Back to business: Studio 338 is reopen and ready for summer

Ever since Studio 338 suffered hefty fire damage last August, London has been missing a link in its clubbing chain. Not only did the blaze destroy the interior, ruining a recent renovation, it sadly took the life of a treasured staff member. Events were put on hold just as the venue's reputation was rising to the top of LDN nightlife.

Studio 338 has amassed a doting crowd since opening in 2014. No doubt due to its Ibiza-inspired, 3000-capacity terrace that’s hosted household names during parties curated by the likes of Half Baked, elrow and Cocoon. New venues in the capital have popped up since the fire, including sister club The Bridge and Printworks, but Studio 338 ticked a different box compared to its counterparts.

After promising it would be back, Studio 338 re-emerges 10 months on with a series of daytime parties at its new Garden. 338 christened the outdoor space over the weekend with a secret line-up, and we headed down on Saturday afternoon to join those out in force to welcome the club’s reopening.

Making up for lost time, a whole troop come out early on in support and to enjoy the favourable weather. Faux blossom and palm trees are dotted about, in contrast to the 360 degree views of industrial units, including a gasholder, next door.

Getting the club back has taken a lot of work by the dedicated team. Right now, the main club space resembles a building site, while the terrace is a charred shell. If all goes to plan, the inside could return to its former glory by the end of the year. For now, be prepared for lengthy portaloo queues and a stripped-back production level, leaving the music to do the talking.

Here are seven tracks that reunited Studio 338 with its patrons.

With the line-up under wraps, it isn't until we step foot on the freshly-laid astroturf that we discover who's playing. Arriving at the tail end of a B2B vinyl set between Colin Chiddle and Raphael Carrau, we are greeted by a crisp maroon Void set-up. At 5:30pm, the system swaps from punching out heady grooves to sunny house with beefy low-end, as Panorama Bar regular Dinky takes control and has her first proper "moment".

By now the crowd feel back at home and the sun only hides away during occasional cloudy intervals. Dinky keeps spirits up with bouncy house cuts and acid-tinged selections. After eyeing up the burgers on offer we quickly get back down the front when 'The Underground' rolls into the air. Chicago-born Celeda is better known for working with Danny Tenaglia on ‘Music Is Tthe Answer’, but the singer achieved a higher dance chart place three years later with this stormer.

Chilean Dinky has an enviable past residing in New York and Berlin, and this worldly influence comes through in her set. But her feet are planted in England this evening and after showing off her rich collection, Dinky displays her appreciation for our born-and-bred artists. She starts a trail of UK-produced summer jams in her final half hour with ‘Big Love’. We can't hide our smiles when the contagious intro rolls out, a euphoria that doesn't falter when ‘Final Credits’ comes right after.

Veteran Nick Höppner steps up next in the booth, located inside a makeshift cabin. Following Dinky’s disco lead, he spins DJ Koze’s version of ‘Operator’, before taking us on a sleek voyage through the corners of his record bag. Reaching for Matthew Herbert’s latest effort on Herbert's own label Accidental Jnr, a rework of a live version recorded on radio station KEXP. It’s the raw way the scattered cymbals fly off this into the dancefloor that'll make this one stick in the memory.

Located at the mouth of the Blackwall Tunnel, the Garden boasts a vantage point of nearby East London landmark Canary Wharf. By now the cityscape backdrop is glowing red as the sun fades behind. When in this city, Höppner knows a sunset is not the opportune moment to drop in Balearic beats, instead the time has come for some UKG and only the very finest. Dem 2’s remix is almost two decades old but still skips up a treat.

A lurking grey cloud sees to the last of the daylight and begins to spit out rain. The Garden is pretty vulnerable to the elements with sparse shelter and as the rainfall grows heavier, Nick changes tack to deliver one of his set highlights. Karizma’s gospel house release makes us oblivious to the sudden change of weather. ‘Work It Out’ is expected to ring out all summer long with its rapturous repeating sermon.

Last to be welcomed to the booth is Oshana, who we’d noticed roaming through the party all day. Armed with a Roland TR-8 and the second edition of Akai’s APC40 live controller, Oshana issues an impeccable live set for the final hour. It was all systems go from the beginning and she closes out the night in the lavish confines of minimal and techno sequences. At this point, it is a more intimate gathering and those left are lapping up her rhythm patterns right 'til the last drum offensive comes to a halt.

Emma Gillett is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Twitter