KOKO

Don't go KOKO. There are so many other great venues nearby. I misplaced my cloakroom ticket, and because I didn't have my phone on me for a backup picture, the staff told me my only option was to wait until 5:30 AM to get my coat. I couldn't wait that long, so I left. I figured a quick message the next day would sort it out. I was wrong. I have reached out to every single email address on their website. I’ve messaged all their social media accounts. The result? Total radio silence. They haven't even opened the messages. What kind of modern venue completely ignores its own inbox? The second you walk out their doors, you become invisible to them. Spend your night, and your money, somewhere else. I'll take this down if I get a response, so if you're seeing this, they still don't care.

We visited KOKO London for KOLSCH's Live show. The place is impressive, with history and there's no doubt its one of the best venues in the UK for live shows. The organisation however was lacking. The event start time changed a couple of times, and information for early entry ticket holders only came 4 hours before, in an instagram story. Upon entering the venue - they scan your ID (no idea if they store the ID's they scan or not, that was concerning). The bars have no menu or prices, you just have to guess or rely on the staff information. The show itself was great. KOLSCH is fantastic as usual.

Great experience! I went with my wheelchair they were really kind and thoughtful, I was in a good location near to the accessible toilet. Max was really kind and helpful he smoothly push my chair trougth the ramps and led us to our spot. I have the opportunity to enjoy a great show in a safe environment for me and my carer. The rest staff was also great and caring. Thank you! 🩷

Great place for dancing! Multiple levels with some seating on the upper floors. Two bars, a big one on the lower floor and a smaller one up top. Sound was great. Would happily come again.

I attended a concert here and the experience was extremely disappointing. The venue was overcrowded, yet access to visibly open areas was restricted to those with specific wristbands, leaving many of us unable to find a spot with a clear view of the stage. If sightlines cannot be reasonably guaranteed, ticket sales should be limited accordingly. Overall, this was the most poorly managed venue experience I’ve had in London.

DO NOT PAY 150£ FOR VIP!!!! YOU WILL NOT BE BEHIND DJ AND LITERALLY SAME DISTANCE AS THE NORMAL TICKET AS THEY SELL TABLES AND THEY PUT TABLES BETWEEN YOU AND THE DJ, SUCH RUBBERY SHAME ON YOU FOR SELLING BACK STAGE TICKET AND MAKING PEOPLE STAND SO FAT FROM DJ

What a cute venue. Very intimate space. Lots of toilets. Fast entry. Oh, and the sound is excellent in there. It was not extremely loud and did not have to wear noise cancelling device to protect ears. Easy to access as well. Mornington crescent and Camden town station is a short scenic walk away. Also lots of food and bars around the area.

Love this venue! The theatre set up means there's beautiful interior, lots of space and you can always get a great view of the stage (especially from the main balcony). It has good ventilation and a pretty powerful aircon, so you're never overheating (it can actually get quite chilly). The sound system and the light/visual effects are amazing! They have a variery of music choices, but I prefer electronic nights. If you're a clubber and need somewhere to escape reality and immerse yourself in music, KOKO is the place to be! (Excuse how cheesy this sounds, I just really like this place)😆

An hour long queue in the freezing cold , staff tried to charge all three of us 10 pounds each on top at the door because we were late. We refused to pay as they had kept us waiting for too long, so they reduced it to £10 for all three! I'mnot sure this practice is even legal. Never going there again. We got in and the overcrowding was shocking. The place did not look safe. We later learned Koko had given away free tickets and were then trying to charge people 30 pounds for them at the door. This is what caused the longest queue outside, from which they profiteered.

Really big club! Very spacious, cool face painting, pricey drinks & basic music! I had a good time with friends & we really enjoyed dancing on the different floor levels.The scenery inside is really pretty & the staff is cool. On a side note, Don't pay to get your coat hung up when you get there because you'll end up waiting 30 -45 minutes to get it once the club is over! 4 stars due to the music being wack af! But we made the best of it!

The reason I am giving one star is due to the staff members being really rude, especially on the queue for the coat room. Never in my life, I had people talking to me like that. I had two coats to deliver and they sent me back to all queue saying that I could only deliver one! Costumer service really bad in this specific section. I do not recommend​ people leaving their coats in there.

Koko is a quirky London gig venue along similar lines to Brixton Academy. It has an eclectic layout with lots of nooks and crannies for you to hang out in. Easy enough to get to via tube (Northern Line Mornington Crescent) or bus and in an area with lots of good pubs and eateries to hand should you want to fuel up before you go in. We were here to see The Airborne Toxic Event, an ideal band for a venue this size and they were, as always, superb. The set was a mix of songs from all of their albums and they had the house bouncing from the off. I like this place and will return. For a sell out gig best to get in early as once it fills up there are some areas where the view and, more importantly, the acoustics, can be a bit ropey. Mosh pit is big enough but getting up alongside the balcony bar is probably best as you will be handy for drinks & the loo's and from the balcony you will have a view directly on to centre stage. It is also adjacent to the first floor outside terrace with a brilliant view along Camden High Street, good area to go between sets. The terrace also has a bar and wide screen TV's giving live feedback from the stage and the sound quality in this area is superb. Once the drink prices come down or the happy hour is extended then they will get their 5th star

Button Down Disco @ KOKO Age: 18+ Cover Charge: 10£ Located in Camden, on Saturday nights you can always have a good time in KOKO, a highly energetic club. It is invite only, however it is easy to get on the invite list through the website. The party atmosphere automatically hits you when walk in and hear club music blasting, people dancing, mental light visuals, and a huge disco ball. The club is never too packed but also never empty, and the crowd is filled with fun young adults. The DJ plays a nice variety of music from indie, hip hop, rap, edm and more. One of the highlights is the venue, which is an old opera house with 5 stories with access to a smoking terrace. One of the best clubbing experiences in London.

From the moment you enter this concert venue, you'll be seeing red: red lampshades, red bar, red furniture. I came here to see M83 (and sadly, because of a dinner gone too long, missed the opener Maps.) My friend and I found a small spot from which we could both see the stage and dance. A combination of the sound system and the shape of the venue made this electronic music envelop us almost completely. I have a hunch music sounds better when you hear it at Koko. Drinks were of the sort you'd expect at a club but you don't come to Koko for the quality of their beverages. You come to Koko for the music!

Covered in thick, red velvet everywhere reminiscent of its theatre days Koko is a great venue for a dramatic gig night. The stage is well situated with a series of rising balconies making it easy even for shorties like me to always be able to see the stage. It has a good sound system and is a great space to create a good atmosphere. As much as I love to see gigs here, I am rather weary of their club nights which get too busy and seem to be populated by under-age school kids. I was once even asked by a boy in the queue if I could hold his hand while we walked in so that they wouldn't I.D. him! I also find the venue too big for a club night, making it really hard to find your friends back should you get separated. Come down for the gigs, but not for the club nights!!

I LOVE seeing bands at former fancy theatres like this. The Koko looks trashed from the outside, but is gloriously redone on the inside, with layers of floors (that is the only way to describe how the floors fold together and overlap and look out over each other), balconies, chandeliers, velour curtains, an outdoor upper-floor terrace, little tables tucked into corners and crevices, sofas on the basement level and multiple bars for your enjoyment. I saw Haim here last summer and I recall the sound being pretty good. It was a sold out show and it felt like it -- we stuffed ourselves on a stair landing, but a layer of people back from the railing so saw absolutely nothing (get there early if you want a good view and you're a shorty!). Cash only bar, and super close to Mornington Crescent or a bit of a walk from Camden Town. Despite the enormous crowd, the side balconies were not being used, which seemed ridiculous. I imagine they're set aside and sold at a premium as a sort of VIP section, but if those tickets aren't sold, they should just open them up instead of having loads of wasted space :/

Koko's calendar of events boasts a really strong line-up almost each week of any given month. Some really great bands have played here including Shellac and Enon. The most notable thing about this venue is the fact it's particularly NME flavoured. I'm not the world's biggest fan of the magazine and this venue isn't the best of the bunch either. The interior reminds me of the Moulin Rouge. It's pretty cool and there are many floors and layers to this multifaceted venue. However, the sound isn't great and it just feels a little soulless. Not only have I seen many a band here, I've experienced the clubbing side to Koko; it's not great. The music was really bog standard indie rock, the clientele were a bunch of students / young indie kids and it just didn't fill me with joy to be there. I guess I prefer a more intimate setting. This venue is definitely "trendy" in a sense but if you're not one to follow the crowd then avoid this place unless there's a truly terrific band playing.

KoKo is pretty much the home of alternative music in London and features live performances from many established and up and coming acts from round the globe. Set in a converted theatre (formerly the Camden Palace) KoKo provides a jaw-dropping scene to what can be a great evening. Sadly things are often a little hit and miss and as well as seeing some great bands here I have been witness to some fairly terrible, unoriginal performances. That said the venue itself is great and the clientele are generally nice and friendly if at times a little bit too cool for school. I've also noticed that crowds are becoming increasingly younger and at 21I'm not comfortable with the thought of feeling old at a venue. This is a great night out with a large group of mates and a perfect way to bond with strangers in a shared love of live music.

Had a lovely evening at koko last night! Was not aware that it was a Halloween party but it was a fun surprise. There was a very strange but none the less entertaining and very fun drag queen sort of show going on for some of it. Definitely a wide range of ages there from 18 to as old as 40 maybe but the majority was 20s. Very fun and energetic crowd (maybe a few a bit too rowdy) and lots of good dancing. The venue itself is super beautiful and spacious, love the outside deck and the couches were a nice place to rest when I needed a break from dancing or for other things if one wanted...it cost £15 which I initially wasn't expecting but I definitely think it was worth it! Overall a really great experience.

Quite a classy theater that has been converted to a nice nightclub! Music is a bit too loud but the balance is OK. DJ was overall fairly good, alternating average electro music with crazy populars hits with a pinch of good remixes: The kind of music you have a good time with whoever you are. I really liked the balloons and confetti canons ! Entrance was free for the anniversary "Disco button down party" and that is definitely consolidating the 4th star I'm giving to that place. I've been to Ministry of sound, Cargo and Fabric and I can say for sure that Koko is my favorite.

Always ton of fun here. Typically get gigs that are enjoyable to go to even if you are not a fan/don't know the performers. This place is most known for its classy feel. Just go once and have a good time! A little price so bring a little extra money.

Wow, this is what I call a cool club! Being an old theatre but renovated to a very, very fancy place, this venue might be one of the poshest I have seen. One of the best indie dance parties in London is the Buttoned Down Disco which takes part in here. But KOKO is not only a club It's also a concert hall, where you can enjoy the best concerts ever, such as Block Party, Joshua Radin (26th of September!) and many more.

I really love this Camden venue which is one of the best I have been to for for live gigs. The space reminds me of an old fashioned concert hall and indeed, it is a big venue but also has many cubby holes and coves dotted around the upper level. The layout is such that sometimes you do struggle to get a good view of the stage, particularly if the gig is a popular act or band. The atmosphere is always buzzing however and there is something quite special about the place. I recently went to see McFly as part of the itunes Festival and had a brilliant time - the bar staff are on the ball so you don't tend to wait hours to get served! The general club nights at the weekend are good fun although encourage a slightly younger crowd. This is definitely a venue which is more suited to live music.

Koko is a great venue, formally knows as the Camden Palace acts such as Charlie Chaplin to the Sex Pistols have performed here. The last band I saw who performed here were Fischerspooner who put on a great show here and I must say the atmosphere was that of fun fun fun! The interior has been restored to embrace it's past life as the Camden Theatre. The intereior is theatrical, atmospheric and opulant. Deep reds and golds feature throughtout! Drinks are a little on the expensive side, but you will have an unforgetable night here!

I used to go to koko a lot, but I feel a bit too old to go there on a Friday now, when the main club night takes place. Koko is huge, cavernous and it is so easy to lose friends in there. Also, because signal is poor, if you have lost people, you are almost doomed for the rest of the night. I remember having a huge arguement with my boyfriend when I forgot to meet him at the bar, he had to wander around on his own for almost an hour before he found us all again. Oooops! Looks wise, you cannot doubt that the interior is pretty impressive, with three tiered balconies to look over, a huge disco ball and huge dancfloor. Prices at the bar are pretty steep too... Friday nights can become pretty hellish with a load of indie teen posers, dancing along to sub par nme styled music. It is quite a shame as the club night did used to have a bit more soul to it. However, if there is a gig on then go to Koko! You will have a good view of the band whereever you are. I saw Battles there, that was pretty cool and also the Kooks a long time ago, 'before they got huge' and that gig was a particularly memorable one.

A brilliant interior with a poor sound system. Poor as in too loud for my ear. I thought I was going to turn deaf. I have been to this venue twice and every time I left with headache.

Wanted to go to this venue for years and it didn't disappoint! Beautiful interior all walls coated in a deep burgundy colour, the toilets are decorated the same but with a cavern type of feel. The main standing are is huge, but it has a three tear balcony which you can get great views from any angle! Bar at the back of the main room, cloakroom on entry also, amaixng venue!

I thought KOKO was an excellent music venue, it was a breath of fresh air from all the usual dull music venues. In the style of an old theatre KOKO's are able to give many different viewing points from overlooking balconies and 3 different tiers with a bar on each. The outside balcony overlooking Mornington Crescent tube station is also a really enjoyable part of the venue to sit out with a drink and enjoy a summer evening before the concert begins. The sound is also worth mentioning, since there seems to be a balanced acoustics to the venue that adds to the quality of the sound the band are producing. Downfall - drinks prices are a complete rip off and there are no offers encouraging people to buy drinks which leads to many people trying to sneak alcohol in. As a music venue I would have given it 5 stars but as a club it deserves 3 stars. I would never go there unless I was seeing a band because as a club the drink prices just aren't worth it and the layout doesn't quite suite a clubbing environment.

Koko is a great venue, formally knows as the Camden Palace acts such as Charlie Chaplin to the Sex Pistols have performed here. The last band I saw who performed here were Fischerspooner who put on a great show here and I must say the atmosphere was that of fun fun fun! The interior has been restored to embrace it's past life as the Camden Theatre. The intereior is theatrical, atmospheric and opulant. Deep reds and golds feature throughtout! Drinks are a little on the expensive side, but you will have an unforgetable night here!

Been here many times and I've always had a fantastic night. Koko has a constant billing of top-class artists and nights that mean I find myself there more often than not. The building itself is gorgeous, originally being an old theatre. However, I think that sometimes this kind of venue is not well equipped to cater for big bands and loud noise. When standing, I often find my view obstructed or I feel squashed, even at the back. The bar is typical for a concert hall: overpriced, generic. The building itself is a bit confusing, I found myself searching for the bathroom longer than was ideal my first night there. There is a lovely smoking area on the balcony just above the KOKO sign over the door though. I would say if you are coming here for a gig you are guaranteed to have a good time, but not for the venue itself.

The venue itself is really stunning. Yet, the sound is way way too loud!! I was literally half death for a day after spending a night in this club. I wonder if they were ever controlled on this but this should be forbidden. The music is just okay, too electro for me sometimes. There is only one dance floor so not much choice, and it's completely packed. Otherwise entrance is really affordable between 5 and 10 pounds. And they are very nice balconies to chat outside.

Best club I've ever been to! (I haven't been to that many clubs though). Super fun environment, reasonable door fee. Every night is themed and some of the themes are super fun (guilty pleasures is my favorite)! Sometimes it's cash only though, which sucks. Never bought a drink there so I can't comment on the prices.

Koko club was the last stop at a pub crawl I did. It's beautiful inside and it was fun.

I really like this place. I've been coming here for years. It used to be called The Camden Palace. It's also where Madonna made her first Uk performance. Prince also did some gigs here last year. Last night I went to see Hunter Hayes,which wa sold out. Unlike the other two similar venues that I've been to recently (O2 Brixton and O2 Sheperds Bush), I fouind that the access in and out of the venue was much easier, with a less formal security system. Although this concert was sold out, it was easy to move around the standing area in the stalls. The bar at the rear was also easy to access and I did not have to wait to be served. This is a great venue and not too large. It's an old building, which has kept it's charm. Yay! I'm a fan.

I came here for the first time to see Jay Electronica which was INTENSE. I had the most mixed experience but the negatives were not the fault of the staff here or the event hosters, so I cannot hold them accountable. I have a few comments/observations that I think are important, however. The security at the gig were put under horrendous conditions and expectations. They have a responsibility to ensure the safety or the audience and also of the artist. But at this gig the security team had no chance to do their job properly. 1. Jay consistently wanted to wander into the hyped crowd, which meant the security team had to wade into the crowd with him and surround him. It was absolutely nuts. Fans were reaching for him and jumping everywhere and the bouncers were having to fight just to stay in control. I saw one get hit in the mouth as he was doing his job. 2. Jay handed a massive bottle of Hennessey and let the crowd pass it around and drink. Then Jay Electronica told everybody to get on stage with him. 3. The whole purpose of the security at the front was to stop people from jumping over but Jay and his NOI men told them to let them up, so there were over 100+ people on stage now. The security couldn't do anything and I felt bad for them. I really hope they get compensated for their work and dedication. So my review is mainly based on what the security staff were willing to do against all odds to ensure a safe gig for everyone. I will be back to Koko soon and had an amazing night (apart from my phone being stolen at the gig, but that is not Koko's fault in the end).

I've been here a few times for concerts. Perhaps it's a chronic problem for concert venues, but there just doesn't seem to be adequate standing room. Lots of people end up with obscured views (or no views at all). The beer range is dire. There are about five breweries in the area surrounding this venue, and yet Koko only stocks the blandest of macro industrial lagers, and one Theakston beer. Camden Town Brewery, whose volume output is more than adequate to meet the needs of a concert venue, is within walking distance. It boggles my mind how venues will put so much time into bringing in world-class musical acts and then only offer their patrons garbage beer. I wouldn't come to Koko unless it's an act I really want to see.

I have a love/hate relationship with Koko and you'll see why. Back in the day when it had just opened, the very cutting edge of musical talent from around the globe descended onto Koko's freshly re-painted stage and stood alongside some of London's finest home grown talent. The place has fair acoustics and if you haven't been to many London venues before, you can get blown away by the sheer size and grandeur of the place. As months and years pass, Camden's old habbits die hard and in come the teeney boppers, city slickers "slumming it", and Essex chavs on the pull; turning this once cool music venue into a meat market hell hole. Saying that, great bands do still play, and if you can make it mid week you'll most likely avoid the scum. Harsh I know but its what you come to expect of any decent venue in London that has been around long enough for everyone else to find out its cool. Another tale I will tell of Koko is of a Saturday night out here not too many moons ago. I went with a friend who is an air hostess. Anyone who knows an air hostess, knows that they don't go anywhere on a night out without miniatures. Taken from the cabin's mini bar, an array of spirits to lighten the evening and the burning hole in your wallet throughout the night. Having these stuffed in tights, down leggings, in puffed sleeves and more is always the most entertaining way to start a evenign. No unfortunately for us, Kokos' staff like to frisk the pretty ladies, being as wonderful as were on this Saturday night we were searched and rather than seeing the funny side of a miniature bottle of Smirnoff tucked in our knickers they made us hand them all in. Now I feel that we were so inventive that we should have at least been able to collect them on the way out!

Koko is one of my favourite music venues because (1) it's beautiful and (2) it's the right size to get maximum band quality with minimum distance. The place (in)famously used to be student pulling spot the Camden Palace. A few years back, some bright spark renovated it and made it a classy, mid-range club/music venue. I've not been on the club nights (I'm a little past that), though I've heard they are good. I have seen a lot of musical acts perform there, though. They get some secret gigs by big names (e.g., Madonna), but most of the acts they book are to be spotted on the hipster indie radar. I've seen !!!, Broken Social Scene, Neko Case, A Silver Mt. Zion, Spoon, and Sleater-Kinney here. The fact that the building is an old theatre is enhanced, not hidden. The deep reds and golds are lush even in the dark. The three tiered levels rise steeply above the floor. Carved features and old lights cover the walls. Downstairs is a futuristic glass bar with coloured lights, an interesting contrast with the period bits of the theatre. There are bars on the upper tiers as well. The beverages are a bit pricey, so don't plan on having your big drinking session here. Come for the tunes, or the dancing, or just to admire the room itself.

This place is where all the great bands play before they ever play in America. In other words this is the kind of place where good music is born... Beautiful decor, beautiful people, great vibes, people dancing their socks off. You can see everything perfectly onstage from wherever you are in this place. One of the best venues I've ever been to. Bars were a little packed but its understandable, everyone wants simply to get plastered. And there is no shame in that.

We rented Koko once for a works party once simply because this old listed theatre has a fantastically glam interior. It's been restored beautifully, balancing aspects from it's traditional roots with a modern functionality perfectly. The acoustics are of course great since as it was formally a theatre and the stage is a nice size for a gig. There are bars on each tier and on a night out here you don't have to wait too long to be served, despite the crowds, as long as they're adequately staffed. Head for the nicest (and often most quiet) bar at the top where the upper circle should be, providing a great spot to take a breather and escape from the dancing below. It's also a good place to go to try and spot friends that you've lost! Teetering about up and down stairs to the different tiers is a bit tough, so if you're in killer heals you might be resigned to the ground floor after a few drinks! Such a great venue, I'm definitely a fan of the student-esq vibe here.

Partying hard at an old, incredibly beautiful and huge theatre, how does that sound? This is pretty much how I can sum up my experience at Koko. I came here for a Halloween party this year and I was totally amazed by the actual building. I couldn't help but wonder "how can this really be a night club?". I mean, the theatre is so pretty and it looks so special that I thought it was a bit crazy to allow all those drunken kids to party in it! That being said, I quite enjoyed the place, with all of its different floors and doors and dancing areas. The music was nice and smokers will find themselves contemplated with a very spacious outside area. What I did not enjoy was the crowd, a bit too young and crazy for me, and the drinks, that cost 5 pounds each but had so little alcohol in them that you might as well be drinking soda. Seriously, are you kidding me? They really have to start serving real drinks here! As it was Halloween night, there was also a huge line to get in, and I mean HUGE. I didn't even think my friends and I were gonna make the cut, but once I saw how big the place is on the inside I understood why some people remained in line even though they were miles away from the entrance. All in all, I didn't have a great night to be honest, but I do think the place is worth the visit. I heard there are great concerts here, so I'd probably come back for one of those as opposed to a regular club night.

What can I say about Koko? The absolutely beautiful, gorgeous venue and lovely music makes up for the rude, uppity staff. They set the mood for the first two hours, making me feel rather bored and upset. The girl working at the ticket office should work on her tone of voice, and the bouncer didn't have to look down on us and say, "Yes I know where" and not give us the answer. However.... The music scene is great. I saw Little Comets here last night and they were amazing. Unfortunately, the crowd is all about finding the right spot to have fun. We're been chased by strangers who try to tap our ass, follow us to the bathroom, and grab our hands. I got smacked in the face twice, once by a couple who kept spilling beer and kissing; and another by a drunk boy who fell forward. On the other hand, I've waltzed down to a group of kids just looking to have fun. Then the party got started and it was the most fun I've had in a long timee. To say that I got past the rude staff and still gave this place four stars speaks for the atmosphere itself. So tips on surviving Koko's. Stand on the upper levels and looks for the group that's chilling or the group you want to hang out with. THEN proceed downstairs towards that group, introduce yourself and have a blast! Another tip: Don't dance on the edge of the crowd, draw yourself in near the stage. p.s. Drinks are ridiculously priced here. A shot of Sourz tastes like candy, and a double shot of whiskey is 7 pounds. Everything else is canned or bottled. The cheapest beer worse than the American college staple Keystone, and that shit tastes like cardboard. Coat check is also two pounds per item. BUT you have to come heree!

Hi if anyone has seen a petite asian girl in this club leaving around 3:30am december 8th please let me know. She was wearing a black tank top and a yellow checkered skirt and is around 160cm tall.

Top 3 club venues in Central London, hands down. (Fabric and Egg, being the other two. Ministry of Sound is a close 4th, dont worry) This rating is strictly based on club nights. I unfortunately cant remember a whole lot about the one live music night I attended. First off, this place is a former theatre decked out with what you would think a theatre would look like. Long, red velvet drapes along the walls. Balcony seating on multiple levels (drunk chicks conveniently flock to these places of high exposure). They could play Spice Girls all night and it would still be in my Top 3 purely because of the ambiance and decor. Ok, maybe not. But you get the point. Crowd? Younger. And by younger I mean 25 and younger. If not younger than that. Again, based on club nights only. Surprisingly, not too much of the grunge-y Camden crowd. I guess they don't like Akon or Lady GaGa music too much. Plenty of Yankees, so fellow Americans, no need to hide the accent. In fact, flaunt it...you might meet someone from your state! Well except, you Southern folk. Always a great night out. A safe bet when other plans fall through. Guaranteed fun.

Now that my favourite London gig venue has been smashed to dust in favour of a new choo-choo line (I was referring to The Astoria, in case my bitter reference went unnoticed) I am definitely on the lookout for the new contender for the title. I had been to Koko well over a decade ago, so my memory of the place was outdated and somewhat hazy. It is really a typical theatre come cinema come gig venue for London standards. However, I would say that the ornate balconies outdo rivals like the Shepherd's Bush Empire and the Clapham Grand. I am not sure how long ago this place was last renovated but it was maintained to a really lovely standard. The design of the building allows great views of the stage from many of the vantage points. The staircases that are in place do however restrict your view if you are a fairly tall guy like me from standing at the rear bar and seeing the action on stage. Although it is not my cup of tea, I do not drink pints nor draft beer but my friends were pretty disappointed that all they sell cans and bottles here. Especially for the astronomical prices that they charge. It really does turn a night out to see live music into a painfully expensive ordeal. Especially for just can of beer costing £72 million. As a point of note I was here with a fellow drummer friend to see the astoundingly good Red Paintings with Mindless Self Indulgence. The expensive drinks can be somewhat forgiven with amazing music performed by tremendous musicians. But not totally.

Koko for me was like an oasis or a Monet, it looked amazing from far away but up close didn't quite keep its promise. Don't get me wrong, I love the decor, but on the ground floor (which doesn't slope to the dismay of anyone short), it took ages.... AGES... to exit once the band was done, because the exit route weaves up and through some logistically "interesting" staircases and bottlenecks everyone. If there was a fire, we'd all be dead. The crowds will no doubt change depending on the gig, but OMG these kids these days with their cameras, ipods, and blackberries. PUT THEM DOWN! Now, I'm not short, so the un-sloped floor doesn't bother me... until everyone takes out their technology and starts recording in front of my face so I'm forced to watch the gig through a bunch of 3 inch LCD screens. Those youngsters! In my day we just had lighters! And they'd burn your fingers if you tried to be cool for longer than 30 seconds! It is a nice size, and I'd probably return if there was a band playing that I loved, but I don't often find myself on the Koko page finding an excuse to go specifically back here.

Had a really good night out at the Koko club. The security was easy to get through, no major hassles, very kind security guards searching you and made the process super painless and easy. Once in, the place is HUGE! I tried to stay on the first floor to avoid getting lost. I went on Frantic night. Great sound system. Great lasers. The talent was magnificent. The only issue I have was the drinks started off reasonable 4 jager bombs for £16, then I tried ordering another one and the bartender told me 1 jager bomb was £8.50, I felt she was trying to price gouge me. I don't know if it was because I am female and dressed quite sexy, she wanted to be catty or what? I don't remember any of the other bartenders trying to charge me that amount. I opted for a cheaper drink she quoted me, and she still charged me over £16 for two jack and cokes. I don't know if the drinks get pricier as the night goes on, or what, but this will be something that I will investigate. Other then that it was a great night out. Just wished drinks weren't so expensive.

Koko is not closed today. Usually it is in a Sunday, I think. But today the venue has Prince! I'm queuing with about 800 people (currently) to see one of his 3 gigs here. It all feels a little mad, Creative and funky, like Prince himself. I generally love Koko for gigs. I've seen lots of live bands here from Fun lovin' criminals, kaiser chiefs, pop acts too. The venue used to be Camden Palace and is an old theatre. It has a great vibe for electric gigs and overall I prefer it to Hammersmith Appollo, which is a similar size (koko is slightly smaller and more intimate). On weekends it can be a club (well it was 4 years ago) but it doesn't lend itself to clubbing I would say, much better as a live music venue. Koko is great, very purple and funky, so really looking forward to seeing Prince here tonight.

I've been here numerous times for gigs and a few club nights. Funnily enough, the last three bands I've seen here (Isis, Oceansize, and Pure Reason Revolution for those interested) have gone on to split up within 12 months which has made me very sadface. WARNING: if you go to a gig here, ALWAYS check if there's a clubnight on afterwards. For example, when I saw Oceansize here, I turned up at 8:15 and found myself half-way through the set which had to finish at 9 so they could turf us out and start the clubnight. I was not happy as there was no explicit announcement about it. Obviously, I can only blame myself for assuming that it would start at the same time as most other gigs in the world, but at the same time warning would be nice. ANYWAY. Koko is highly spacious, multi-tiered and finished in faux-early 1900s theatre style, and the smoking balcony overlooking Camden High Street is pretty cool. I've really enoyed the clubnights here as the music selection is quite a lot different from your usual fare, and sometimes you get short live band sets which are pretty awesome. Drinks are not cheap (double G&T for £7.50), although not out of whack with the rest of London. Still, predrinks at one of the numerous cheaper bars outside are recommended. Definitely recommended if you want a slightly different night out or somewhere with a decent supply of air.

Ups: - Cool atmosphere -- as reviewers below me have mentioned, it's an old theatre turned into a dance club/concert venue, so there are lots of great vestibules and balcony overlooks from which to watch the shows - Trendy crowd - Talented performers/good gigs - Kebab and burger places right around the corner...they're open late - Affordable entry (usually less than £20 for a gig, and you can either buy tickets online or at the door. trick of the trade: email and ask to be put on the guest list for Club NME on Friday nights, and get there before midnight to avoid paying cover) Downs: - Drink prices = extortion. Drink (copiously) beforehand (and try not to slip on the dance floor/ on the balconies...there's no railing to hold onto and you will fall on your bum) - Slippery floors (seriously, I'm not kidding, I can tell you from too many personal experiences that it's a dangerous hazard...) - Very strange and labyrinthine girl's toilet. Not conducive to appropriate levels of drunkenness for such a venue - Slightly creepy foreign men who like to frequent this place. I guess that's any club in London, though...

Koko is in the heart of alternative Camden, and is really the place to go to see live music. The interior is almost reason to visit in itself - it's a huge, impressive space with phenomenal ceilings and a real sense of history. I've seen some great gigs here - Koko is great place to see up and coming bands before they get too big for their boots. Club nights here can be a bit young and full on - or maybe I'm just getting a bit old! Always keep an eye on theiir website to see what's happening.

KOKO is a hot venue - hot in the sense that it plays host to some of the hottest new bands around, and also that it can get obscenely hot in there! I have been to venue for club nights, gigs and TV show tapings, and on all occassions I have ended up being very very warm - if taking a jacket bring change for the cloakroom! Quite a lot of the clubnights lure you in with cheap or free entry fees - but you pay for it with the expensive drinks prices. If going out for drinks with friends on a budget I would reccomend heading to the Ice Wharf first before heading for some dances at KOKO! The venue is huge, with lots of floors and stairs, so be prepared for a lot of trekking! The venue is right across from Mornington Crescent Tube, and there are a lot of night buses that depart along Camden High Street. Be wary of people trying to tempt you into illegal cabs.

Yeah I mostly love Koko! The thing I love the most? Midweek gigs. Flippin great venue. You can choose from floor level with good views, balcony with good views and if you're lucky you might go for the VIP voyeur balcony with, you've guessed it, good bloody views. It's got more bars than you shake a cocktail stirrer at and it's just so bloody interesting! I've been lost in here on a number of occasions! The other thing I *like*? The nights out in here. Be it NME night or Buttoned Down Disco, you're always going to have fun. It's in Camden too so it's in a very useful part of town. Why don't I *love* the nights here? Well I used to until the masses found out about it and every tom dick and harry creates a line round the corner. Little buggers, I was here first! Sorry, rant over. I still love it really.

Fun club! Especially when you dress up and there is no theme. (Clearly you can do that sort of thing in London town). Went here last Friday - £4 special for students, which was great - and saw 2 bands (that I swore I saw play in my friend's garage in 1994), a DJ and lots of crazy lights and projected video. Wish the DJ played more, or just the hard core chick band played much less. The layout is very similar to RubySkye, but the cliente is much more chill and a surprisingly few amount of striped shirts. Drinks are average and it's big enough to get lost, if you want to. Would love to see a good band play here - from the listings seems like there are plenty of opportunities.

Saw the lumineers last night, and my faith in Koko was renewed :) They have 2.50 Bulmers and Becks before 8PM, which was quite nice. The sound quality was fantastic for the show, and the crowd was great. Take a look at the theatre from the top floor balcony, it is truly beautiful!

Went to Koko with a group of friends for my birthday and had one of the bests night! The admission queue was a bit daunting as it went all the way around the corner. Not one for queueing (especially in the cold) I made my way to the guest list area and blagged my way in. Inside the venue was packed with other clubbers keen to have a good time and dance to some house music. The music was so good I only stopped dancing to get a drink. There were no attitudes and everyone was enjoying the music. I haven't been back since as the house might has been moved to another venue. It;s a shame because I love this venue but I guess not enough to go there and listen to 'alternative' music.

If you ever hear of a gig that is playing at Koko, I would advise you to hot foot over, even if you are not that fussed about who is playing. Koko is a lavish treat, a perfect venue setting. I had always written it off as some kind of sticky, indie venue for teens - how wrong I was. There is something beautifully careworn about Koko, but it still clearly has a lot of money put into it. I could hardly see as I navigated my way to the bar last night; the lights are so low, but what I could make out was deep red walls, dark carpets, thick drapes around the balcony boxes. It was like a baroque fantasy come to life. I came here to see Stereolab last night. The gig was amazing. We were standing up high, but the acoustics were still crystal clear, and even when you are three floors up you don't feel like you are in The Gods - it is all very well designed. I can't wait to Koko again!