Lab54: Changing Club Culture, One Boat at a Time
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One cloudy Saturday afternoon in central London, a hoard of club-goers lined up along the Thames embankment. However, this was no regular club event. Enter Lab54 — innovative event organisers creating some of the most unusual nightlife experiences across the UK.
Born from a culture of partying, the group’s motto is “Anywhere but a club.” Since launching in 2023, Lab54 has hosted over 100 events in some of the most unexpected locations imaginable. From corner shops and coffee shops to student houses in Newcastle, the group has built a reputation for transforming everyday spaces into unforgettable dance floors. They have rapidly built a cult following online, both by word of mouth and from clips of their unconventional parties circulating online. When they announced a boat party on the River Thames, it immediately felt like one not to miss.
After some slightly soggy pre-drinks in St James’s Park, we made our way down to the embankment where a surprisingly enormous queue had already formed. It had been a long time since I’d seen a line like this for a London club event — hundreds of people waiting patiently along the river, clearly intrigued by what Lab54 had planned next.
Eventually, armed with our sailor hats, we stepped aboard.
The event was hosted in partnership with nicotine pouch brand VELO and, refreshingly, the event was completely free. In a city where £25 'before 10pm' tickets have become the norm, the decision to keep the event accessible created a buzz that was clear from the moment we arrived. Drinks were reasonably priced and the crowd felt energetic from the start.
As the boat began to move, the real novelty of the night kicked in. The dance floor floated slowly down the Thames, drifting past some of London’s most recognisable landmarks. The London Eye lit up across the water, Big Ben rose above the skyline, and as we passed beneath Tower Bridge, tourists lined the sides waving down at the crowd — confused but entertained by a boat full of people dancing underneath them.
The music kept the atmosphere alive throughout the journey. Various DJs moved between house, grime and UK club classics, keeping the crowd bouncing from start to finish. Music-wise, I’d say this was one of the strongest events I’ve been to in a while, banger after banger.
What makes Lab54 events stand out is their unpredictability. There’s always the sense that anything could happen — a secret location, a strange venue or, in this case, an entire party drifting through the centre of London.
By the time the boat returned to the embankment a few hours later, it was clear that Lab54 had pulled it off again: another unconventional venue turned into a packed-out party. If their motto is truly “Anywhere but a club,” then the River Thames might be one of their best locations yet. I look forward to partying with them again soon.
