You’ve bought the Red Stripes, you’ve learnt the difference between Moombahton and Bashment, you’ve mentally prepared yourself for all horrors of dancing policemen, politicians hoping to be spotted eating street food and the damp, BO smell of the Augustine Central Line. Congratulations. You are ready for Notting Hill Carnival’s best parties.
Friday – Corsica Studios, Elephant & Castle
Corsica know’s what it means to throw a warmup party. The club practically has a 24-hour license, meaning it’s always the place to go if you fancy some fun before the main event. Or after it for that matter.
Get into the Carnival mood this Friday as Corsica’s legendary Trouble Vision residency goes into Notting Hill mode.
Osunlade is top of the bill this year, with Bell Towers in the second room. Whether the music will be carnival-y or not is entirely down to the DJs’ discretion, but the safe money is on getting to hear the soulful house that the Elephant club is famous for. So you can enjoy carnival, even if you don’t like carnival music!
Saturday – Prince of Wales, Brixton
Oh, boy. Brixton Splash was great. The Prince of Wales is now giving you the chance to capture that festival atmosphere again at Saturday’s best-looking Carnival after-party.
Here you can see MJ Cole spinning, burgers sizzling and suns setting on the Prince of Wales’ famous rooftop party station. Yes, it’s going to be busy but it’s also going to be awesome. Resident Advisor has all the details here
Super early birds got the £5 worm, but this 13-hour party is well worth the later ticket prices – especially when you think that the Carnival itself ends at 8.30pm! See you on the roof.
Sunday – Mode, Notting Hill
We’ve saved the best til last here. Sandwiched between Westborne Park and Ladbroke Grove, MODE is about as Notting Hill as it gets, and this year, they have really gone all out.
MODE is well known for keeping headliners secret until the last minute and this year they’ve taken it to another level. What level have they taken it to? To Level: Sean Paul. That’s right. They have booked Kingston hero Sean Paul into a 630 capacity venue in Notting Hill on the middle day of Carnival.
Unfortunately, this is obviously sold out. You are not going to get a ticket. But maybe you’ll smile as you walk past the venue on the way home knowing that inside, Sean Paul is about to play the most Carnival show ever.
Of course, the best parties in Notting Hill are always the ad hoc house parties that take over the streets once the tourists have gone back to Ealing. Make sure you’re the coolest kids in town next year and find your Notting Hill flatshare today at EasyRoommate!
