The Cobden Club

Private Club in North Kensington
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5 / 10 from 3 reviews
Address
170-172 Kensal Road
North Kensington
London
W10 5BN
Map
Telephone
020 8960 4222
Nearest Station
Westbourne Park
0.49 miles
Category
Private Clubs
Opening Times
Monday Closed
Tuesday Open 18:00 - Closes 01:30
Wednesday Open 18:00 - Closes 01:30
Thursday Open 18:00 - Closes 01:30
Friday Open 18:00 - Closes 01:30
Saturday Open 18:00 - Closes 01:30
Sunday Closed

The Cobden Club is a private members club. To join you must be recommended by two existing member's. They serve food and have two bars with which they have a late license.

All In London Review

W10 member’s club to close

The Cobden Club, the cleverly tucked away private member’s club on Kensal Road is due to close at the end of this year, and despite their enthusiastic programming one can’t help but get the feeling that if this was once a glitzy VIP spot, it is now a sinking ship.

Member’s clubs are a tricky breed, they exist in a bubble of exclusivity that gives the impression that all that glitters inside is gold, when more often than not it’s just the sheen of supermarket foil. One should expect more for their membership fee than an empty upstairs bar and a downstairs room blaring 90s radio-friendly hits.

On a more positive note, music events range from up-and-coming band showcases to ska nights such as Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, London’s longest running club night. Gigs take place in the Grand Hall upstairs and are open to the public for a standard entrance fee, while the two rooms downstairs provide comfy seats and screens which show football matches from time to time.

Simple bar food such as burgers and sandwiches is available but expensive, with a chicken club sandwich setting you back a tenner. The cocktail list is comprehensive, with drinks starting from £7; the wine list is similarly varied, with moderately-priced sauvignons, chardonnays and merlots to cater to most tastes, as well as Gavi and Rioja Gran Reserva.

Membership for the club is now closed, as the Cobden will be shutting its doors at the end of the year after being sold to an as yet undisclosed party. The final event will take place on New Year’s Eve, with a four course dinner for the surprisingly modest price of £35 a head.

Reviewed by Leila
Published on Nov 25, 2010


User Reviews

Anonymous

Sep 6, 2009

I was invited to The Cobden by my friend who had just become a member. Finding the place was a bit of mystery tour in itself but once we got there I was glad that i had made the effort. The party was in the kensal lounge which was a really funky space but i ventured up onto the middle floor which had all these big sofas, with people just chilling out. I've been in many members clubs but this one is different to the rest... no pretentions or cliques, just friendly staff and great cocktails that you didn't need a mortgage to buy. I hope to go there again but will have to wait to be invited again... please.
Anonymous

Feb 12, 2009

Went to a gig last night, which turned out to be very disappointing. First I found out that the band I was coming to see was moved from upstairs to the ground floor, which in itself is no problem, but then finding out that a beer costs 3.60 and spirits (single) 5.80 very much dampened my moods. The band was delayed for a whole hour due to very poor organizing skills by the promoter and didn't fit in with the other acts at all, which makes me wonder does the promoter even listed to any of the acts he books? The band I came to see eventually came on at 11:30 (when they were supposed to play at 10:30) and had to cut their set short to be able to get home, weeknight and tubes stop running fairly early...
Not impressed at all, I will not be going to see any gigs at this place ever again!
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