The Borderline is one of those venues that somehow just seems to have always been there. While it may have always existed partly in the shadow of some of its more famous cousins like Brixton Academy or The Astoria (R.I.P.), to those that know London it’s been a staple part of the live music scene for what seems like forever.

Since it opened in 1988, the venue has seen performances from the likes of Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine, Oasis, Blur, Suede, Bryan Adams, Debbie Harry and Jeff Buckley to name but a few, making it a ‘must play’ venue for aspiring acts hoping to one day tread the boards of its bigger neighbour round the corner, The London Astoria.

“(They) set the tone for a longstanding relationship with artists demanding to play the venue and it became a rite of passage for aspiring acts,” says current Borderline manager, James Gall of the impressive lists of acts to have played the venue. “Always favoured by American artists, the venue continued to attract interest within the UK by the Britpop explosion and had the best of both worlds really - a strong local base and a demand from artists abroad.

“This has carried on in this manner to this day and we still have major artists doing shows here, anything from secret album launches to fan club shows and sweaty underplays. We have also had the longest running indie club in London - the Christmas Club has been hosted at the venue since opening - with the same DJ!”

The Borderline has recently undergone its first refurbishment since opening its doors over 20 years ago. Being the sort of place that’s purely about live music, it hasn’t really needed a refit until now – the gloriously shambollic atmosphere of the place only benefiting from the slightly rough round the edges feel. Despite this, the new look will doubtless give The Borderline a fresh lease of life in 2010, allowing it to quietly thrive for the next 20 years.

Having already over-acheived for a venue of its size over the last few years, it’s difficult to see what ambitions The Borderline could have for the future. Gall though, can think of a few goals…

“To see it come back into its own beyond the refurbishment and continue its community vibe; it’s a place where everyone is welcome and attitudes need to be left outside the front door.

“I’d love to have seen The Cramps play here; the venue’s basement vibe mixed with some hedonistic rockabilly would have been a perfect mixture!”

Where? 16 Manette Street, W1D 4AR 020 7734 5547
Web? www.meanfiddler.com
How? Tube: Tottenham Court Road (Northern Line / Central Line)
Bus: 25, 38, 29, 390, 55, 73, 242
Founded? 1988
Vibe? Dependable
Pint? £3.90