Modern youthfulness and traditional elegance come together at this venue, right in the city center. The only nightclub in the city with a license to host lap dancing nights till early in the morning. This club has a strict 18 and over policy in place so make sure to get your ids on you. For more information, call or visit their website.
The infamous Thekla is one of Bristol's oldest clubs located inside an iron ship moored in the harbor. Do not expect super-club glam, do not bother dressing up and definitely do not look for any frills. However, what you can expect is top music; downstairs the live acts and DJs get the dance floor moving and upstairs is often more lively. Hosting various nights, from jungle to break beats to garage and funk, the crowd attracted is a good mix. This is the only club in the city where you can gaze out of portholes at swans asleep on the water below!
The Coronation Tap is Clifton's only cider pub with many varieties of the fermented apple on offer, including many local brews. The drink of choice is the exhibition cider, which is so potent that it can only be served in half pints (but there's no limit to how many you can buy!) The decor is rustic, complete with large wooden barrels holding the aforementioned brews and also acting as stools etc. Sport gets its fair TV screening and it seems popular with rugby followers for some reason. On a Friday night in term-time, it gets packed with trust-funded Bristol University students and can get loud and rather boisterous.
Its very dark, slightly musty interior, gives it a distinctly Victorian feel. Outside in the leafy garden bar, however, the rows of benches and the very welcome gas burning heaters create a slightly Mediterranean and more contemporary atmosphere. The overall effect is one of a classic ale house, and it is very popular with older locals, students and real ale aficionados alike. The pub menu includes stews, chili, salads and curries.
The Hatchet Inn is one of the city's oldest pubs. Licensed in 1606, it still retains some historical character, although it is unfortunately surrounded by concrete modern structures, and office workers and students alike enjoy the traditional village atmosphere, with the ancient pictures lining the walls. Don't expect the behavior of its patrons to be equally refined and old-world; weekend nights see the place dragged into the 21st Century with DJs and live music, and the crowd gets younger and much more boisterous. Those after a quiet pint should only venture in during the day.
The magnificent Venetian facade of the Browns building matches its high-quality food and drink and the somewhat lavish ambiance inside. The outside tables serve as a hip student/professional hang-out, making it very much a place to be seen. Everything is rather grand and impressive: the food ranges from Mediterranean-inspired dishes to old favorites such as steak and Guinness pie. As for drinks, you could stick to wine or beers, but when you can get cocktails mixed and shaken before your very eyes, why would you have anything else? It really comes alive in the summer, with barbecues held on the terrace and there's live jazz on Friday and Sunday evenings throughout the year.
Located in a historic building in the Old City Quarter, The Rummer Hotel is a classy establishment for dining and drinking. Dining here is amusing as the inn has been host to various historical events in the past. The kitchen produces mouth watering dishes, from continental to traditional English recipes. Their Sunday Roasts are widely popular and are a must-visit for foodies! The restaurant plays host to many events, from private dinners to weddings and business meetings, with all modern facilities like WiFi and projectors available. There are two bars on site, a cocktail bar and another bar located in their cellar, to keep you in 'high spirits'.
There's a very pleasant and old-fashioned feel to the place-Horts is a proper boozer which attracts a slightly older, more discerning punter. Expect to see lots of suits at lunchtimes (it's a favorite place for local office workers) and a mix of elderly local and 25-30-some things in the evenings. Food is served all day, they stock eight real ales, a range of specialty ports and sherries (plus all the bar usuals of course), there's a big-screen TV, pool tables and plenty of cosy alcoves. Spoilt for choice really, aren't you?
The Cavern Club is an underground nightclub located at the basement of The Crown Pub in the popular Saint Nicholas Market. The resident DJs whip out racy tracks and funky music that coerce you into tapping your feet and dancing along all through the night. The venue can be hired on all days of the week, for your personal parties. Do check out this lesser known nightclub and be bowled over by its charm.
The Lanes is a popular bowling alley in Bristol. It provides the comfort of a lounge as well as the euphoria that is associated with a typical gaming zone, making it the perfect party spot. The Lanes is best for anyone who plans to hangout with a bunch of friends over smooth cocktails and hourly bowling action. In addition to the bowling, they also often host club nights, live music and karaoke.
Infamous amongst Bristolians, this venue, with a capacity of nearly 2000 has a lot to offer its patrons, free membership, cheap admission, two spacious dance floors (one for more commercial music and the other for an alternative), two bars, and a great fusion of music mixed by resident DJs. Flamboyant, glamorous and modern are the best terms to describe it. It might not be painfully hip and trendy, but it's a lot of fun. Particularly popular is the videocassette, which ensures that by the end of the night everyone on the dance floor will have had their few seconds of fame on the large video screen.
SXW is called a super club and rightly so as it offer you a super experience of clubbing in king style. It has a huge dance floor with the best DJs to give you that much more space for dancing, considering that it is jam-packed most of the time. There is a VIP area for the sophisticated party-goers too. Not surprisingly, it is a popular venue among students and youngsters.