London Nightclub Policies You Should Know: ID, Dress Code and Entry

We arrange nights at London's clubs every week, and almost every refusal at a door comes down to one of a handful of policies. None of them are complicated, but each one can end a night before it starts. This guide sets out the policies that apply at nearly every club in the city, then the ones that change from venue to venue.

The Core London Nightclub Policies at a Glance

ID: Bring Physical Photo ID

Every licensed venue in England must have an age verification policy as a mandatory licensing condition, which you can read in the government's alcohol licensing guidance. The official guidance on those conditions describes acceptable proof of age as ID carrying your photograph, date of birth and a holographic mark or ultraviolet feature: in practice a passport, a photocard driving licence or a PASS-hologram proof of age card.

That is why a photo of your ID on your phone, or a scan, is not accepted. A door supervisor cannot check a hologram on a screen. Bring the physical card, make sure it is in date, and check that everyone in your group has theirs before you leave for the club, because one person without ID usually means a conversation at the door for the whole group.

If your passport has been lost or stolen before a night out, tell us before you travel to the venue rather than at the door: we can tell you what the venue will accept, and it is far easier to sort out in advance.

Age: 18+ at Most Clubs, 19+ at Some

The legal minimum is 18, and that is the entry age at most London clubs. Some doors set their own higher age. 99 Regent Street, the former Cuckoo Club, runs a 19+ door, a year older than most of London. Doors can also refuse a group that looks young as a whole even when everyone is technically old enough, so the oldest-looking ID in the group does not cover the rest. For a venue-specific example, our Cirque le Soir age policy guide sets out how one club handles it.

Dress Code: Smart and Elegant Is the Default

Nearly every club we work with lists its dress code as smart and elegant. For women that usually means heels or smart shoes and a dressed-up outfit; for men, smart trousers or dark tailored jeans, a shirt or smart top and clean, smart shoes. The common refusals are:

• Sportswear, tracksuits and football shirts
• Running trainers and anything visibly worn
• Shorts, caps and hats (religious and medical head coverings are a different matter and are accommodated)
• Fancy dress, unless the night is themed

Clean, minimal trainers are at the door's discretion at some venues and a firm no at others. When in doubt, dress up rather than down. Our London club dress code guide covers each of these in detail.

Guestlist Policies: Who Gets on the List

Guestlist rules vary more than any other policy, and this is where most misunderstandings happen:

• Ladies-only lists. At Tape London, Cirque le Soir, London Reign, Dear Darling Mayfair, Rumour and Selene London, the guestlist is reserved for ladies. Men usually come in with a table.
• Mixed or girl-majority lists. Rex Rooms Chelsea takes ladies and girl-majority mixed groups. The 99 Regent Street list is by request and takes mixed groups.
• No guestlist at all. The Scotch of St James runs no list: you walk in at the door or reserve a table. The Box admits by table only, and entry to BEAT London is by table booking.

Being on a list gets you to the door on agreed terms; it does not override the dress code, the ID check or the cut-off time. Our London nightclub guestlist guide explains how lists are confirmed and what to expect on the night.

Arrival Times and Cut-Offs

Most of the clubs we work with open their doors at 11pm, and guestlist terms usually apply only until a set time on the night. Arrive after the cut-off and the list may no longer cover you, or the door may be at capacity. We confirm the cut-off for your night when we confirm your names, and our guide on how early to arrive at a London nightclub explains the windows that work best. Closing times range from around 3:45am to 6am depending on the venue, set out in our opening and closing times guide.

Searches, Bags and Prohibited Items

Expect a bag search, and often a pat-down or a wand check, at every door. It applies to everyone, including tables and guestlist guests, and it is a condition of entry rather than a judgement on you. Anything that looks like a weapon, any illegal drugs and outside drinks are refused, and carrying drugs into a venue can mean the police being called rather than simply being turned away. Small bags make the search quicker; large bags and luggage are often refused, so do not bring a suitcase or a laptop bag straight from the airport or the office.

Intoxication and Pre-Drinking

There is nothing wrong with a drink before you go, but door staff refuse anyone who appears drunk, and licensing law means staff must not serve alcohol to someone who is already drunk. Arriving visibly intoxicated is one of the most common reasons a group is turned away, and one person in that state can affect how the door sees everyone with them. The same licensing conditions require venues to provide free drinking water, so ask at the bar at any point in the night.

Photos and Phones

Most clubs allow photos, but not all. Rumour does not allow photos or video in the main room or on the dance floor, and the floor team enforces it. Taking pictures of other guests without their consent is frowned on everywhere. Our guide on taking photos inside a London club covers where the line usually falls.

Door Discretion

Every club reserves the right to refuse entry, and that discretion sits above every written policy. The door is balancing the room: capacity, the mix of the crowd and how a group presents itself. Group composition matters most, as large all-male groups face the most scrutiny at nearly every venue. The practical answer is to arrive within the cut-off, dressed to the code, with ID, sober and ideally with your names already confirmed.

If anything about your night does not fit these policies (a late arrival, a missing passport, a mixed group on a ladies-only night), tell us before you go and we will tell you honestly what the venue will accept. You can get in touch or see the clubs we arrange nights at on our London nightclub page.