Covent Garden: Neon Lights, Bustling Crowds and Rockaoke.

The Roadhouse in Covent Garden offers a casual atmosphere with drinks and entertainment.

After walking down a flight of stairs to the basement, the room opens up into a retro scene illuminated by flashing neon lights. People sit around the edges of the room in booths and tables sipping drinks or snacking on something from the extensive food menu.

A large bar sits in the center of the room with a smaller bar on one wall. Bustling crowds surround both bars during happy hour. Once or twice a bartender might flick a glass into the air to entertain the customers but anyone behind the bar is mainly concerned with moving traffic, letting people return to their seats or back to the dance floor.

The music coming from the speakers is loud enough to enjoy but still quiet enough to hear the person across the table. When it gets closer to 10 p.m., a band starts to assemble on stage. Not only does the band play covers of once popular American hits, on Wednesday nights it accompanies singers during Rockaoke, the Roadhouse’s own karaoke competition. The band manages to keep all entertained while listening to the occasional horrid rendition of a classic song by someone who had a few too many drinks.

If customers arrive early enough, entrance to the Roadhouse is free. On most nights, an entrance fee between £5-12 is required after 9 or 10 p.m. Even with this fee, however, most people arrive later in the night just in time for the band to go on stage when the dance party begins.

- Text and images by Christie Francis.