Au revoir, Bardens Boudoir

Bardens Boudoir interior, 2005. Photo: © AOC

The venue is dead, long live the venue – amid suitable wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Dalston hipster community, much loved haunt Barden’s Boudoir closed its doors for the final time on Sunday 4 July 2010. True to form, the closing party attracted around 1,000 revellers to a 300 capacity basement, and the inevitable overspill onto the street caused the police to shut the event down around midnight.

In the five years since opening, Barden’s has provided a platform for many upcoming bands to flaunt their wares, some of whom have gone on to great things: Hot Chip being a notable example. Its shabby but welcoming aesthetic was a forerunner to the now well established Dalston ‘scene’ and it will be a much missed landmark on the the east London live music circuit.

All is not lost, however. Despite rumours to the contrary, the former pool hall will not be re-opening as a trendy cafe bar or gastropub. Talk on the street is of a real community hub; rehearsal rooms, a live venue and more. Watch this space…..