Club 71

In spite of its name, superficially (I keep thinking nightclubs with strippers), Club 71 is just about as chill and cosy as it gets. Surprisingly located in Soho, it's off in a back alley that opens up to a residential playground. The club is named for the political protests on an anniversary of the handover to China- 1 July 2003. It's a very civil sort of dive, really. No glitz. Perfect. Don't bother dressing up. Dress to be yourself. We wanted a watering hole. We got it.

A tiny indoor space, everyone spills out on plastic chairs outdoors. Like we're chilling out in someone's backyard. This is where our dearest friends hang out. Artists, sculptors, scriptwriters, writers, artists, musicians, shopkeepers, the unemployed, and the alcoholics. We drank Tetley's (on tap) from plastic cups. There's Carlsberg on tap too, if you prefer. Ahhhh......such familiar vibes. We needn't do the social whirl if we didn't want to. Only if we managed to somehow talk to the people we met and through the initial pleasantries, decided that a meaningful conversation could ensue.

One by one, two by two, in threes, fives and many, the friends strolled in for the night. Loads of laughter and ideas went around which made for some great thoughts and influences to put into either our music, art or work. Fabulous.

Club 71
67 Hollywood Road, Soho, Central, Hong Kong
T: +852 2858 7071