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.