Bristol

BRISTOL: THE ‘WORLD’S BIGGEST (AND MOST UNUSUAL) PARTY’

By Gabrielle Van Meurs

The small city of Bristol lies on the coast of South West England nearest to Cardiff and directly opposite London. It is home to the legendary graffiti artist Banksy meaning the city is full of colourful, creative pieces of artwork and graffiti, decorating the buildings throughout the whole city. Bristol's two popular universities have drawn students in from far and wide to study, meaning that the city is filled with young adults looking for the best night out they can find. And they are not to be disappointed as despite not being a large place, Bristol has rightly earned a reputation for being one of the South West's best hotspots for clubbing.

It originally started out as a skatepark nestled away in an industrial estate close behind Bristol Temple Meads train station. Now it has been transformed into a huge temple of activity sometimes hosting world renowned acts such as Deadmau5 and The Chemical Brothers. The owners of Motion have branched off to create a huge programme of events lasting 12 weeks called In:Motion that includes acts such as Annie Mac, one of the biggest UK names in DJing and well known Radio 1 presenter, as well as famous duo Chase and Status. This has transformed it from not just your average nightclub into a continuous stream of quality entertainment. People have said this place is the reason clubbing and nightlife in Bristol has continued to flourish and it has even been labelled as the ‘best club in the world.

Motion at its peak

Another attraction that has drawn people into Bristol is Thekla. What separates this from a regular club is one small detail, the venue is a boat! Being what was once a cargo ship and is now an entertainment venue, Thekla has been moored in Bristol's floating harbour since 1984 and has an award winning live music and clubbing scene. It is known to put on each night for a different genre of music ranging from bassline to indie music to even cheesy hits, with big names such as Raye and Slaves also visiting the venue.

A club beloved not only by the students of Bristol but also by the older generation is Lakota. Decorated in stunning graffiti, this club has more than just a reputation. Formerly known as The Moon Club and a favourite for club goers in the 90s, this place specialises in a heavier kind of music like D&B. It is one of Bristol's underground clubs set in a huge Victorian building that gives off an insane vibe like no other.

Another unusual underground music venue is Fleece, also in a large Victorian building. It is has earned a reputation for dedicating events to rising indie bands. Not only does that make it a popular venue for students to check out brand new local music but also to support friends. Its positive but unusual vibe has drawn some big names to it including word famous bands Oasis, Muse and Radiohead. The huge building is home to a constant stream of live entertainment not just gigs such as club nights and events to fit with any season.

The o2 Academy

One of the biggest and most well known venues to check out in Bristol has to be the O2 Academy where global sensations such as Jessie J and The Stranglers have performed. It is among the venues that are normally always included in artists that have a UK leg on their tour. But despite mostly being known for the live concerts, the O2 also puts on club nights every friday that give you a completely unique clubbing experience due to the size of the building and the fact that it normally hosts .

Being home to one of the UK's biggest names in comedy, Russell Howard, Bristol has another layer of entertainment that thrives next to the clubbing scene. In venues sweeping the whole city, comedy nights showing the UK's finest such as Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and Sean Walsh flourish. This comedy scene bubbles on continuously with a constant stream of activity for everyone, at any time. It offers a hilarious start to your night with a setlist of unlimited talent readying you for a night out on the town. One thing is clear. You can't underestimate Bristol as a rich culture of clubbing and entertainment in general has always been ingrained deep within the city. You will not be disappointed by this little city.