Club night: DJs and MCs are performing on the roof of a Croydon town centre multi-storey car park, with an 8pm curfew
Westfield has once again turned the top floor of a multi-storey car park next to a shopping centre into a… beach. NADIA AZIZUDDIN went along to try out the new, adults-only Thursday club night
For those who are missing the beach, Centrale has brought the beach to Croydon.
In what genuinely feels like a different world as you approach the rooftop parking, Costa del Croydon’s Beach Club is an exciting and energetic way to spend the last few Thursday evenings of the summer.
It is the third year that Centrale has staged Costa del Croydon, this time with an adults-only Beach Club night. Every Thursday until August 27, the Centrale rooftop car park becomes a space for live music, drinks and an enormous sandpit.
The Beach Club provides a much-needed upgrade to Croydon’s nightlife. Despite its early 8pm curfew, its juxtaposition to Croydon’s residential tone and retail-focused high street makes it an exciting – albeit temporary – addition to the social scene.
Insta opportunities: Costa del Croydon offers the chance of making memories
Like the daytime sessions aimed at families with children, the Beach Club has free entry. Once inside, your drinks and fairground games are moderately priced, but the music and atmosphere is all free of charge. Aside from the live entertainment, there is also a huge sandpit, a giant chess board and hammocks to be enjoyed.
According to Dominique Stagg, the marketing and events manager for Centrale, it was very important to champion local businesses by having them as vendors at the venue for the whole duration. Melting Memories, a new dessert shop, trades from an ice cream van – just as you might expect at any “beach”.
The live music and entertainment are also locally sourced, with events like free pottery painting with Turf Projects (Thursday August 20), or free carnival makeup (Thursday August 27), just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend.
Beach club chill: there are worse ways of spending a summer’s evening in Croydon
The acts lined up for various nights and days throughout the month are often from the Croydon community, and include DJ Shaney, R&B singer and songwriter Morgan Cassius, and spoken word poet Sharina Has Spoken.
For the last two years, the feedback survey for Costa del Croydon suggested several upgrades, including the adults-only evening. Stagg said that the demand was very clear. So clear that the 300 places for August 2026’s first Beach Club went almost as soon as they were made available online.
Holiday activities: Costa del Croydon continues to offer a family-friendly space through the rest of the week
Despite being encouraged to book due to the demand, there are also more than 300 walk-in spaces available for each Beach Club night.
Over its final two weeks, the Beach Club nights is themed to different tastes. On Thursday August 20, the Beach Club will become Pride Beach Club, with music from DJ Melley and a Drag Lip Sync Battle headline act hosted by Tiana Biscuit and Sophia Stardust.
Then for the Beach Club finale on August 27, the Garage Night will see a return of DJ Luck and MC Neat for a celebration of all the classics.
- Costa del Croydon is free entry for all sessions. There are walk-up entries available, but booking is advised to avoid disappointment
- Daily sessions are Monday to Wednesday 11.30am to 3pm and 3.30pm to 7pm; Thursday 12pm to 4pm; Friday to Sunday 11.30am to 3pm and 3.30pm to 7pm
- Adults-only Beach Club on Thursdays August 20 and 27, 5pm to 8pm.
- Costa del Croydon runs until August 31 at Centrale Level 3A Rooftop Car Park
- To book tickets click here
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Passport to Chocolate: chocolate-making workshops at Cocoa Jones
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from August 6
Classes at 12pm and 3pm
Book online by clicking here
Price: £15pp
Where: Cocoa Jones Chocolate, 2 The Parade, Old Lodge, Purley CR8 4DG.
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