The Garage

You're walking down Highbury Corner on a Friday night and descending into The Garage—a converted basement space that's been hosting live music since the '80s and still feels like the real deal. No pretence, no Instagram bait, just a sweaty room packed with people who actually care about the band playing. The sound's decent, the bar pours proper drinks, and there's something genuinely fun about catching someone before they blow up (or revisiting an old favourite) in a space this intimate. It's the kind of venue where you remember exactly where you were when you heard that song.