Notorious Nottingham!
So you’re planning a night out in Nottingham; you’ve heard great things, you’ve bought a new dress and you can’t wait to get dancing. The first thing you have to do is decide where to go; no easy task for first-time visitors. Luckily for you, here at Licklist, we’ve created a quick guide that sums up all the best that Nottingham has to offer. Now all you have to worry about is what to wear!
First up, there’s Oceana. One of the biggest clubs in Nottingham, Oceana has four bars and six rooms, each with a different theme. From the ‘Grand Ballroom’ to the ‘New York Disco’, Oceana have thought of it all. Each of these rooms also plays a different genre of music such as RnB, Disco, or Chart hits meaning there’s something for everyone. This way, you don’t have to subject yourself to One Direction if you’re a die-hard Kanye West fan. Drinks are reasonably priced with Vodka and Red bull, and Jaeger bombs costing just £1.80. If you’re planning ahead, you might see one of the many special guests that Oceana invites. Previous acts include Artful Dodger and Benga, who both graced the venue with their inflated presence last year. Oceana is a safe bet for first-timers. However with a 2,000 person capacity, don’t expect a quiet night.
If you love tattoos, piercings and wearing black, then Rock City is the place for you. With three rooms, six bars and a 2,500 person capacity, it’s a popular choice. If you’re on a budget, Thursday is the night for you. With its 2-4-1 drinks offers, you won’t have to worry about spending too much. If you fancy a weekend blow out, hit up their Saturday nights, ingeniously named Hey Hey Hey. As well as playing typical chart stuff, Rock City offers something different in its basement, playing an eclectic mix of Pop Punk, rock and Metal, which appeals to the ‘alternative’ clubbers amongst you. There are two other rooms, the Black Cherry Lounge and The Main Hall, so don’t worry if slipknot aren’t your thing, you can still get your Nicki Minaj fix. As it provides so much variety, Rock City is one of Nottingham’s best nights out.
If you’re looking for something more sophisticated, head to Coco Tang for cocktails. Designed as a 1930s speakeasy, Coco Tang is secretive and secluded, marked only by a single red lantern. It serves a wide range of cocktails, which despite not being the cheapest, really are a treat for the mouth and eyes. Fortunately if you’re a student, you can get a special discount. As it’s more upmarket than other club nights, it imposes a stricter dress code. That means smart shirts for boys and cocktail dresses for girls. The bar has also won awards in the past, including the coveted Best Bar and Best Cocktail Bar. You also get a better quality of service than in a lot of clubs, but this is to be expected.
To say that House music is popular in Nottingham would be somewhat of an understatement. As a result, you’re spoilt for choice. Stealth, for example, has two main events, Dollop and Detonate, which often sell out the 1,500 capacity building. These events happen two Fridays out of the month, with the occasional Tuesday Night, alongside their regular student night on a Saturday. Dogma however has a techno night on a Friday night, as well as an event called ‘Detour’ on Tuesdays. There are also occasional events at LaceHouse, Market Bar, the Bodega, Bar 11 and monthly nights at the Brickworks Warehouse. If you want to sample Nottingham Nightlife and there’s a particular DJ you love, then see if they’re scheduled to play here anytime soon. The chances are they are, and it’ll save you a lot of time making a decision.
By Paige Bromley