Key Points
- South east London has lost many beloved nightclubs, with readers sharing memories of iconic venues from Beckenham to Dartford via News Shopper social media conversation.
- Michael Skipsey listed Imperial Gardens in Camberwell Green, Bon Bonne in Herne Hill, Tee’s in Erith, Ceasers on the Old Kent Road, Flamingos in Woolwich, Bibas in Bromley, Langtrys in Beckenham, Churchils in Dartford, and Dexter’s in Thamesmead.
- Keely Hayes named Bon Bonne, Gin Palace, and Flicks.
- Angela Edgley recalled The Bromel Club behind the Bromley Court Hotel, The Witch Doctor Catford, J Arthur’s Catford, Iron Curtain Orpington, Biba’s Bromley, and The Mistral/Tites at Beckenham Junction station, noting some were dance halls or discos and sharing she was “great to be born in 1950” and met her late husband Toni there who worked on the door with John.
- Sam Gorica named The Venue, New Cross, a multi-room club on Clifton Rise opened in 1989 for student nights, tribute gigs, and late-night dancing.
- Debbie Jane Gill listed The Library in Zens Dartford, The Marlow Rooms in Sidcup, and The Sahara Club in Lewisham.
- Denise Noble said: “Bon Bonne, Herne Hill. Best nightclub in south London.”
- Steve Breakz said: “SEOne – the huge one that held 4000, it was turned into London Bridge station ticket hall,” which ceased trading in 2010 after eight years due to recession.
- Paul Killick said: “Marlowe rooms in Sidcup.”
- Bon Bonne’s official social media account said: “Not that we are biased or anything, but there really is only one right answer!”
- Mark Reed remembered the Lazy Toad Beckenham.
- Trev McGregor said: “Ts in Erith !!!”
- Lou Donnelly said: “The Venue & The Frontier Post.”
- Gary Taylor said: “Flamingos Woolwich,” on the old Hippodrome site on Wellington Street.
- Neil Gowers said: “T’s Erith, Lautrec’s Beckenham and The Station in Welling.”
- Stephen Stride said: “Flicks in Dartford great music and great dancers Chris Hill, Jeff Young and Robbie Vincent great DJs,” which opened 22 December 1978 and closed 1989.
- Mark Rodriquez remembered the Old Kent Road’s Frog and Nightgown.
- Jules Williams mentioned Cheeks in Deptford.
- Other names included Spooks, Champs, Lautrecs, and The Frontier Post.
South East London (East London Times) February 4, 2026 – Readers of News Shopper have flooded social media with nostalgic tributes to south east London’s most missed nightclubs, from pulsating dance floors in Herne Hill to massive venues under London Bridge, highlighting a bygone era of unforgettable nights out that defined the region’s vibrant nightlife scene.
Dozens responded enthusiastically to the question:
“Which nightclubs do you miss the most in south east London?”
sparking stories spanning decades, with venues like Bon Bonne and Flicks emerging as top favourites amid widespread club closures across the UK, including 65 in 2024 alone.
These memories underscore the enduring legacy of these spots, even as economic pressures and urban redevelopment have claimed many, turning them into supermarkets, ticket halls, or cocktail bars.
Which Nightclubs Topped Readers’ Lists?
Bon Bonne in Herne Hill dominated mentions, with Denise Noble declaring it “the best nightclub in south London,” while Keely Hayes listed it alongside Gin Palace and Flicks, and the venue’s official social media account chimed in: “Not that we are biased or anything, but there really is only one right answer!”
The club, on Rosendale Road, closed in 2004 amid massive queues for its final night, later converted from its legendary status with a revolving stage and celebrity incidents like Edwin Starr crashing his car into the building, as recalled in Southwark News coverage.
Flicks in Dartford also drew strong nostalgia, with Stephen Stride praising its “great music and great dancers” and DJs Chris Hill, Jeff Young, and Robbie Vincent; Keely Hayes echoed the sentiment, and the venue opened on 22 December 1978, closing in 1989 before becoming Zen, Air, Breathe, and now ATIK.
What Did Michael Skipsey and Others Name?
As reported in the News Shopper social media thread, Michael Skipsey provided a comprehensive list of favourites: Imperial Gardens in Camberwell Green, Bon Bonne in Herne Hill, Tee’s in Erith, Ceasers on the Old Kent Road, Flamingos in Woolwich, Bibas in Bromley, Langtrys in Beckenham, Churchils in Dartford, and Dexter’s in Thamesmead.
Imperial Gardens, in Camberwell railway arches, hosted stars like Daft Punk, Massive Attack, and Mica Paris in the 1990s, attracting Lauryn Hill and Björk, as documented by photographer Megawhat in Huck magazine.
Tee’s (or T’s or Ts) in Erith was fondly remembered by Trev McGregor as “Ts in Erith !!!” and Neil Gowers as “T’s Erith,” now a Farm Foods supermarket per Instagram recollections.
Which Venues Sparked Personal Memories?
Angela Edgley took readers back to the 1950s, listing The Bromel Club behind Bromley Court Hotel, The Witch Doctor Catford, J Arthur’s Catford, Iron Curtain Orpington, and adding Biba’s Bromley and The Mistral/Tites at Beckenham Junction station, where she said:
“where I first met my late husband Toni who worked on the door with his mate John,”
and reflected:
She noted some were more dance halls or discos than full nightclubs.
Sam Gorica simply named “The Venue, New Cross,” the multi-room spot on Clifton Rise that opened in 1989 for student nights, tribute gigs, and late dancing until closure.
Lou Donnelly linked it with “The Venue & The Frontier Post.”
How Did Bigger Venues Feature?
Steve Breakz reminisced about SEOne, “the huge one that held 4000,” turned into London Bridge station ticket hall; it ceased trading on 22 February 2010 after eight “long, hard and exciting years,” falling “victim to the recession,” as stated by Marcus and the seOne team on the club’s website, per London SE1 news.
Previously known as The Drome, it was London’s largest licensed club by day for corporate hire under The Bridge brand.
What About Sidcup, Woolwich, and Beckenham Spots?
Paul Killick backed “Marlowe rooms in Sidcup,” echoed by Debbie Jane Gill as The Marlow Rooms in Sidcup alongside The Library in Zens Dartford and The Sahara Club in Lewisham.
Gary Taylor evoked Woolwich nostalgia with “Flamingos Woolwich,” on the old Hippodrome site on Wellington Street.
Neil Gowers added “Lautrec’s Beckenham” with T’s Erith and The Station in Welling; Mark Reed recalled the Lazy Toad Beckenham.
Bibas in Bromley, listed by Michael Skipsey and Angela Edgley, occupied a building now housing Akademia Nightclub & Cocktail Bar on Widmore Road, per Facebook groups.
Were There Other Standout Mentions?
Mark Rodriquez remembered the Frog and Nightgown on Old Kent Road; Jules Williams cited Cheeks in Deptford.
Debbie Jane Gill’s Dartford pick included The Library in Zens; other names like Spooks, Champs, Lautrecs, and The Frontier Post surfaced.
Ceasers on Old Kent Road appeared in Skipsey’s list, evoking 90s all-you-can-drink nights for £20 per Instagram posts, distinct from Streatham’s Caesars with its ballroom history.
Why Do These Memories Resonate Now?
Amid UK nightclub crises, with South & South East down 24% from 92 to 70 venues since 2020 per NTIA reports, these reader stories preserve the magic of jazz-funk havens, student staples, and mod hotspots.
Clubs like Flicks featured original DJs like Colin Hudd from 1978, per interviews.
The outpouring shows how these venues shaped lives, from first meetings to legendary DJ sets, ensuring their legacy endures despite closures.
