OPINION: Cocktails, competition and chaos made Clays Canary Wharf the perfect alternative London night out as our team swapped awkward drinks for virtual clay shooting
Shots were fired on our first work night out in years, but thankfully it was all for the right reasons.
After what felt like forever stuck behind laptops, endless meetings and rushed office cuppas, our group of 17 Daily Star journalists finally swapped the newsroom for a night of cocktails, competition and virtual clay pigeon shooting at Clays Bar in Canary Wharf and honestly, it might just be one of the best alternative nights out in London.
If you’ve never heard of Clays before, imagine bringing a slice of the countryside right into the heart of the city, except instead of muddy boots and freezing fields, you get plush interiors, glowing neon lights, banging cocktails and interactive virtual clay shooting games that quickly turn even the calmest colleague into an ultra competitive nightmare.
And trust me, things got intense very quickly.
The venue itself instantly sets the tone. Hidden among Canary Wharf’s shiny skyscrapers, Clays somehow manages to feel both slick and cosy at the same time. Think upscale cocktail bar meets country club chaos. The booths are spacious, the screens are huge and the atmosphere is buzzing before you’ve even picked up the virtual shotgun.
As complete beginners, most of us arrived thinking we’d be absolutely useless. And to be fair, some of us absolutely were. I personally couldn’t hit a target to save my life and spent most rounds wildly firing into thin air while everyone else laughed at my terrible aim.
Meanwhile, my colleague Abi turned into some sort of secret sniper and completely dominated the leaderboard all night. Honestly, where these shooting skills came from we still don’t know, but she absolutely wiped the floor with the rest of us.
That’s exactly what made it such brilliant team building though. It wasn’t one of those awkward work socials where everyone politely sips drinks and talks about emails. Within minutes people were screaming, celebrating shots, blaming the equipment for missed targets and fully invested in beating each other.
It had the perfect balance of bonding and competitiveness.
The games themselves are genuinely addictive too. Whether you’re naturally competitive or just there for the vibes, it’s impossible not to get swept up in the chaos once the scores start flashing up on screen.
And while the shooting was obviously the main event, the food and drinks seriously deserve their own standing ovation.
The cocktails were unreal. Our table became obsessed with the Cherry Blossom Collins and Ruby cocktails, both dangerously drinkable and easily among the nicest cocktails we’ve had in a long time. Sweet, refreshing and strong enough to make everyone think they suddenly had Olympic level shooting abilities.
Food wise, absolutely nothing missed.
The loaded sweet potato fries disappeared within seconds and honestly deserved a moment of silence because they were that good. Crispy, loaded with toppings and ridiculously moreish. The pizzas were perfect sharing food between rounds while the chicken bites and beef sliders kept everyone fuelled throughout the evening.
One of the best things about Clays is that it works for literally any group. Work socials, birthdays, dates, mates catching up or even something different for family visits. It’s such a strong alternative to the usual London night out where you end up standing in an overcrowded bar shouting over music you don’t even like.
Instead, you actually do something.
There’s something weirdly satisfying about unleashing your inner cowboy while sipping cocktails in Canary Wharf.
By the end of the night, scores were being disputed like VAR decisions, friendships were hanging by a thread and everyone was already planning a rematch.
Safe to say Clays absolutely smashed it.
If you’re looking for a London activity that’s competitive, chaotic, hilarious and genuinely memorable, this is one place that deserves to be firmly in your sights.
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