Somewhere New Years Eve Special at Henry's, Norwich

31.12.2005

Hosted at Henry's, I was unsure what to expect, previous occasions had revealed a chilled bar but not a club ready to handle the 850 people that filled it on New Years Eve. A large heated marquee had been added on the front courtyard providing a good size dance floor, with a starlit sky lighting system and some strobes. There was a large sound system which filled the marquee with the sounds of X-Press 2 as I arrived, the sound was clear, though a slight crackle could be heard from one speaker but this did not disturb the overall effect.

Entering the second room there was a much smaller dance area with different sounds being provided by Soulshaker DJ's, there were no light displays here. Although both rooms were next to each other the sounds were well managed and very little overflow could be heard from one to another.

X-Press 2's set was well received by the party goers, they playing many of their well known numbers such as Muzik Express, Say What, I Want You Back and of course, Lazy. This sets feature was the 6 deck and 3 mixers which added and gave for an exciting concoction of the tunes. After their set was over there was a continuous flow of uplifting and sometimes well known dance numbers to keep the crowd happy.

The drinks at the bar were not so unreasonably priced considering the new years celebrations and the £25 entry charge (£20 advance) which prepared me for much worse. All drinks could be brought for around £3, and from the looks of things many were consumed that evening. The crowds seemed to be made up from a mix of ages and people, with many people out for a drink, a bit of dancing and hopefully a lady to take home at the end. A small percentage of clubbers were dancing all night long and definitely enjoying the music played. The crowds were reasonably friendly but I got the impression there was also a lot of people happy in their own groups and not wanting to share the experience with the rest of us just out for a good time.

The Henry's staff were friendly for the most part, I think had I fitted the expected quota for evening look and had a hair cut then my reception at the front door would have been a lot friendlier, but all the same the rest of staff didn't hold a grudge and were quick to serve drinks and offer advice on other details when asked.

The night ended at 3am with a slightly dissipated crowd but those who stayed were still having a good time. All in all, if you're wanting a good drink and a night out with your mates and can afford the entry fee Somewhere is definitely an option for you.

Review by Samwo