Local Guides World
Busy nightclub where patrons dance in the cavernous art deco-style ballroom or on the rooftop deck.
Photos — 37
Reviews — 8
The security guard pulled my hand very rudely from the dance floor and threw me out on a silent street just because there was a balloon on the floor and it got busted while dancing.
My friends begged to send them out the same way so that they can come to me and we can leave since I had no phone near me, the guard did not allow for whatsoever reason. This behavior is not acceptable!!
My friends begged to send them out the same way so that they can come to me and we can leave since I had no phone near me, the guard did not allow for whatsoever reason. This behavior is not acceptable!!
The dike security officer kicked out my beautiful wife without her purse or phone for an hour or more until I came outside to find her distraught about getting kicked out for having too much fun. Wow do not spend money here.
Good atmosphere on rooftop, bad drinks/bartenders have limited experience and ingredients.
The security guard Ron (tall guy with dreads) was horrible. My husband was treated so aggressively by this security guard for just trying to get to me in the front of the crowd and at this point it wasn’t even full. Ron was a rude and i saw him be very aggressive with everyone, including shoving a girl that was in the group with us. Josh helped us figure it out the first time and he was very nice and spoke to that security guard (thanks josh!) but then the second time i was not able to speak with anyone. The security outside was brushing us off and claiming to be the manager of the entire place just to shut us up and was also very rude. service was horrible, this was our first time experiencing this. I DO NOT recommend the Clarendon ballroom and that security guard should go. i have read other reviews about an aggressive security guard and i have no doubt it’s the same guy. Please don’t come here, it’s awful and ruined the night.
Security patted us down like we were entering an airport. Drink pours were terrible. Carpeted areas smelled very strongly of rotten eggs? There were lots of people dancing which was cool, but this place sketches me out. We didn’t get attacked by bouncers as other reviewers experienced, but I’m not really privy on trying my luck again.
Without question, the quality of Clarendon Ballroom has progressively gone downhill over the past 5 years since I've been going here. So...despite the growing # of negative reviews, a group of us (the majority) decided to go back this past weekend. To get in, we had to go thru a security checkpoint. Basically, a couple of guys frisking each of us, then searching thru purses, jackets, pockets, etc...and THOROUGHLY...literally TSA-style. a couple of years ago, it was a couple of guys checking id. This alone should have been a big red flag. After a quick bite to eat on the roof (great nachos and chicken bites, btw), we headed downstairs, ordered some drinks and cups of water at the bar and just pretty much kept to ourselves out of the way. Or so we thought.
A little over an hour in, we were dancing close to the bar area away from the bartender working areas and moreso from the larger crowd. Suddenly, we've got a bright light overhead as a very tall (~6'3), thin security guard tells folks to move out of the way as he ushers one of the female bartenders thru the crowd to the front area. (He was actually holding her upper arm firmly, so not sure if she was sick or drunk.) Some of us dancing away from the bar, scooted closer to our group/bar to make a path for them, only to be pushed even closer to the bar. This happened three different times (transport of bottles of alcohol to VIP booths, we guessed). Note, we're all huddled close to the bar, but 15'+ or so from where the bartenders are taking orders. Bartenders aren't telling us we're in their way or anything.
On the third pass, to make even more room, the guy resorts to aggressively shoving a couple of the ladies in our group…one almost to the floor…for no good reason other than he's "security". One or more people shove back and now he's on his mic, asking for help from his team. (After all, you know how rough these petite ladies can be.) When a female security person arrives, we and other folks nearby stepped in to explain the situation, that we were attempting to stay out of the way, we weren't drunk, and yet this particular security guy's aggression and attitude was creating problems where there hadn't been any. Really no excuse. She seemed to understand and agree, because from that point on our troubles stopped.
Best we could tell, these 2-3 trips were mostly for delivering bottles of alcohol from the bar area to the VIP section about 35-40' away. (Keep in mind, the bar runs almost the entire length... ~50'...of a side wall.) If accurate, it's inexcusable that the management/owner hasn't studied the logistics of moving whatever from source to destination without having to resort to pushing and shoving your paying customers in the process. I was a bar back in my youth. There are better ways. In this case, management was essentially setting his teams up for failure and the security guy's shoving and attitude almost got his clock rung in the process. Unless there's real and significant change here, this place is doomed to close. That or hopefully change ownership for the better.
A word to the wise. Having a large security checkpoint area in front of a bar like this, there are reasons why folks are being frisked so thoroughly (ie, fights, shootings, stabbings, etc). Is it really worth the trouble?
A little over an hour in, we were dancing close to the bar area away from the bartender working areas and moreso from the larger crowd. Suddenly, we've got a bright light overhead as a very tall (~6'3), thin security guard tells folks to move out of the way as he ushers one of the female bartenders thru the crowd to the front area. (He was actually holding her upper arm firmly, so not sure if she was sick or drunk.) Some of us dancing away from the bar, scooted closer to our group/bar to make a path for them, only to be pushed even closer to the bar. This happened three different times (transport of bottles of alcohol to VIP booths, we guessed). Note, we're all huddled close to the bar, but 15'+ or so from where the bartenders are taking orders. Bartenders aren't telling us we're in their way or anything.
On the third pass, to make even more room, the guy resorts to aggressively shoving a couple of the ladies in our group…one almost to the floor…for no good reason other than he's "security". One or more people shove back and now he's on his mic, asking for help from his team. (After all, you know how rough these petite ladies can be.) When a female security person arrives, we and other folks nearby stepped in to explain the situation, that we were attempting to stay out of the way, we weren't drunk, and yet this particular security guy's aggression and attitude was creating problems where there hadn't been any. Really no excuse. She seemed to understand and agree, because from that point on our troubles stopped.
Best we could tell, these 2-3 trips were mostly for delivering bottles of alcohol from the bar area to the VIP section about 35-40' away. (Keep in mind, the bar runs almost the entire length... ~50'...of a side wall.) If accurate, it's inexcusable that the management/owner hasn't studied the logistics of moving whatever from source to destination without having to resort to pushing and shoving your paying customers in the process. I was a bar back in my youth. There are better ways. In this case, management was essentially setting his teams up for failure and the security guy's shoving and attitude almost got his clock rung in the process. Unless there's real and significant change here, this place is doomed to close. That or hopefully change ownership for the better.
A word to the wise. Having a large security checkpoint area in front of a bar like this, there are reasons why folks are being frisked so thoroughly (ie, fights, shootings, stabbings, etc). Is it really worth the trouble?
The rooftop here used to be one of the best (and one of the only) rooftops in the area. It had great friendly bartenders, a long happy hour, lots of people. No more. Mediocre beer runs almost $9 for a 12oz can (during happy hour), staff is odd (to say the least), and it feels like a strip mall version of a club. Sad to see a great space go to waste. Avoid.
