A new 100-capacity nightclub located right outside of Dalston Junction has opened, despite the backdrop of rapid UK nightlife closure.
Located below Dalston bar Copper Cats, Cu has had new life breathed into it by creative director Josh Harris, 35, who operates under the alias Cueist.
Harris is also the founder of NLDC, a free monthly dubstep club night hosted up the road in Dalston Den that has been igniting a fierce nostalgia for the bass-driven genre in East London.
Describing the ethos the nightclub embodies, Harris said: “I started a party where it’s free to get in, no one gets paid, there is no money in or out other than at the bar.
“Suddenly the DJs were there purely for the love of the music, and the crowd knew this, and the vibes just switched completely.”
Harris is in no doubt he can ensure the space’s prosperity despite the recent decline in UK nightlife.
He said: “To me, this is exactly when you should be opening a club.
“When I started NLDC, it received such a positive response from the start, which was, from all sides, based around a feeling that London had been missing this sort of thing for so long, people were desperate for it.
“Future proofing Cu is simple – by just being good.
“If spaces are closing and you can be the one to stay open, you can thrive.
“Provide what people actually want from going out.
“To me, that’s quite simple and boils down to one thing – a sense of community.”
Diego Lapa, head of record label, Sublock, is an NLDC regular.
He said: “I feel like Cu is the perfect example of back to basics, where they focused on what’s actually important for a club.
“Good sound, community, and no pointless extravaganza.”
A recent study by the Night Time Industries Association revealed that if venues continue closing at the current rate, the UK’s last night out could be 31 December 2029.
This study follows the resignation of Amy Lamé, the former London night czar, who faced significant criticism during her tenure.
Lamé claimed in The Independent in February that London is the best 24-hour city in the world, with more than 1.3 million Londoners working at night, keeping the capital’s economy active 24/7.
However, recent statistics reveal that 37% of UK clubs have closed since 2020, and three clubs per week have closed since the start of this year.
Harris said: “The night czar?
“Utterly out of touch with young people, and I’m 35.
“The true nightlife culture isn’t born in the spaces the now-defunct night czar even knows about.
“These clubs that are closing are already dead.
“Move with the times, get creative, and adapt to the challenges we’re facing.”
Lamé was approached for comment.
To prevent a further decline of nightlife businesses, NTIA CEO Michael Kill implored the government to extend business rates relief, freeze alcohol duty, support local independent cultural businesses and address energy costs in the Autumn budget.
Since Lamé’s resignation, a new night czar has not been appointed, and the Labour government’s proposals of policies such as the ban on smoking outside pubs, the increased bus fare cap, and a rise in alcohol duty have led to further concerns over the prosperity of UK nightlife.
Nevertheless, Cu stands as a challenger to the sector’s decline, with Harris spearheading an approach which prioritises people over profit.
Harris said: “The subcultures that create the movements – black kids on Newham estates, the LGBTQIA+ community…that big clubs eventually leech from have, regrettably, always had to operate under the radar.
“But British music wouldn’t be the same without this struggle.
“We have to embrace it.”
In addition to the regular NLDC nights, Harris will also be starting the Cu.rated series which will run every Wednesday and will always be free.
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