Chelsea

On one hand, there are great concerts. Excellent concerts, if you are lucky. On the other hand, the Chelsea doesn't work as a live music venue in case a show is sold out. If you get there a bit later than everyone else or if you are a person who doesn't enjoy being squeezed in the crowd, you have to basically watch the show from another room. This means you can only see the band through a doorway arch or on the screens that are placed beside the arch.

I absolutely avoid the Chelsea on weekends - it gets WAY too crowded, the bouncers tend to get too nervous and the djs try to please the very mixed crowd(=good thing!) with - in my opinion - quite boring mainstream-indie-rock. Also, on Fridays and Saturdays the Chelsea turns into a giant pick-up zone. (Of course, if you are fine with that, good for you.)

During the week the Chelsea is definitely a place to enjoy a chat over a glass of beer. In summer you can also escape the crowd - there are plenty of chairs to sit outside.

Extremely crowded, and with extremely I mean EXTREMELY and with crowded I mean crowded as fuck.

Lots of people too.

Apart from that, the music was standard Indie mainstream, the drinks were pretty good.

Oh, and one or two people were there too.

Many beers and whiskys, all kind of ball games on big screens and music, even Londoners wouldn't complain about.

In the weekend it's too crowded, therefore I recommend a visit on weekdays.

Beware, however, that it's often WAY overcrowded. (Examples of artists too popular for the Chelsea: Xiu Xiu, 13&God).

not my favorite but some amazing shows take place there. but when a show is sold out, it's almost unbearable.

What more could one ask for? The Chelsea is in the same league as the Rhiz and Flex for well-known nightclubs in Vienna. Other than featuring some of the best little known indie artists performing live in their main room, the Chelsea broadcasts FIFA matches almost non-stop! 4 or 5 bars stocked full of every imaginable intoxicating drink and sometimes a few snacks here and there.

A bit intimidating for the timid, but once you make it past the security guard you'll find yourself wrapped in a warm psuedo-British security blanket of loud rock, dub, raggea or jazz and half-empty pints.