Liverpool- Party 8 days a week!
With unique attractions, exciting events, world-class sports and an unrivalled music heritage, Liverpool is one of Britain’s cultural enormities. Seen as the capital of pop, the city is home of one of the greatest bands of all time, The Beatles; this has led to the development of one of the most exciting music scenes in the country, if not the world. Offering a fantastic lively and bustling atmosphere, Liverpool takes an overwhelming sense of pride in the nightlife that it has to offer; with a multitude of bars and clubs found across multiple hotspots, and a number of unique festivals and celebrations held throughout the year.
Home to three recognised Universities, Liverpool has a thriving student population that can be matched by very few in the UK and, as we all know, where you find students, you will also find bars, and most at low cost too! Take, for instance, Bumper bar on Hardman Street, where bottled beer prices start at £1.50 and there is a fantastic selection of cocktails for just £6 (and £8 for two!). Enjoy a varied music selection, from Indie to Classic Dance, played by top quality DJ’s, alongside some fantastic live music! Whilst The Pilgrim on Pilgrim Street offers the perfect offers a sociable and relaxed atmosphere, cheap beer and homely food to line the stomach, the perfect place to start any night out. In The Krazyhouse on Wood Street you have the biggest alternative venue in the north (and officially the best nightclub in Liverpool!), with three floors offering three different music genres all inside one massive warehouse, and a 241 drinks offering every night to boot! For the hip-hop fan, Seel Streets ‘Brooklyn Mixer’ is the place to be, where resident DJ’s regularly throw down the maddest Block Party vibes. Or indulge in the stylish sophistication of Modo, found on concert square, the bar which makes sure that your every whim is catered for, whether you’re just looking for a chill or to dance the night away in true clubber style. If you’re looking for a little bit of culture and history, then look no further, Magnet is steeped in it, having been around the Liverpool music scene for the last fifty years! Showcasing a wide range of some of the industry’s best talent, from hip-hop artists to funk and soul musicians, alongside a wide range of spirits that are served by some of Liverpool’s finest bartenders, it is clear that this is a must see venue for any music enthusiast!
For the older generation, those looking for a little more luxury, a little more je ne sais quoi, and a little less boom boom boom, Liverpool has much to offer. Be a part of the chic and stylish crowd at Kingdom, where you will be treated to some live jazz alongside a DJ set that includes some Funk, House and Soul; or indulge in the ‘freak show’ that is Circo on Albert Docks, a circus themed establishment that is complete with a moodily lit interior, waitresses dressed in kinky ringmaster uniforms and enormous plastic horses with lampshades for heads; enough to make you ask ‘what the heck is going on?’ Alma de Cuba will provide you with a night full of South American flair. A conversion of the former St. Peter’s catholic church, the bar has an eclectic mix of Cuban, Hispanic and Latin American influences that combine brilliantly with the religious past of the building and its varied cocktail selection. Whilst in the PIMA bar at the Hilton Hotel you have one of the most stylish bar in the city, with expertly hand-crafted cocktails and an enviable selection of premium champagne on offer in welcoming yet sophisticated ambience that also offers a range of live music on a Friday or Saturday night. The coolest urban bar in the city, Level on Fleet Street is regarded as the centre of everything new and vibrant in the Liverpool nightlife scene; inspired by the UK’s earliest nightclubs dating back to the 80’s and 90’s, it displays the best in unique and quirky entertainment for its 2600 capacity, with quality DJ’s and very special guests playing a variety of music, from House to Dance to Hip-Hop, on an incredible sound system showcased over three floors and six rooms complete with seven bars, ensuring no two visits are ever quite the same!
The city is also home to a number of music festivals that serve to further liven the place up (like it needs it!). Held in August every year, the Liverpool International Music Festival is one not to be missed; a free event that takes place in a variety of venues around the city, the festival has held host to some prestigious artists, from Boy George to JLS to Shaggy, as well as a multitude of upcoming musicians and a number of tribute acts, The Beatles being the most prevalent, of course. Speaking of Beatles tributes, the International Beatleweek is a festival that is totally dedicated to Liverpool’s (and possibly the worlds) most famous pop group. Enjoy live gigs being performed by bands from over 20 countries, alongside many exhibitions, guest speakers, video shows, sightseeing tours and memorabilia sales. In Beetleweek, you get a multi-national event that is perfect for any Beatles fan! Held in May, Liverpool Sound City is the largest international music, digital and film festival in the UK, taking pride in bringing some of the most exciting breakthrough artists to the city. Previously, it has held host to the likes of Florence and the Machine, Ed Sheeran and The Maccabees, so get yourself over there and you never know, you may be amongst the first to see the next big thing!
By Calum Dewsbury