This is a gathering of beings on a happy planet that feels far from our own, where the night is danced away to a soundtrack from some of the best underground DJs ever to grace a pair of decks, where messages of love are inscribed on the walls in fluorescent paint and strips of magnetic poetry, and where the commonly accepted mode of transport is the space hopper. This is Planet Angel – not a piece of hippy heaven set in space, but a non-profit organisation that is very much alive and kicking right here on Earth.

Planet Angel started by running artistic activity-based events in 1997, and since 2000 has been putting on a club night nearly every month – but it's so much more than that. The punters (known as ‘Party People’) can get directly involved with helping out at the events, and a lot of them do. One month you and your mate will be dancing together in the Meltdown Room, the next month she'll be wearing a fluorescent jacket and be handing out fruit to you and everyone else at 2am in the morning. The founders of Planet Angel, Pete Jones and Angel Benwell, used to work in the IT industry and yet they shared a dream of one day creating a place of “creativity, entertainment and good friends,” which could both serve as an awesome club night, and a very sociable meeting place for like-minded people to come together.

Words: Steph Robinson
Pics: Will Poole
Film: Infected Media
Film & Images: © Planet AngelThis philosophy is just one of the aspects that sets Planet Angel apart from other clubs in London. When I interviewed people attending in August 2008 for a documentary I was making, the one thing that everyone spoke about was the incredible vibe at every single one of the events. Samantha Wye, one of the lovely, friendly crew, talked about how it was one of the few clubs where “you are expected to go and actually talk to random strangers,” without fear of a rebuttal, verbal or physical. The top-quality music, the bright, beautiful décor and visuals, and the fun activities including Easter egg hunts – these things alone make a great night out, but the real icing on the cake is the relaxed, respectful, friendly atmosphere that means every newcomer signing the website guestbook swears they will back next month, and the next, and the next...

This mellow, happy atmosphere also has another home at Planet Angel's daytime Chilled events, which are usually held twice a year at a different venue where ‘Party People’ can bring their children and have proper sit-down meals with each other, whilst still enjoying the pumping dancefloor, craft workshops, and at the most recent Chilled event: the Hippies Impromptu Panto.




Of course it would be a sin to write about Planet Angel without mentioning the music, which has been known to both melt faces and knock people sideways. Sometimes simultaneously. There are three areas: the Meltdown Room, playing all different sorts of trance and progressive house; the Funky Lounge, banging out breaks, drum and bass and various funky beats; and the Chill Bar, playing eclectic chilled music from all over the globe. Planet Angel has its own famed resident DJs who call these rooms their home, such as Sly One, Jurrane and Ade Laugee; but the club also makes a real effort to showcase new talent with guests – and often to overwhelming success, as Acidic Records' own Cellardore and DJ Fiend have recently discovered. Live ska bands, acoustic sets and even bellydancers have also performed at Planet Angel before so there really is something for everyone.