The ViewBristol Review
Bored of the same Chelsea clubs hitting the headlines? Aren’t we all? Time for something subtle but sexy. Embargo 59 fills a gap for the groomed and pristine few who were brought up, not dragged up.The VenueFor Chelsea, Embargo 59 is subtly situated and shies away from the ostentatious, look at me locations of its main competition. Just before you hit New Kings Road, the club’s darkened entrance can be spied on a side road. A few minutes from the nearest tube station - Fulham Broadway - the club’s patrons are unlikely to be using anything but the finest forms of carriage. It’s definitely a taxi location.
Through the door and up the stairs takes you straight into the action. The club room is open and lined with a long grey stone bar that spans the back of the room. Raised platforms hold flat, cream cushioned seating and low tables with a single dim red globe to light each group. The party piece has to be the chequered, multicolour, lit-up dance floor – totally retro and not as demure and stylish as the rest of the decor, hinting at a cheeky side.
Pass through the throng and out to the side. There, dripping in gold beads and Champagne colours, is the VIP Gold Room, lending a little luxury to an occasion. The private bar houses its own humidor and adjoins the terrace where patrons purchasing fine Cuban cigars can indulge in a smoke. The beautiful sheltered terrace is a special treat, one of the largest on the Kings Road and enclosed by planted beds and mirrors for preening.
The AtmosphereThe week night set is a distinctly young crowd, but weekends draw in a slightly older clientele. Pampered, up and coming sloaney girls, groomed to within an inch of their foundation, mingle with their public school counterparts. The club and terrace alike are a frenzy of tanned limbs, flirty smiles and holiday catch up shrieking, with not one single serious conversation to be had. The whole club pulses with an air of an excited party.
The MusicWhen it comes to pleasing this crowd, the DJs must ask themselves the question: what do you get someone who’s got everything? Luckily, they come up with the answer with a choice of dance floor fillers, ageless commercial dance and occasional RnB hits, and are rewarded with I-love-this-one squeals from made-up young beauties. Girls and guys even manage to tear themselves away from their tireless mwah mwahing to wriggle and pose to the party classics.
The DrinkIf ever there was a party spirit, rum would be it, and Embargo 59 gives the drink due attention. A devoted section details a locational array from Cuba and Mauritius to Venezuela. Notable options are the dark, Jamaican molasses Myer’s, Appleton’s Estate and the honey and spice St Lucian Chairman’s Reserve. Of course, the best way to drink it is shaken with something fruity and the cocktail list serves up a storm with rum cocktails and punches.
Appropriately, The Beach (£6.95) might be the best place to start, with 10 Cane Rum, mango, ginger and maraschino liqueur whizzed into a sumptuous shake. A sharp shot of lemon juice with Barrel Proof Havana Club is also amazing – the very precise Revolution (£8.95) could please even the most dictatorial of customer. That said, the sharp and tangy tastes are few and the list is heavy with sweet options, particularly when ordering a punch bowl.
Priced at £40 and sized to share, the Bonnevista is sweet from the rum, too sherbert-like from the Cointreau and a tad sickly dusted with nutmeg. The Tony Montana, with a bottle of Cristal, Amaretto, Cointreau and the obligatory trinket (something Swarovski) is also on the list for those who think they’re going somewhere. If you prefer your drinks straight up then choosing between the premium spirits could be a tough task. The sexy Sipsmith’s London gin pretty much selects itself. The husky-voiced choice is dry and laced with liquorice and lemon peel. It's certain to win over honeys who hear Embargo 59 is the first stockist. One to be seen with.
The Last WordProving they aren’t just another club with a double-barrelled guest list and a Chelsea price tag, Embargo 59 has treated the Kings Road to something more exciting.
Embargo 59 has been reviewed by 10 users