For a while there we really thought the Bristol club scene had gone and died on its arse, the outlook was pretty bleak with so many clubs closing and not a glimmer of hope for the future. What were the youth of Bristol going to do? Take up knitting?

The phenomenal marches throughout town as a demonstration to stop the closure of Clockwork, Lakota and The Blue Mountain confirmed indisputably that the masses were pissed off, the masses wanted to party and clearly hated the fact that development and yuppie flats were trampling all over their dream!

Something crippling the rest of the world seemed to have a positive affect on the Bristol club scene… The economy wobbled with Northern Rock, wobbled again, tottered on its Manolos (I have no idea what the male banker wear on his foot, Italian leather, lined with minx and the souls of a million cash poor hard working mortals) and finally crashed through the arse end of civilisation leaving us right up shit creak! Bastards… Well we’re alright Jack!

No money in property, OK so Stokes Croft has been given a stay of execution at least for a year, Lakota wont be flats…brilliant!

But it doesn’t stop there, a whole bucket load of new venues have opened their doors for our entertainment pleasure. Bristol once again is brimming with dance venues simply gagging for your cold hard cash (and disco pleasure of course)!

Here’s a wee round up:

LAB
// opposite The Grand Hotel, on Broad Street
Needs no introduction, ARC Bar to any old timers out there has been give a face-lift. It’s the fabulous people behind the original Clockwork Club, these boys are Bristol’s elite and know how to throw a party or 7 (whilst everyone else has a wobble over the summer, these boys still pack it out every night). Music policy is not too strict – ‘anything cool’ seems to slot in quite nicely.

BASEMENT 45
// under Park Street, on Frogmore Street
Another club brought to you from a member of Bristol’s clubbing elite, renown  for Chicago amongst other popular club nights and who effortlessly brought you Bijou. Fridays will be run by independent promoters and cover everything from drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, breaks, funk, disco…basically everything! And Saturdays will be run by themselves – house, electro, breaks and generally dance orientated.

CHESTERS
// next door to Basement 45, on Frogmore Strett
Proper underground venue, loud and full-on as you can possibly imagine, this is a free party venue and the music reflects this. Attitude free, very friendly. Free party music, anything goes, insanely loud sound system.

DAY AND NIGHT
// opposite Mother’s Ruin, on St Nicholas Street
Brand spanking new and hot off the press, laid back skater chic with a music policy to match, lots of Cut and Paste, edgy but not agro D&B, phat beats and an interior which manages to be smart but informal, pretty cool is the verdict so far. I am reliably informed by my arts correspondent that this is where the sexy boys hang out! Must be off now!

Coming soon…

CANVAS
// Secret Location!
Top Secret city centre club with a huge capacity and some amazing promoters simply gagging to fill its weekend slots… This is going to be a biggy!

Katy Smith