staff were quick, friendly, and efficient (never waited longer than 5 minutes to get served!) and while the prices were steep for the area, they made sense for a NYE bash and weren't high for Central London on a normal night. (£5 for a glass of wine, £4 for a can of Red Strip, £5 for a glass of prosecco) So my purse was happy ;)

I loved that there were so many floors and that every floor had it's own music and vibe and such great artwork projected on the walls and wonderful decorations everywhere! Though on NYE, the basement was my fave: a chilled energy, no bar queue, great music and plenty of room to dance.

However, I wish there were more loos, and that the loos they did have were better maintained. It was so gross.

Still, I'd love to come back here.

4* because the loos were gross (though maybe they aren't like this every night!) and the door staff could have done with being friendlier.

There is no other place in London where you can find such a diverse array of spectacular events under one roof. The building itsself hidden away just off Rye lane opens out into a another world of edgy creatures painstakingly created on all the surrounding walls and is definitely something to check out. They have lots of great monthly nights as well as great one off events, the magic of the CLF art cafe is that once you step through their narnia like doors you have no idea what the interior could be like as it truly is a blank canvas.
From personal opinion I would much rather go out at the bussey building then in surrounding areas such as New cross or going further afield and Shoreditch. London Get to know the CLF art cafe. Truly a great night out every time.

This is a strange building, on at least three if not four levels, used currently for art and music events of varying quality.
When you first approach this place, it is through a narrow passageway off the High Street, that is guarded by two security staff who will check you for any glass or alcohol. When you get to the Bussey Building itself (named after the large advertisements for cricket bat manufacturers Bussey & Co that use to adorn the building), the first thing you are surprised by is the urban artwork and grafitti on the walls, with a huge three-story black and white drawing of a parrot (currently) dominating proceedings.
One's first impression largely thanks to the whole semi-clandestine approach to the building (none of the artwork can be seen from street level) is that one has stumbled across an exciting squat of the type one would expect to find in Berlin or Prague. However, this is where the comparisons sadly end. This is not a squat, but a commercial venture. The building is owned by Peckham Business Park Ltd and is being rented out, legally, for events that are trying to be as underground as possible but, when you consider the prices, are actually pretty overground to be honest.
For a start, when I've been, each floor has been rented out to a different party, each charging £10. Now, while this is a large building, so to have a different price for each floor makes it a very small venue in each case. The middle floor is at least divided into three sections so there could be scope for more than one DJ, but with considerable music bleed.
Prices for drinks are certainly commercial, and expect to pay £3.50 for a can of lukewarm Red Stripe, or £12 for a bottle of cheap and nasty plonk. The worst thing though is the fact that the smoking area, while really nice (in the courtyard as you go in), is three floors down if you happen to be on the upper levels. This is really inconvenient. By the time you have made it back up to the second floor, you want to go back down for another cigarette. A proper underground venue or a squat would have no rules about smoking, of course. However, even though you are led to believe you are entering into an underground paradise, you are being watched by the security guys who will be sure to be most unpleasant if they catch you smoking anywhere other than the courtyard. So, all in all, it doesn't feel very relaxing and the whole thing smacks of being terribly fake. Though the hipsters that attend probably feel they're doing something very edgy. The fools.
The only reason I have gone there is if there are certain DJs I really want to see. The music can be really very good (albeit terribly loud at times so bring earplugs if you value your hearing), and certainly plenty of underground sounds such as psytrance, acid techno and acid house are commonplace. But with the smoking policy, and the smoking area so far away from anywhere, it does not appeal very much to me.
I will be back; I just won't go out of my way. As for the squat scene, I go to plenty of real-life squat parties rather than this anodyne recreation of one.

UPDATE:
I must thank Mickey from CLF Art Cafe for having invited us to see the opera Hansel & Gretel and to stay for the party last Friday, both of which we enjoyed very much. It was a great evening. We became funs of this charming place. Best wishes!!!

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
Thanks to the engineering works taking place all around London we came 10 min late to a play starting at 8pm last night. The white-haired and long-bearded guy at the door, still having his tickets' box and programs on the table, willingly asked us if we wanted to buy tickets. Only when I told him we already bought 5 tickets online, his gestures changed and said we were late and would not let us in because he cannot open the door to the theatre from outside(!), and he didn't have the means to contact someone inside to open (what if there is an emergency! - I asked). I said we had a friend inside who could open the door. He said if she does it, he will not allow her back to the play. He fired "where do you come from? If you don't like it here why don't you go back to your country". I replied "I'm working hard, paying taxes, your pension and health system, while I do not recourse to any public funds". They guy disappeared towards the bar. I would advise anybody to avoid this place. There are other theatres where you can get in after a little while, and where you will find more educated people having contact with the public.