The interior design for Howard Spooner’s new Dukebox nightclub in Chelsea is a playful celebration of fun with surprise elements – a touch of Magic Roundabout meets New York warehouse style. The new Chelsea night spot has already attracted royalty and pop stars so it would seem to be hitting the spot.
Dukebox, a new nightclub situated just off Fulham Road, London, launched towards the end of 2012. The team behind Dukebox is responsible for some of London’s most successful destination venues including, most recently, Public, whose guests included Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton and Katy Perry.
Dukebox, which has a capacity of approximately 250 people, aesthetically juxtaposes a New York warehouse-style interior with eccentric theatrical touches featuring a series of nods to fantastical, and idiosyncratically British design.
The overall effect invokes a grown-up’s playground, celebrating the elements of fun and surprise with nostalgic details prominent throughout, including carousel horses, a roundabout podium, caged jack-in-the-boxes, booths in the guise of Waltzer cars, a giant duck-on-a-spring and private dance floor caves.
The name, inspired by recollections of unimpeded childhood fun, is reminiscent of both the 17th century nursery rhyme, The Grand Old Duke of York, and a jack-in-the-box toy, whose surprise is featured following music. Other influences and reference points include The Magic Roundabout – in particular the character Zebedee, a jack-in-the-box, who operates as a kind of master of ceremonies within the surreal land created by Serge Danot.
Dukebox staff are distinctive in 18th century style military coats, whilst sharing cocktails include the Egg and Soldier – a giant egg cup painted with a soldier, which opens to reveal a vodka-based cocktail for six to 10 people. The drink has its own soundtrack, and is delivered to the table by marching soldiers carrying sparklers. The Present is an oversized, brightly-painted gift box containing a cocktail for six to 10 people, is wrapped in a big bow and served with a confetti bomb.
The co-owners of Dukebox are Howard Spooner – who was the principal shareholder at Public, has also owned well-known Chelsea nightspots The Leopard Lounge, Embargo and Crazy Larry’s, and bought and restored legendary venues the Hammersmith Palais and the Clapham Grand – and Dipak Panchal, the name behind numerous London ventures.
Their team at Dukebox has strong operational experience, with senior personnel having been involved with many of Howard’s previous projects, including Public, and a number of other successful London hotspots such as Mahiki.
