Embargo 59

EMBARGO 59 MIGHT BE THE MOST RACIST PLACE I HAVE COME ACROSS IN THE UK..TWO OF THE GUYS ON THE DOOR EVEN SAID TO US "JUST WARNING YOU GUYS THAT THIS IS A RACIST ESTABLISHMENT"...I AM KIND OF SCARRED FOR LIFE FROM MY EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET INTO THIS CLUB. BTW I AM A YOUNG WORKING PROFESSIONAL LIVING IN CHELSEA.. SO I WOULD EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO A LOCAL CLUB ON A WEEKEND EVENING AFTER EVEN RECEIVING A RESERVATION CONFIRMATION.

IF YOU ARE NOT WHITE... MAYBE MAKE SURE THAT MAJORITY OF YOUR GROUP IS WHITE..... I HAVENT TRIED THAT BUT I WOULD EXPECT THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PRETTY GOOD REASON TO DENY YOU ENTRY.

IF YOU ARE WHITE... I WOULD SUGGEST YOU BOYCOTT THIS PLACE IF THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

AS FOR ME I WOULD NOT BE GOING THERE AGAIN AND I HAVE BECOME A MEMBER AT ANOTHER CLUB AROUND THE CORNER TO PREVENT THE SORT OF EXPERIENCE I HAD AT EMBARGO59. WHAT I EXPERIENCED THERE IS COMPARABLE TO LIFE IN PARTS OF THE U.S BEFORE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THIS IS 2013 WHEN THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE CHANGED. WELL IT IS FAR FROM THE CASE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THIS CLUB.

THE CLUB IS OWNED BY ECLECTIC BARS. THEY OWN SOME VERY GOOD CLUBS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THEIR AUDIENCE FOR EMBARGO59 AS DESCRIBED ON THEIR WEBSITE IS BELOW

Audience: Affluent, Sophisticated, Discerning

SO FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW, IF YOU ARE NOT WHITE THEN YOU ARE NOT ANY OF THE ABOVE.

EMBARGO59 IS RACIST AND I DONT WANT TO GO INTO THAT MUCH DETAIL ON HERE BUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT UNFAIR IF YOU CANNOT GET INTO A CLUB BECAUSE OF THE COLOUR OF YOUR SKIN.

I DISCUSSED THIS WITH A FEW COLLEAGUES THE OTHER DAY AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT CLUBS LIKE THESE ARE BRANDS, AND TO KEEP ATTRACTING THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THEY TARGET (Affluent, Sophisticated, Discerning), THEY WOULD NEED TO MAKE THE VENUE SUITABLE, HENCE AS FEW NON-WHITES IF POSSIBLE OR NON AT ALL.

I HAD NO INTENTION OF WRITING A REVIEW BUT IT HAS BEEN BUGGING ME OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS SINCE THIS HAPPENED. I KNOW THE CLUB MARKETING PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY COME BACK WITH SOME SORT OF PATRONISING MESSAGE BUT THIS WILL LIVE WITH ME AND MY FRIENDS FOREVER. I CANT CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS, I WAS BORN THE WAY I AM AND THIS IS NOT MY BATTLE TO FIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS.

Went to Embargo’s on Saturday night for my housemates birthday and had a pretty good experience. We descended before 11pm, and so only had to pay £5 to get in (the cover charge is £15 after 11pm, which i wouldn’t pay). We waited only a couple of minutes before going up, and the door staff and reception girl were all polite.
Inside, you can tell the place has been recently refurbished. The bar itself is nice, and so are the toilets, but i was a bit disappointed by the roof terrace- I feel like it was sold as something much more impressive than it actually was. Perhaps I’m being a bit unfair though, as it was so busy out there that it was hard to really see anything.
Price wise, I’d say be careful about what you order, and if in doubt ASK. I bought a cocktail, all of which were priced at about £8.50, which i didn’t think was bad. However, the bottled beers aren’t listed on the menus, and my friend was charged £5.60 for a bottle of Corona. Spirits and mixers were about £7 so pricier than your average, but to be expected.
The dance floor was the busiest place in the whole club, but the music was a good mix and the light up floor was a fun (if slightly retro) touch.
People wise- it was pretty rah-y. Guys were generally in shirts and shoes, but for girls, the dress code was pretty anything goes. A few posers, but most people were just having fun.
Overall, I was pleasantly suprised. Whilst I wouldn’t run back to Embargo’s every weekend, if someone suggested it, it’s worth treating yourself every now and again.

Went here a few times with friends after places in richmond closing and I would say that if you haven't had a fair bit to drink it wasn't worth it.

May have possibly been refurbished since I last went - I really hope this is true. It is an excellent location but the inside did not impress me.

Be ready to spend ££ if you do go here before having a drink, as being on the kings road you pay London prices.

Basically, never, ever, ever go there, ever!

Now called Embargo 59. I was invited to the preview night on Weds. Place is completely different. Apparently spent almost £1m on the refurb. Best outside terrace I’ve seen for ages. Great cocktails. Light up dancefloor. V much worth a visit.