The best venues.

[Lee Bartholomew]

There is prob one out there somewhere but Thought it would be an idea to see what peoples opinion on the best and worst venues.

Thinking of travelling out of Sussex and Kent at some point (not to far though) and taking a look at other classes.

My faves at the mo are ->

Northfleet - Prob one of the best floors I have danced on. Very quick.
Bromley - Some great dancers.
Salomons - The music and people are great.

Worst at mo - >

Croydon - Easier to dance on the carpet than floor. £4 for parking. People were rude and they had Tony Benett or someone playing in the room next door (hour odd to get out of car park due to mass ensemble of 80 year olds trying to find gear (in their cars not drugs))
White Rock Hastings - Wirless mics cross over with whatever is going on upstairs. Great moment though when Derek Acorah came over the speakers during a freestyle. "im getting an S. S? Some here have a decesed relative who's name begins with S? No???? B. Im getting a B".

[TurboTomato]

My faves at the mo are ->

Salomons - The music and people are great.

With you all the way girlfriend :na:



White Rock Hastings - Wirless mics cross over with whatever is going on upstairs. Great moment though when Derek Acorah came over the speakers during a freestyle. "im getting an S. S? Some here have a decesed relative who's name begins with S? No???? B. Im getting a B".

lmao :D

[Lee Bartholomew]

Rochester is looking good.

Will give it a go next week


http://www.cerockent.com/html/images/casino.jpg

[El Salsero Gringo]

Rochester is looking good.

Will give it a go next weekA bit empty, isn't it? Who are you going to dance with? :flower:

[Lee Bartholomew]

The smokes a bit off putting. Is it on fire. Reminds me of Bliss.

I was there in the main room when the alrms went off. A Camber worker came running out of the kitchen, smoke following, saying there was a fire. Later we all got told off because someone had set the fire alarm off for a joke????!!!!!

[WittyBird]

Bromley - Some great dancers.

Shouldn't that be 'Some dancers that are up their own ar$e and cliquey.

Oooh I hate Bromley.

For Freestyles my favs are...

Ashtons
Daventry
Ealing
Slinky's
Twyford

Enjoyed the Derby one a few weeks ago also. Enjoy Hammersmith also.

Really dislike Bromley, Chiswick and the Casbah, but that's my opinion.

[Lee Bartholomew]

Alot of people say that about bromley but have never found that to be the case. I know one female dancer that is like that there but have found in general it is friendly.

Was talking to someone about this on Sunday. they were saying that as there is a huge intake of new people over the last 6 months. Think also because Virginia was running it, I can see how it could have possibley gained that title. Not that Virginia is cliquey. Infact Demo'ing with her this Thursday at Bromley.

The only downside is, like most venues, It gets busy.

[Frankie_4711]

~SNIP~ Northfleet - Prob one of the best floors I have danced on. Very quick. ~SNIP~

Have to agree, Northfleet is a very nice venue, not only for the floor - has a nice atmosphere too.


Rochester is looking good.
Will give it a go next week


Don't want to put you off, but if you like a fast floor you ain't gonna like Rochester! It's a non-slip nightclub floor - you can barely move your feet on it let alone spin. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of good things about this new venue, but you are gonna need super smooth soles to go anywhere! Think there might be some kind of plan to put some talc down next week ...

Why not come and try Sittingbourne - nice floor, high stage so you can see everything, spacious, plenty of free parking, decent bar prices, relaxed friendly atmosphere, good music, great teacher and crew ...

[Lee Bartholomew]

Going to try and get around abit more. Bit of a Ceroc S1ut like that lol. will try and get to sittingbourne one day.

Do you normally go to northfleet? I have just started Taxi'ing there and have demo'd with V a few times

[Minnie M]

We are talking about venues here - not the dances or the dancers -

Not been to Daventry, but by feedback it sounds my type of venue !

my fave venues are Woking, Dorking and The Rivoli - all have great floors and I agree with Witty about Ashtons - great venue


........Don't want to put you off, but if you like a fast floor you ain't gonna like Rochester! It's a non-slip nightclub floor - you can barely move your feet on it let alone spin. ...
You end up with very aching feet and legs on Disco floors :tears: even though they do look fab

BTW WhiteRocks Hastings - Ceroc ?? I don't think so, I believe that is Mike Marina's event :eek:

[TurboTomato]

my fave venues are Woking

Agreed - went there for the first time a couple of weekends ago and really enjoyed it. Nice venue and good floor :D

[Miguel]

Anywhere that play this:

http://www.partyweekender.com/./video/Comp11.wmv

[Frankie_4711]

Going to try and get around abit more. Bit of a Ceroc S1ut like that lol. will try and get to sittingbourne one day.

Do you normally go to northfleet? I have just started Taxi'ing there and have demo'd with V a few times

Not a regular at Northfleet - went the first week, and was a stand-in Taxi there the second week, but not been back since. Gonna try and get back more often coz it is great, although I live in Maidstone so the Maidstone venue is so much closer and easier if I'm dancing on a Thursday (and I do like Maidstone too) ... will probably try and swap between the two.

Look forward to seeing you at Sittingbourne one day, and maybe Rochester if you're feeling brave enough!

[fletch]

Anywhere that play this:

http://www.partyweekender.com/./video/Comp11.wmv

That will be Woking then :rolleyes:


:rofl:


It that you I can see in the back ground :confused:



:na:

[El Salsero Gringo]

Do you normally go to northfleet? I have just started Taxi'ing there and have demo'd with V a few timesDoes Virginia know that one of her taxi-dancers is running four of his own independent class-nights? :whistle: I'm amazed you've got time!

[Lee Bartholomew]

We are talking about venues here - not the dances or the dancers -

Not been to Daventry, but by feedback it sounds my type of venue !

my fave venues are Woking, Dorking and The Rivoli - all have great floors and I agree with Witty about Ashtons - great venue


You end up with very aching feet and legs on Disco floors :tears: even though they do look fab

BTW WhiteRocks Hastings - Ceroc ?? I don't think so, I believe that is Mike Marina's event :eek:

Wasn't really limiting post to Ceroc venues. Yes it is one of Mike Marina's. Do you know him?

[Clueless]

I haven't really danced anywhere south of the boarder....yet...!

There are good points and bad points I like Jumping Jacks on wed for the Atmosphere though the dance floor can be a bit too full sometimes. and Chicago rock out be good it they opened up the stage as an 'alternative dance floor' cause we normally end up dancing beside the bar and showing off...not that I ever do!:whistle:

But GUU was good though some complaints about the floor but that was only a minor thing! but the down stairs is not bad to dance in and the blue's room can be fun too! :D

[Paulthetrainer]

Hey, Woodface.....

Hows the kung fu coming along? :D

Of all the venues that I have been to:

Salomons 10/10 (mainly cos of the fab people and the most entertaining teacher (Steve Thomas:worthy:), but the dancing pretty good too)

Orpington 6 (OK dancing but gets a bit hot)

Bromley 8 (have made some great friends there too, although its not generally as friendly as other places)

Shorne 6 (would have given it 8 but the Nazi's at the bar won't give out tap water)

High Rocks 6 (harder to get to know people although I do like Sally the teacher)

Woking 9 (have only been once but it was a good night)

Haywards Heath 6 (first went when it was a different franchise and it wasn't too busy. Went back again once Ceroc took over and it was busier)

Greenwich 8 (Excellent dancers but no bar :sad:)

HMS President 7 (cool venue but sloping dance floor. Failed to persuade any of the newbies that its tradition that they swim back to the embankment :sad:)

Folkestone 8 (although only went for the Summer ball x 2. Dunno if thats the place for the regular venue)

Brighton 6 (cant remember much about it - twas ages ago.)

Charlton 8 (I think this venue is closed, but it scores well purely on the basis of being near the worlds greatest football team)

Clapham 9 (I really liked this venue although I'm too scared to go back because I get accused of looking like one of the locals :eek:).

Beckenham 6 (Friday evenings? :what::what::what:)

Paul

[Minnie M]

Brighton 6 (cant remember much about it - twas ages ago.)
:rolleyes: must have been a long time ago :blush: there are FOUR organisers there now with a quite few venues

The best venue we have in Brighton is Hove Town Hall - great floor (a little fast but I love it) no parking probs as there is a big NCP next door and lots of small eating places very near by - it is where they hold BritRock

I would rate Hove Town Hall a definite 9 - possibly 10 as it has all the dancers' requirements (good floor, good air conditioning, good parking, free water, reasonable bar and a balcony for those who want to chill out and watch)

[Paulthetrainer]

:rolleyes: must have been a long time ago :blush: there are FOUR organisers there now with a quite few venues

The best venue we have in Brighton is Hove Town Hall - great floor (a little fast but I love it) no parking probs as there is a big NCP next door and lots of small eating places very near by - it is where they hold BritRock

I would rate Hove Town Hall a definite 9 - possibly 10 as it has all the dancers' requirements (good floor, good air conditioning, good parking, free water, reasonable bar and a balcony for those who want to chill out and watch)

yes it was a while ago. Maybe I should upgrade my rating - I'd hate to see people leaving in their droves because I only gave it a 6!:D:D:D:D When I went I'd not been dancing that long so I wouldn't have really known what was good or not. I think it was at the town hall though, and I got semi-drunk, so maybe not too bad... :grin:

[Minnie M]

........ I think it was at the town hall though, and I got semi-drunk, so maybe not too bad... :grin:
There are three main venues used in Brighton - you make it seem there is only one

City Gate Centre - on the Brighton Road - I would rate 6/10
King Alfred Ballroom - on Hove seafront - I would rate 8/10
Hove Town Hall - off the main high street - I would rate 10/10

Then there is the Shoreham Centre - - I would rate 8/10
and Worthing Assembly rooms - - I would rate 9/10

However my ratings are for the venues NOT the organisers and their dances

[Lee Bartholomew]

Adam Maple that teaches in Brighton is a fantastic dancer.

I helped cover a night for him at King Alfreds once. Ended up going clubbing at the Marina and after a few drinks, we ended up doing MJ. By the end of the eve there were about 30 odd couples that had come in from other MJ clubs and events. The place got taken over. Very big scene in Brighton Apparently.

Don't know if King Alfreds is still going. I knolw they were talking about knocking it down a year or so ago.

[Minnie M]

Adam Maple that teaches in Brighton is a fantastic dancer.

I helped cover a night for him at King Alfreds once. Ended up going clubbing at the Marina and after a few drinks, we ended up doing MJ. By the end of the eve there were about 30 odd couples that had come in from other MJ clubs and events. The place got taken over. Very big scene in Brighton Apparently.

Don't know if King Alfreds is still going. I knolw they were talking about knocking it down a year or so ago.

Yes King Alfred is still going - Julian Hansford (Jules Jive) has a regular Friday night there

Adam is a good dancer although his timing is not too hot - but the best teacher and dancer we have in Brighton has got to be Mikey :respect: :worthy: although he rarely teaches in Brighton these days

Andy McGregor is a pretty good teacher too :worthy: , he teaches in Shoreham just outside of Brighton. I was very impressed with his teaching and he has a really good class going and some nice dancers comng out of it, so he must be doing something right.

BTW where did you go clubbing in the Marina ???? There are no nightclubs there that I know of

[Lee Bartholomew]

I think the club was called the Kama Bar or something. Was a year or so ago. Need to get dancing in brighton again sometime. Maybe next week. Will poss pop in and see Adam as not seen him for ages. Whats your regular venue?

[Russell Saxby]

Greenwich 8 (Excellent dancers but no bar :sad:)

:confused: last time I looked there was a bar stocking Fosters, Budweiser, Smirnoff Ice, Red, White & Rose, J2O (various favours), Coke (diet & full fat) Lemonade, Water (bottled and tap), Squash, Orange juice, Red Bull.


Charlton 8 (I think this venue is closed, but it scores well purely on the basis of being near the worlds greatest football team)

Yep now closed

[Paulthetrainer]

:confused: last time I looked there was a bar stocking Fosters, Budweiser, Smirnoff Ice, Red, White & Rose, J2O (various favours), Coke (diet & full fat) Lemonade, Water (bottled and tap), Squash, Orange juice, Red Bull.


Well you'd know more about it than me Russell. Actually now you mention it I went to two Greenwich venues. The first one was the smaller one that just sold soft drinks from a table in the corner. The second was bigger and I think had a bar.

So, correction to my orginal statement - Greenwich is flowing with rivers of alcohol :grin:.

Must get down there again some time....

[Miguel]

The best venue we have in Brighton is Hove Town Hall....

All will change on Sunday, 21st January, 2007.

[Minnie M]

All will change on Sunday, 21st January, 2007.

Not if it is Funky Lush :sick:

[Andy McGregor]

All will change on Sunday, 21st January, 2007.Ahh, you must be talking about the Brighton Corn Exchange - but it's not new, it's been there since 1867. This is absolutely the best venue in Brighton with its sprung floor in maple. But it costs about three times as much as Hove Town Hall so the current local organisers won't be using it any time soon. And, for anybody who fancies trying Hove Town Hall, Sarah Johnson and I have a Ball there on the 27th January 2007.

Or maybe Miguel has found an even better venue in the Brighton area. I can't wait to find out more:whistle:

And we already have an organiser called Miguel in the Brighton area. And he's appeared as the Salsa teacher in East Enders - is this the same Miguel.

[Andy McGregor]

Andy McGregor is a pretty good teacher too :worthy: , he teaches in Shoreham just outside of Brighton. I was very impressed with his teaching and he has a really good class going and some nice dancers coming out of it, so he must be doing something right.:blush: Thank you Minnie. We aim to please. :kiss:

[Frankie_4711]

Went to Canterbury for the first time last night ... really good - nice floor, nice place, friendly people, enough people to get a good pick of partner, but still plenty of space to dance, great music and free water.

[Minnie M]

Not if it is Funky Lush :sick:

sorry meant Funky Fish :blush:
- thousand apologies TWK :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:


And we already have an organiser called Miguel in the Brighton area. And he's appeared as the Salsa teacher in East Enders - is this the same Miguel
:respect: :respect: :respect: Miguel Plaza (SalsaMagic):respect: :respect: the Brightons Best Salsa Teacher and a really really nice guy (also the chap who teaches Salsa on Eastenders)

[Mr Cool]

Well suprised nobody mentioned Bookhams two dance floors great DANCE music. This is the most welcoming venue ive been to.:respect: :worthy: :worthy:
Ashtons is also good :worthy: :worthy: as is Gloucester and Twyford can be good. :cheers: :cheers:

:waycool: :waycool: :waycool: :waycool:

[Lee Bartholomew]

I didn't overly rate Orpington but Virginia has said that next year, on their freestyle nights, they will be opening a blues room in a second room. Should be interesting.

[mick s]

It has to be the Rivoli Ballroom (Brockley near Lewisham) for me as the best venue. Always guaranteed a special night there.
Recommend you go at least once. Run by Jive Party
Guaranteed to have a different crowd every time you go. Often a live band, music mostly swing with some modern.

Worth seeing at least once.

[Minnie M]

It has to be the Rivoli Ballroom (Brockley near Lewisham) for me as the best venue. Always guaranteed a special night there.
Recommend you go at least once. Run by Jive Party.........

:worthy: I have said that above - also on another thread similar to this one. It is a wonderful venue - seen regularly on Strictly Dance 2 (the one that is on at 6:30pm each night) The pros do their demos there.

The only neg about this venue is the parking - it is street parking. Personally I have never had a problem parking, but think I have been lucky.

As MikeyR said - everyone should go their once :yeah: (the ladies has a real bourdoir)

[Clueless]

I am going to have to add on the Aberdeen Beachball Room! Spring mounted and hours of amazement.

Ahh simple minds :D