2000s Karaoke Bars in London: Where the Hits Still Play

When you think of 2000s karaoke bars, venues where groups gathered to scream pop anthems, dance on tables, and turn every chorus into a group hug. Also known as party karaoke spots, they were the heartbeat of London nights out—no fancy cocktails, no dress codes, just a mic, a screen, and a crowd ready to lose their voices. These weren’t just places to sing. They were social glue. You didn’t need to be good—you just needed to show up. And in London, that meant spots like All Star Lanes London, a hybrid venue that mixes bowling lanes, American diner food, and karaoke booths under one roof, where the 2000s never really left. Even now, you’ll find groups of friends belting out "Toxic" or "Hey Ya!" like it’s 2003 all over again.

But singing in public isn’t free. Karaoke rules London, a mix of venue policies and copyright laws that determine what you can record, what you can sing, and whether you’ll get kicked out for going too hard. Most places let you record your performance if you’re not planning to post it online—but if you do, you risk breaking karaoke copyright UK, a legal framework that protects songwriters and labels from unlicensed public performances. That’s why some bars now use licensed song libraries, while others quietly turn a blind eye to your shaky rendition of "I Gotta Feeling." It’s not about perfection—it’s about participation.

What makes a 2000s karaoke bar still worth visiting today? It’s the energy. The way strangers become backup singers. The way someone starts "Crazy in Love" and the whole room joins in. You won’t find these spots in glossy guides. They’re in the basement of a pub in Peckham, tucked behind a fake wall in Soho, or hidden inside a bowling alley that remembers when the playlist was all Britney and OutKast. And while newer venues try to be "Instagrammable," the real ones still smell like cheap beer, sticky floors, and pure joy.

Want to relive it? Look for places that still play the classics—not the remixes, not the TikTok trends. If the song list includes "Oops!... I Did It Again," "Lose Yourself," and "Don’t Cha," you’re in the right place. And if they let you bring your own group photo book to flip through between songs? Even better.

Below, you’ll find real stories from London’s best karaoke nights—the ones where the mic dropped, the crowd roared, and no one cared if you hit the note. Just the songs. Just the laughs. Just the night that didn’t end until the last chorus faded out.