Legendary DJ and Certificate 18 label manager Paul Arnold started Chew The Fat! in 1997 at The Bug Bar in the crypt of St. Matthew’s  Church, Brixton. Chew The Fat! is now the longest running breaks night in the world and is synonymous for fresh parties, cutting edge music and good honest unpretentious fun. Chew The Fat is about to turn 9 this year, and its impact on the scene and dance music generally during this time cannot be underestimated. Fat captured a sound still in its infancy and brought DJs, producers and punters together for an eclectic mish-mash of hip hop beats fused with funked up bass that rolls beautifully at an accessible house tempo.

‘It was one of the first clubs to push breaks music’ Lee Coombs

The impressive list of DJs who have played at Chew The Fat! simply speaks for itself: Adam Freeland, Plump DJs, Ali B, Rennie Pilgrem, Medicine 8, Freq Nasty, Stanton Warriors, Koma and Bones, Meat Katie, Tayo, Soul Of Man, BLIM, Hyper, Layo & Bushwacka!, Lee Coombs, Tom Middleton, James Zabiela (who Fat brokered into the breaks scene), and many more.

‘One breakbeat night in London everyone wants to play’ Rennie Pilgrem

Whilst Chew The Fat! at  The Bug Bar remains a much loved staple of the scene, the strength of the night meant it proceeded to secure residencies at some of London’s premiere clubs. In 2002 Chew The Fat found a second home with a monthly residency at London’s finest club The End. Hosting the lounge for Steve Lawler’s Harlem Nights, it was jam-packed every time. The strength of Chew The Fat! grew and their march north through the capital continued as Fat! were asked to host another monthly residency at London’s most exciting new club The Key, which they did for a year with unprecedented success. Chew The Fat! has also established itself on the international stage with ground breaking breakbeat parties in Ibiza 2004 and residencies in Hungary, Slovenia, Germany, Spain and Glasgow alongside numerous gigs across the globe in America, Russia, and the far East. Paul Arnold has also completed four sell out tours of Australia, where he headlined the Good Vibrations festival in 2004. He finished the year with a nine date tour of South America which featured gigs in Brazil and Argentina. Fat’s 8th birthday tour ran for 3 months from September to November 2005 spanning the globe, with parties in Greece, Edinburgh, France, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Poland, China and more...

In September 2004 Chew The Fat! kicked off an exclusive monthly residency in the main room at The End. Now undeniably on e of the  most successful breakbeat parties in the world Chew The Fat! recently celebrated its first fantastic year at The End followed by its 8th birthday party in October 2005 with a monumental Fat! is 8 party starring Fat! favourites Tayo  and Soul Of Man alongside residents Friendly and Paul Arnold. Now with successful nights and a dedicated following of Fat! crew, it is clear that Chew The Fat!, the world’s longest running breakbeat experience, is going from strength to strength. In 2006 the Fat! wings are continuing to spread with regular nights springing up around the globe and the addition of new resident Kid Blue.

The achievements of Chew The Fat! provided the perfect set up for Fat Records, launched in 2001. Fat! Records was an instant success as it captured the sounds of the night on vinyl, and is currently on it’s 35th release and 5th album. The latest being the second instalment of ‘Chew The Fat! at The End presents...’ mixed by none other than Paul Arnold himself.  The next Fat! long player will be the long awaited debut artist album from Fat!’s prodigy Merka. The future for Fat! records looks very healthy.

‘A massive launch pad for some of the superstars of the scene today’ Danny McMillan

The Chew The Fat! brand has long been admired by the UK dance community and it is now truly global. The stickers of Fat!’s ubiquitous logo have been plastered across the four corners of the globe and have ended up in some very bizarre places indeed. The word of Fat! is also spread to over 10,000 subscribers via email with the infamous Fat! Mail featuring the latest Fat! news and base humour.  The Fat Club website is currently being revamped gradually, and is regularly updated with info, DJ interviews and photos from the infamous Chew The Fat! parties.

Fat’s strength is its desire to constantly improve and push itself and in turn the scene onwards and upwards. With the best club night in London firmly established Fat! has always stayed true to its breaks roots. However, Fat! is always one step ahead of the rest as it looks to encompass new styles, new talent, and bigger and better nights by catering for as wide an audience as possible through the international language of party!