Iconic London nightclub set for one last party before closing its doors for good
PRYZM Kingston, which has hosted Stormzy, Rod Stewart and Billie Eilish, is shutting up shop after one last hurrah on July 13.
Londoners and music industry insiders have told Metro of their despair that the 18-year-old hotspot and concert venue is having its swan song after more than 20 years.
The club on Clarence Street closed its disco room at 3.30am on June 28 but will welcome partygoers for one final night in the main room on July 12.
Rob Anderson, who works in the music industry, said PRYZM put Kingston on the map.
He told Metro: 'PRYZM Kingston has massively boosted the area when it comes to the music industry. It's hosted everyone from Billie Eilish and Tate McRae to Shania Twain and Stormzy.'
For many, though, PRYZM was the moment they first experienced the joys of sipping a vodka Red Bull and partying till the early hours.
Nick Wilson, 27, told Metro he used to go as a fresh 18-year-old after school.
'With the Wetherspoons opposite, it was the perfect conveyor belt for an average night out,' he added.
'I think it's definitely a coming-of-age club for the locals at least.
'Lots of people mention it when I talk about Kingston. People travel from the suburbs just to go.'
The nightclub's owner, Neos, announced earlier this year that it had submitted plans to convert the Grade II-listed building into two new venues.
One will be a 'party bar' called Bonnie Rogues on the ground floor, and a new nightclub called Circuit on the first and second.
For Metro lifestyle reporter Jessica Hamilton, it was PRYZM's carpeted and 'sticky' floor which she'll reminisce about most even when a new club comes along.
She recalled her visit there for a Sophie Ellis Bextor concert: 'It's a shame it's shutting down because they do so many events there
'It had a really good atmosphere for the gig and was very intimate though.'
Club regulars are still waiting to see what happens to the nightlife hotspot next before passing judgment. More Trending
Nick said: 'I can't be sad until I see what it turns into, could be better'
Russell Quelch, the CEO of Neos, who bought the club after previous owners, Rekom UK, went bust, said they want the site to continue being a night out favourite for Londoners.
He added: 'Thousands of people have made memories that will last them a lifetime, from over 20 years of amazing nights out at PRYZM and Oceana before it.
'The closure is the end of a long running chapter for the Kingston club scene, but it's time to look to the future and reimagine what this site could hold, in a fresh new look at nightlife for next generation of UK party lovers.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Police officer flees for cover as fireball erupts in east London wildfire
MORE: These estate agent's demands are 'ridiculous' — but are they legal?
MORE: Mum who fell down Tube platform and hit by two trains 'contributed to her own injuries'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Don't let the Neil Gaiman accusations ruin Netflix's best fantasy show
'We do not choose to be created, nor do we choose how we are made.' In the first season of The Sandman on Netflix, these words are uttered by Lord Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), otherwise known as Dream. In the context of the show, Dream is referring to everyone's lack of agency in their inception. It's essentially a slightly pretentious way of saying 'you can't help where you come from'. Going into season 2, Morpheus's words feel especially apt due to the large shadow cast over the show by its co-creator, Neil Gaiman. The 64-year-old fantasy author, who wrote the comics The Sandman is based on, stands accused of sexual misconduct by eight women. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Gaiman has denied the allegations. 'I'm far from a perfect person,' he wrote in a statement shared on his website in January. 'But I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video However, following the allegations, which Gaiman vehemently denies, The Sandman's second season has been marred by its association with the once beloved author. Which is where I come into this story. You see, The Sandman is a story that means an awful lot to me, even now following Gaiman's fall from glory. The Sandman, with its philosophical musings on the nature of change, has always tickled my pseudo-intellectual fancy, and as a gloomy pale guy with dark hair with a preference for long coats, I've always felt a certain kinship with Dream. It's perhaps unsurprising, then, that I approached the second season of Morpheus's adventures with a strange mixture of excitement and dread. I couldn't wait to see the story I loved again, but also, I was aware the spectre of Gaiman would linger over the show, like a bad dream you can't wake up from. Of course, before we begin, I must mention Gaiman's alleged victims and how important it is that their stories are heard. This, at the end of the day, is a TV show, and their experiences matter far more than any Netflix series. If, after you read their testimony, you decide that the Sandman season 2 isn't for you, then I completely understand. As for me? Do the accusations levelled against Gaiman spoil the series? Thankfully, no, given there's so much more to the series than one man, although they do mar it somewhat. In my opinion, The Sandman season two is every bit as beguiling, bold and brilliant as the first, managing to somehow elevate the source material. But what makes the series so good? Well, there are three elements as far as I'm concerned. The first is the spectacular visuals. The Sandman, by its very nature, deals with the ethereal and the ephemeral. It's testament to the incredible skill and dedication of the show's art departments then, that they make the impossible seem possible without rendering it mundane. Across the series, you'll visit gorgeous locales and realms beyond comprehension, yet they all feel as tangible as your local neighbourhood. Similarly, the various gods, demons, and other ghoulies and goblins aren't uncanny CGI monsters; they feel like living, breathing people you might meet on your commute (although if you've ever met a hobgoblin on your bus to work, we feel sorry for you). A large part of that comes down to the second part of the show I want to praise: the cast. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, in the cast is fantastic, and I can't think of a single performance that took me out of the show. I can't lie that does make reviewing the series a bit tricky as I can't praise everyone involved, but I can say it's those playing the Endless who I found most impressive. Playing the literal embodiment of fundamental forces can't be easy, yet Kirby (formerly known as Kirby Howell-Baptiste) as Death, Mason Alexander Park as Desire, Adrian Lester as Destiny, and Barry Sloane as Destruction are simply sensational. If I had to call out anyone for a special prize, though, it would be Esmé Creed-Miles as Dream's younger sister, Delirium. Delirium, by her unpredictable nature, can be a hard character to like, but Esmé makes her the most relatable of the Endless, even giving Tom a run for his money. Speaking of which, Tom is magnificent as Dream, and Morpheus feels less like a character he's actually obligated to play and more like a role he was born to bring to life. Of course, even Tom, with all his prodigious acting talent, would be nothing without a script to read, and it's here that I think Sandman season two is at its strongest. The writing is simply brilliant, it's stripped-back synthesis of all Gaiman's best ideas, with the comic's occasionally ponderous pacing banished to the nether realm of bad TV. I know there has been speculation that The Sandman is ending early due to the allegations against Gaiman, but I promise you, after watching the show, the pacing feels incredibly natural and far better thought out than what we got in the comics. Sadly, though, we must now address the elephant in the room: Gaiman. As much as I tried to dismiss the man from my mind, his fingerprints are all over the show. The show makes effective use of his great ideas, making changes to trim some elements that seem less savoury in light of the allegations against him, yet this is still his story at the end of the day. As such, I felt a queasiness during the show's first story arc, where we learn Dream effectively abused a woman who dared to try and leave him, something made worse by Morpheus looking like an idealised version of the writer. More Trending It's icky and there's some subtext there I didn't quite like. Yet ultimately, I really enjoyed The Sandman season two, and to take this back to the opening quote, Dream can't help who made him. So maybe we shouldn't let the circumstances of his creation rob us of arguably the best fantasy series Netflix has ever made. The Sandman season two is available to stream now on Netflix Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: BBC thriller that fans hailed 'perfect' soars up Netflix top 10 chart MORE: Hit Netflix series smashes records with 60,100,000 views in just 3 days MORE: Bridgerton star 'relieved' after prolific thief who targeted her faces 22 months in jail
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Diana Vickers reveals the best sex advice she's ever been given
Diana Vickers is no stranger to a reinvention. Since charming the nation on The X Factor in 2008, she's made her mark in music, theatre, and comedy. Now, she's taking on the world of podcasting with Just Between Us in collaboration with Metro – a no-filter, sex-positive agony-aunt style show which launched earlier this week. The concept? Each week, Diana and her co-host, Metro's Alice Giddings, a bona fide sex expert ('a sexpert!' as Diana gleefully puts it), take calls from listeners navigating everything from threesomes and sex parties to cheating scandals and bedroom blips. And while Alice brings the expert insight, Diana brings the chaos and the laughs. 'Alice already works at Metro, she's fabulous and she really knows her stuff,' Diana explains. 'She's the sexpert and I guess I'm the one who doesn't really know what the hell's going on. I'm more the messy one—I just react. My advice might not always be the best… so I'm sorry!' she laughs. But between the giggles, Diana admits the stakes can feel high when real people are involved: 'It's definitely a lot of pressure,' she says. 'You're giving advice that could actually affect someone's life. I think I'm quite good at it, but I'm always like, 'If I mess this up, please don't come for me.'' Still, Diana sees the podcast as a space for honesty and solidarity: 'Dating right now is such a nightmare. It's exhausting. Hinge, Raya, all of it… it's just a mess. So I think the podcast will actually be a comfort for a lot of people. You hear someone going through absolute madness and you're like, 'OK, it's not just me who's losing the plot over some f**kboy.'' That blend of empathy and entertainment is already proving effective. The first episode features a jaw-dropping story of a woman who found a condom in her boyfriend's bed – despite their agreement to be exclusive. She's definitely not sugar-coating the current state of modern dating: 'I do think it's an absolute nightmare at the moment,' she says. 'With Hinge and dating apps, there are so many possibilities, and people get really, really bored and ghost people. And I mean, to be honest, I've taken a little break off the apps because I'm knackered.' Even Raya, the exclusive dating app for creatives, has lost its appeal. 'Raya is a weird one,' Diana admits. 'I've actually connected with a few people that I already knew and then we cemented that friendship… But I think mostly it's a place for hookups, like, nothing serious.' One guy even messaged her on Instagram asking why she hadn't matched with him. 'I thought he looked quite nice, normal guy, so I matched with him. And then he just turned out to be a bit of a dick. Kind of put me off it.' Diana's particularly passionate about breaking down shame around female sexuality. 'There's still a stigma,' she says. 'Men watch porn and think sex is done like that—but female pleasure is more complex. I think it's really important to talk about it, to be direct, to tell people what you want. I'm quite bossy in that way, and I think that's the best sex advice I've ever been given – just be honest. And if he doesn't like it? Sod him.' More Trending While Just Between Us might be Diana's newest outlet, she's far from done with the rest. She recently starred in Just For One Day, a musical about Live Aid, and has a TV appearance and a secret stage project lined up for later this year. She's also dipped back into music after a break, writing what she calls 'super gay, super fun songs for the gays and the girlies'. Still, it's clear that the podcast has struck a special chord. 'I absolutely love talking about sex and relationships, especially from a woman's perspective. I'm such an advocate for women being able to express themselves openly.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Trinny London expands its beauty range with multipurpose illuminator
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Trinny Woodall has proved she is a force to be reckoned with as her namesake multi-million pound beauty label, Trinny London, continues to expand. Some may be familiar with the BFF SPF30 cream, the Bounce Back peptide moisturiser, Take Back Time eye cream, or the multipurpose make-up stick Trinity, which launched earlier this year. But the fun doesn't stop there, as Trinny London is set to add to its beauty collection next month. Trinny London is set to launch another multipurpose beauty essential in the form of the Miracle Halo. Now the name doesn't give away much, other than it's a miracle product, but we already knew that about Trinny London. The Miracle Halo is the ultimate illuminator, which aims to leave your skin glowing in an instant. Now the title makes sense, right? The multipurpose stick functions as a highlighter to illuminate the skin in an instant. The featherlight texture buffs into the skin effortlessly and leaves the skin glowing. Available in four shades, including Sunlight, Firelight, Candlelight and Starlight. Set to launch on 3rd July. Buy Now The Miracle Halo is a product we never knew we needed until we got wind of its benefits and how easy it is to use. The upcoming release can be applied on its own for a natural dewy complexion, layered over your make-up on the high points of your face for an added boost, or mixed in with your moisturiser or foundation for a happy medium between a no make-up make-up look. Speaking about her latest creation, Trinny shared: 'This is the next best thing to that do-not- disturb glow. I use Miracle Halo on its own, mixed with my moisturiser or coverage products such as BFF All Day foundation. It's perfect for that shot of luminosity.' The Miracle Halo is a weightless texture when applied on the skin, but it achieves an instant glow – and we don't mean an iridescent or pearlescent finish. More Trending The genius stick form makes it easy to apply to direct areas of the face, but also take with you travelling, which we all know is a huge headache when you have to decant your favourite products into a pesky 100ml container. The Miracle Halo is available in four illuminating shades, including Starlight, which is a soft cool champagne tone, Candlelight that is a natural pink hue, Sunlight for a honey gold finish, and Firelight that is a bronze tone. A little goes a long way with this product, plus it is longlasting too, which is ideal for the beauty minimalists and those seeking simple fuss-free products. The Miracle Halo is set to launch on 3rd July and retail for £32. So clear your diaries, you've got shopping to do! Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: This skincare product completely transformed my skin – I get everyone to use it! MORE: Pimple patches remain a cult skincare saviour – and here are the best to buy now MORE: No7 Beauty Vault is back with £105 worth of beauty products and £250 travel voucher Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
