Dalston Superstore is the beating heart of East London's queer nightlife — a long, narrow bar-club hybrid on Kingsland High Street that's been championing alternative queer culture since 2009. Founded by Matt Tucker (Trailer Trash) and Dan Beaumont (ex-Disco Bloodbath) in a converted former supermarket, it's deliberately non-mainstream: underground DJs, drag brunches, queer art shows, comedy nights, and community gatherings fill the calendar. Come daytime for a laid-back bite and a coffee; come midnight for sweaty basement club nights that still feel genuinely edgy.
A scrappy, unpretentious queer bar-club with legendary basement nights and programming that still feels genuinely underground after 15 years.
Check the night's programming before heading down — the vibe changes completely depending on the event, and basement club nights get packed by midnight on weekends.
East London's queer basement institution still delivers
Dalston Superstore has been the cornerstone of East London's queer scene since 2009, and it still feels vital. The concept is simple but effective: a long, narrow ground-floor bar where you can grab food, drinks, and hang out, plus a sweaty basement club room where the real dancing happens. The programming is what sets it apart — BodySwap on Wednesdays for the trans+ community, legendary weekend club nights, drag brunches, comedy, and queer art exhibitions. It's the kind of place where you can show up at 2pm for a burger and a beer and somehow still be there at 2am.
The vibe is deliberately unpolished — think exposed brick, fairy lights, and a crowd that doesn't care about dressing up. That's the appeal. It's not Soho; it's scrappier, more experimental, and more inclusive in a way that feels genuine rather than performative. The music leans underground — disco, house, techno, and whatever the resident DJs are into that night.
The Google rating of 3.7 is a bit misleading — it reflects the fact that this is a late-night venue that draws a mixed crowd, and not everyone who wanders in at midnight is going to have a perfect evening. But if you understand what Dalston Superstore is — a queer community space that doubles as one of Hackney's best club nights — you'll get it. Go for the basement, go for the programming, go for the lack of pretension.
Dalston Superstore, c'est l'institution queer de l'East London depuis 2009, et ça pulse toujours. Le concept est simple mais redoutable : un bar au rez-de-chaussée, long et étroit, où l'on mange, boit et traîne, et un sous-sol où la vraie danse se passe. La programmation fait toute la différence — BodySwap le mercredi pour la communauté trans+, des soirées club légendaires le week-end, des drag brunches, du stand-up, des expos d'art queer. C'est l'endroit où tu arrives à 14h pour un burger et une bière et où tu te retrouves encore là à 2h du mat'.
L'ambiance est volontairement brute — brique apparente, guirlandes, et une foule qui s'en fout de se faire belle. C'est ça, le charme. Ce n'est pas Soho ; c'est plus rugueux, plus expérimental, plus inclusif d'une manière qui sonne vrai plutôt que marketing. La musique est underground — disco, house, techno, et ce que les DJs résidents ont envie de jouer ce soir-là.
La note Google de 3,7 est trompeuse — elle reflète le fait que c'est un lieu de nuit qui attire un public mixte, et tout le monde qui débarque à minuit ne passera pas une soirée parfaite. Mais si tu comprends ce qu'est Dalston Superstore — un espace communautaire queer qui fait aussi office de l'une des meilleures soirées club de Hackney — tu vas adorer. Descends au sous-sol, suis la programmation, et savoure l'absence totale de prétention.