Pacha extends brand by opening a London club

Ibiza superclub Pacha opens its first club in London on 21 December, featuring interiors by Pacha London co-owners Debby Lee and Billy Reilly.

Pacha has transformed an abandoned ballroom in Victoria to its former glory, in a £1.3m project, to create a ‘funky gentleman’s club’ atmosphere, says Lee.

Club co-owner Billy Reilly was the driving force behind the design, says Lee, after an initial license application for a club in Bloomsbury was turned down in May. There was no input from any outside consultancies on the refurbishment.

The duo have aimed to recreate the venue’s turn-of-the-century elegance as closely as possible, she says. Huge chandeliers are suspended beneath a stained glass roof and much of the original parquet flooring has been restored.

Materials including florentine marble and English oak feature heavily in the interiors, Lee adds.The venue’s former incarnation was as SW1, which featured frequently changing backdrops.

Pacha began near Barcelona in 1966 but its Ibizan opening in 1973 established its jet set party credentials. There are 24 franchises around the world. Pacha Ibiza owner Ricardo Urgell turned down seven previous offers to take the brand to London, industry sources claim. Urgell describes the new club as ‘a luxury lifestyle brand’.

The opulence of Pacha London is a departure from the minimalism of recent superclub designs, such as Fabric and the Ministry of Sound.

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