how is the clubbing scene in the uk?

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SYSTEM-J@reddit

UK clubbing is some of the very best in the world, if you're actually passionate about club music. It's been baked into our youth culture for 40 years now and is accepted in a way it is in very few other countries in the world. There are only a few other countries (Germany, Netherlands, Argentina) and a few other specific party hotspots (Ibiza, Croatia, Goa, etc.) I can think of that offer the same breadth of options, the same popularity, the passion of the crowds for the actual music.

People are saying "it's dying" - only in the sense that Gen Z worldwide don't go out and socialise as much compared to previous generations. It's still far better here than pretty much everywhere else.

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Wino3416@reddit

I think older people will keep it going. I hope so. I certainly try. Some Gen Z are into it, and I love the ones that are, heck I love the ones that leave the house, but so many of them are soppy, prissy, joyless little freaks that they won’t keep it going to the same extent, alas and alack. Doubtless they’ll be along to lithp at me about how nathty alcohol and drugth are and that it’s much better to sit around playing online D n D and having sexless LTRs but they don’t know what they’re missing.

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SYSTEM-J@reddit

My impression is Gen Z is splitting down the middle. The outgoing people are just as outgoing as people ever were - having just as much fun, drinking, taking drugs, having sex. But the people who in previous generations would have been the shy or retiring ones are now completely withdrawing into little online worlds and not taking part at all.

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Wino3416@reddit

A very very astute analysis.

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Mammoth-Minute4830@reddit

Check Resident Advisor to see what’s going on at clubs across the country

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anchoredwunderlust@reddit

Normal clubs are dying (unless you’re in a student town and they’re all out)

However if you have a particular genre and go to an event at a club it’ll most likely be good. It depends on your taste though as different crowds have different experiences and different DJs/acts attract different types of people.

If you’re at a queer neurodivergent DnB night it’ll be lit, but I can’t talk for other styles. I’ve heard Londoners who are into more like… the type of house/techno that they play at Tomorrowland complain of it being kinda dead and people facing the dj recording and that kinda thing.

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BraveLordWilloughby@reddit

Gay Neurodivergent DnB is not a genre. Nor is Gay Neurodiverget Metal, or Gay Neurodivergent Soft Rock.

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Artemixen@reddit

As someone who runs a queer alt night, it may not be a 'genre' but it's definitely a vibe

Thiugh saying that, Scene Queen is definitely Gay Neurodivergent Metal.

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idoze@reddit

You can definitely have a great night out, definitely in London. It'll be busy, but there are incredible DJs playing across the city every single week. I honestly think the UK is pretty much the best place you could go clubbing, except perhaps for Germany.

I personally don't believe clubbing is dying. People will always want that experience. It's changing for sure - it's more of an industry now than it was in the 90s. But if you do your research and love the music, you can absolutely have a great experience.

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50tinyducks@reddit

Is tiger tiger still open in Leicester Square? (Think that’s where it was) loved that bar!

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yddraigwen@reddit

this has to be a wind up

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50tinyducks@reddit

Is that to my comment? If so I haven’t been there in like 18-20 years so was just questioning. However googling it the bar has now closed.

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yddraigwen@reddit

It used to have a reputation for being one of the shittest clubs in London, that's why I thought you were joking

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50tinyducks@reddit

No I really wasn’t joking - I never lived in London but went there a few times when we used to go up there for a few nights - I actually had some fun there. Like honestly. Maybe that’s cos we were already drunk when we got there but I really had no idea of its reputation as bad or the salt incidents. Maybe if your local to there or frequented it more than me and my friends did, the. You’d be more aware.

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yddraigwen@reddit

That's fair!

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TrickyPG@reddit

Tiger Tiger served caustic cleaning powder instead of salt for tequila to some customers.

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50tinyducks@reddit

I didn’t know that! Was it an accident or?

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ShadowKnight291@reddit

No it was attempted murder

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50tinyducks@reddit

Gonna have have a research on this as I genuinely had no clue!

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idoze@reddit

OP, don't be fooled, stay away from Leicester Square.

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AreaMiserable9187@reddit

Had a horrendous “interview” for Tiger Tiger when it opened in Manchester (I was 18 brand new to uni life)

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Adventurous_Mess_152@reddit

I like this take and I hope you're right, what would you say about the projections that clubbing will be gone by 2030 as too many are closing? I will still be in uni then and I'm hoping it can hold up at least until I graduate lol

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OsotoViking@reddit

Mostly dead. The crackdown on drugs in clubs and the high price of alcohol has killed it. When I went clubbing circa 2010 everyone was drunk and coked up, but you can't get the coke anymore and getting drunk at a club will cost you a day's pay.

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dunkywhorey@reddit

Cocaine is cheaper, more readily available and of much higher purity than it has ever been in the UK.

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jaarn@reddit

I mean, rave culture was literally born here. If you go to a proper rave its absolutely nothing like the US.

You'll have a great time. London has lots of good raves. As do Manchester, Birminham, Leeds & Liverpool.

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shivilization_7@reddit

Do they do the candy racing stuff in the UK?

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fishsupper@reddit

No

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MillicentColdstone@reddit

And Newcastle!

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Visual_Egg_6091@reddit

It wasn’t, certain genres were and we should be proud of that but for house, techno, breaks, electro, Detroit and Berlin are to thank for that. We just did it on scale never seen before and wouldn’t legalise it for years

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nearlydeadasababy@reddit

Music (originally) yes, actual rave scene no.

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Visual_Egg_6091@reddit

We didn’t birth the rave scene though, we made it huge, it already existed just nowhere near to the scale we did it

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Traditional-Leg-1122@reddit

Bristol for Drum & Bass as well.

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juliuscaesar446@reddit

Add my Snapchat mbranning26 or telegram petepark323

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mondeomantotherescue@reddit

Look at resident advisor

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AromaticTower7258@reddit

Fabric on Charterhouse Street has always delivered in my experience

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Traditional-Leg-1122@reddit

UK clubbing is an entirely different beast to clubs in the US.

People go clubbing in the UK to dance their arses off, let loose and have fun with their friends. My experiences of clubs in the US are that people just go there to be seen and to be able to say they were there. I couldn’t believe it when I went to a drum & bass night with my sister and the tunes were amazing but everyone was just stood round the edge of the dancefloor swaying. Me and my sister were pretty much the only people actually dancing, utterly bizarre.

The whole VIP bit and champagne and all that bollocks is not a thing in the UK, you go clubbing to see your favourite DJs play bangers and to soak up the energy and vibes. If that sounds good to you then you’ll love it.

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shivilization_7@reddit

NYC and SF have a nice bit of a European type club scene, but I agree that’s not the norm

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OverCategory6046@reddit

>The whole VIP bit and champagne and all that bollocks is not a thing in the UK

It absolutely is, especially in London, but those clubs are usually in expensive areas and widely pure shite.

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Traditional-Leg-1122@reddit

I don’t consider those places to fall under the umbrella of “clubbing”.

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OverCategory6046@reddit

I mean it still is clubbing, just generally shit clubbing. Ministry of Sound, KOKO and even Fabric have VIP areas

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eriometer@reddit

Whichone was more "stand round n bops"?

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HumorPsychological60@reddit

The queer scene is incredible for clubbing at the moment. I think tis a bit lack luster for the straights

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en70uk@reddit

Cheaper to go to Manchester or Liverpool and probably friendlier too

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Jo-Wolfe@reddit

I did my clubbing in Manchester in the 80s and it was so alive then, so glad to hear it’s alive and kicking.

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Fantastic-Speech-438@reddit

Lucky! The Madchester scene was legendary.

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

I was just on the edge of it - a year too young for the hacienda !

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Fantastic-Speech-438@reddit

Damn, that's unlucky! But I guess you were around at the right time for Bowlers, Leeds Warehouse, Cream in Liverpool etc?

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

I was into heavy metal by then so Nottingham Rock City Manchester International 2 Sheffield Rebels (and Roxy on a Monday once a month!).

So much lost in the mists of time - there are foggy nights out in the pool and Newcastle etc.

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Fantastic-Speech-438@reddit

Did you ever get to the Corporation in Sheffield? I was there every Monday night (or was it Tuesday? all a bit hazy) 2003-2006 for the student rock night. From memory, it was £1 entry and double vodka and mixer for a £1. £10 for an amazing night out.

Where did time go, eh? Wish I had a time machine.

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

I wish I had more photos !

I left in 1992 !!!!!!!

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BraveLordWilloughby@reddit

In my experience (Approx 2010 to 2020), Bristol was the best place, especially if you are into heavier stuff, like Tekno and Break core.

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captainsittingduck@reddit

Glad I did all my clubbing in the 90s before phone cameras

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

I wish I had a few more photos !

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Jo-Wolfe@reddit

Oh yes

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JusNoGood@reddit

True…very true

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Fantastic-Speech-438@reddit

It's still going strong, just not as big as it once was. Search for the more underground nights though. The mainstream clubs are full of posers and the vibe is bad. The 90s / early 00s experience is still out there if you do your research.

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Adventurous_Mess_152@reddit

What would you recommend looking for to find this sort of thing locally?

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Fantastic-Speech-438@reddit

If you give me a date and city then I can give you some recommendations.

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Adventurous_Mess_152@reddit

Manchester, Leeds, anywhere in that region, anytime really

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Fantastic-Speech-438@reddit

Beaver Works in Leeds put on some amazing oldskool raves e.g. https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Leeds/Beaver-Works/Rejuvenation-Summer-All-Dayer-Rave-2026/42259821/
I actually DJ'd there a couple of times way back, and met my wife there (well, at an afterparty to be precise). 😆

Leeds again - The Warehouse - Classic club that's been going decades. Decent trance DJ playing in July - https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Leeds/The-Warehouse/Giuseppe-Ottaviani-3-Hour-Set---Digital-Society-Leeds/41947041/

Mint Festival for the house lovers - https://mintfestival.co.uk/

Big oldskool night coming in in Mancs in May - https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Manchester/Bowlers-Exhibition-Centre/Manchester-Forever/40981934/

Planet Zogg in Sheffield has been going decades - trance, techno, psy. One of the friendliest crowds around - https://wegottickets.com/event/693484

There's loads more going on. There'll be at least one decent night somewhere up north every weekend.

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Adventurous_Mess_152@reddit

Thanks, I'll look into those

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Fantastic-Speech-438@reddit

Feel free to PM me anytime. I grew up in the north and went clubbing in Leeds, Mancs, Sheffield etc from 2000 - 2015 so know the area well.

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Mediocre_Birthday329@reddit

Nightlife in London, if you have the money, is amazing. Basically anything you’d want to do would be happening. Great clubs, pubs, rooftop bars etc. Reggae night here, edm night there. Drugs are extremely accessible if that’s your thing. And the pure ‘buzz’ of the city at night is crazy.

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Dahlia_Raven@reddit

Eww clubbing. Afternoon tea as an alternative perhaps?

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PaleozoicQueen@reddit

Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool and Bristol are all cracking nights out for different reasons, they each have a unique vibe.

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Skruffbagg@reddit

Far better than in America I’m willing to stake my life on.

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Evolutionary_u-turn@reddit

Depends on what you want.

Heaven in Charring Cross does good nights, so does Koko in Camden.

Fire in vauxhall is open till late, and across the road is club union that's a bit more specialised.

Over in Shoreditch there's club aquarium that I believe is the only club in the UK to have a swimming pool in it.

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GrouchyRisk@reddit

Depends on the type of music you want to listen to. There are loads of good places to go, and lots of small venues that put on a great night.

Just remember, pills are way stronger than they used to be. So only do a half to start.

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ADJB23@reddit

I can never wait to take the second half, always think it’s a dud and then 30 seconds after swallowing the first half I am orgasming through my whole body in sheer bliss. 45 mins later I am mangled.

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BraveLordWilloughby@reddit

My second time every taking MDMA was a half-gram bomb of good crystal at a Psytrance party in the Brecons Becons. Don't remember much, but pretty sure I has a good time.

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ADJB23@reddit

It’s too much fun! I saw The Prodigy and dropped a big bomb before hand. I can remember the first few bars of ‘Breathe’ and that’s it. Came out wearing a girls crop top. God knows what happened

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Jsomemore@reddit

The truest thing said today

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BraveLordWilloughby@reddit

OP is 22. Even if they'd started munching garys at 12, they'd still have started in the strong stuff. I'd saycit was around 2015/16 that the old fashioned Mario's and Rolexes were almost totallying replaced by high-quality, super-strong pills made in the Netherlands, like Teslas, Androids, Gold Bars.

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Weird-Power8997@reddit

Oh no double dropping and then trying to make best friends with a tree at a party lol

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Junior_Syrup_1036@reddit

Pills are stronger ? Nah , sorry

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Distinct_Ad_5598@reddit

MDMA content in tested pills these days it through the roof apparently.

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artyb368@reddit

Don't be daft, start with a half. Or. Even a quarter if you're little haha.

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Beautiful_Hour_4744@reddit

I did a quarter of a pill after not touching them since my 20s (im 40 now) and was rushing my face off!

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captainsittingduck@reddit

😂 I'm late 40s and the thought of having another scares me lol

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Xenozip3371Alpha@reddit

Used to be pretty good, but the increased price of alcohol nowadays means many people just straight up can't go for a night out without seriously checking their budget.

You're better off just getting big packs of cans from Tesco or something and bringing your friends round your house, you'll save a fortune.

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Exodeus87@reddit

Definitely not as good as it used to be. I don't know much about London's clubbing scene, but I'd still recommend Nottingham or Bristol for decent number of fun venues. But it all entirely depends on your musical choices.

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50tinyducks@reddit

A lot of clubs have shut since covid! And still shutting weekly I think I read. I’m a lot older than 22 but recently celebrated a friends 40th and we went out in heels and went to a cocktail bar - was SHOCKED to see all the 18-25 years old in there all wearing trainers and like joggers as such not dressed for cocktails or clubbing - we were all dressed up (appropriately for our age) we did ask if they were going clubbing after - a few were and they said no one wears heels or dresses anymore. Possibly different in a big city like London but when I was 20 we all wore dresses and heels. I felt very old!

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TheGeordieGal@reddit

I don't drink or enjoy the clubbing scene (I did it as few times as an 18 year old at uni and decided nah. Not for me - and I'm 40 now) but I know some late teens/early 20 year olds who went out at Christmas. At least 2 of them were wearing hoodies.

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AnAbsoluteShambles1@reddit

I’m in the 18-25 range and I’ve always been told to never wear heels because if someone spiked me I wouldn’t be able to run 🫣

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50tinyducks@reddit

Oh gosh! Even back then we didn’t leave drinks unattended and if we did we got another. Tbh I used to drink alchopops so I could dance with my thumb over them.

Also we got so used to being in heels - I could run in them or at least easily get my foot out to the run.

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ladystitchicorn@reddit

I think this differs based on location as well. I'm in Brighton and down here hardly anyone wore heels to clubs even back in 2009/10 (when I did most of my clubbing), but I've seen more heels being work up north even much more recently.

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50tinyducks@reddit

I spent many nights out 18 years ago in Brighton (mum lived there) . Used to go to the big club on the corner and Yates and wakabout and every girl wore heels.

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ladystitchicorn@reddit

Ok, maybe a difference of which clubs we frequented plays a role in that case 😂 Admittedly I didn't spend much time in Oceana (as it was still called at that time) and Yates.

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50tinyducks@reddit

Haha yeh probably! 😂 think Yates buildings been knocked down now via a fire? Bloody loved Yates for the first drinks!! Then stumble over to Oceania lol

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ladystitchicorn@reddit

It's still going strong actually! It wasn't a fire but they found some defects with the building so it was closed for a while and is still covered in scaffolding, but I thiiiink Pryzm (still a terrible name 😂) is back open now! The Odeon is at least, and that's in the same building. There was a fire round the corner though, a whole hotel burned down at Old Steine a couple of years ago.

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50tinyducks@reddit

Yeh I remember the hotel on fire! I swear there’s a building just gone now - on the side walkabout was. Ah man I’d love to just turn back the clock for one weekend to go back and have a night out there again like I was when I was 18-20!

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Jo-Wolfe@reddit

I went to an 80s disco for my friend’s birthday, I danced for 3 hours in 5” (1” platform) heels and sequin mini dress and was probably one of the few people there who had danced to the tracks as new releases. I loved it.

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50tinyducks@reddit

Yeh we had a dance and I was enjoying it but we had a lot of stares from the younger lot! Then my heel broke haha but I had a blast! I actually felt sorry for the younger generation. They don’t know what they are missing out on - all the bruises you get from falling over haha

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Jo-Wolfe@reddit

Haha. I remember trying to get out of the back seat of a two door car but couldn’t because of my heels, I ended up on the floor, legs sticking out, knickers on show, whilst two of the girls pulled me out and up in front of a group of lads.

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50tinyducks@reddit

Sounds like a fab night out!!

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

This will be controversial but London isn’t the best for “raving” and never was. A number of the regional cities had far more interesting scenes in that department…

With that said though, peoples ideas of a night out have also evolved and London has a vast choice of niches…

It isn’t “like America”, no… To give you a really generic answer, it’s much more aligned to some of the other European countries.

Some clarification on what music scene you’re specifically in to and/or what vibe you go for will help…

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domsmart@reddit

“Never was” my arse. Fabric, The Fridge, The Drome/SeOne, Baglegs, The End, Heaven etc in the 2000s were completely off the charts. Much more of a blind eye was turned to the rave scene then and it was a lot more free and easy. There are definitely still some great parties going on and production and sound has got better, but the debauchery of those days is long gone and I don’t think is coming back, more’s the pity

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50tinyducks@reddit

Dunno I remember a few raves in London. Vauxhall area being one. Had some of the best nights at those. But only ever went to ones in or around London - proper raves. Some not so legal lol but I can’t speak of outside that area.

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

Exactly that.

I’m not saying London was without it’s options, but as you said yourself you primarily did in and around London… This isn’t anti-capital bollocks, it’s a global quality city, but this just wasn’t a genre it lead the way in.

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50tinyducks@reddit

100% I’ve had massive nostalgia on this post lol I’m no where near 22 so def can’t comment what’s best now. Apologies

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Icy_Reply_7830@reddit

They are running people over with their cars outside of the clubs

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DrDedoverde85@reddit

Depends on your music preference, I would suggest looking at music events/one day festivals on or around that day. More bang for ya buck, and lots more to see than one club. Have a great bday 🎂🥳☮️🍏🔥

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Confident_Ice_5180@reddit

Wait until November and go to Bangface.

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Weary-Carob3896@reddit

Full of coke addlled knobheads.

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Entire_Pen9097@reddit

Strange question. Uk is filled with great clubs and has been at the leading edge of western music off and on for the last 80 years. Go on resident advisor and find a night you want to go to. Obvious places to go are London, Manchester, Glasgow. The good clubs in my opinion are house and techno focused. The rubbish ones will play crap commercial pop

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IranianAlan@reddit

Go to Newcastle

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Spottyjamie@reddit

Dead as fuck outside the big cities im afraid

I live in a city and we lost our last nightclub 8 years ago

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One-Rain-3841@reddit

If you want a wild night with cheap drinks and great atmosphere Newcastle can’t be beaten

Bigg market and most of the city in general are just amazing

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Majestic_Matt_459@reddit

Manchester is a better night out than London now

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OverCategory6046@reddit

In terms of everything being closer together, yes. In terms of choice, no.

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Majestic_Matt_459@reddit

Yes that’s fair enough

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OverCategory6046@reddit

Tbf being able to walk from venue to venue instead of having to take a (sometimes long) bus or uber is a incredibly nice

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Majestic_Matt_459@reddit

Yes I was in London with Mayes recently. They said we’re going to x bar join us. £30 cab players I join them in half empty bar ffs

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dustuprusty@reddit

Clubbing is dying out. Most of the clubs that were open in the 00s have closed down!

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AnneKnightley@reddit

Northern cities have more established club nightlife - Leeds or Manchester or Newcastle is where it’s at.

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ashleysecretfanpage@reddit

Birmingham is great night out. Good club scene. Great cocktails too.

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massie_le@reddit

Dying

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Digidigdig@reddit

Compared to what it was (90’s, 00’s) absolutely. But that being said I was out in Manchester this past weekend and it was lively.

Went clubbing for the 1st time in an age, it was packed and felt like it used to. Great crowd, all up for a dance from the get go.

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Jo-Wolfe@reddit

I did my clubbing in Manchester in the 80s and it was so alive then, so glad to hear it’s alive and kicking.

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Digidigdig@reddit

It was Leeds and Manchester in the 90’s for me then London in the 00’s. Don’t recall it taking so long to recover from a night out back then. Both physically and financially. Bet you weren’t paying £20 for 3 cans of Red Stripe in the 80’s 💸😭

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Jo-Wolfe@reddit

OMG £20!l

The other week I went to a dinner with obligatory live band and disco, danced for 3 hours (with a really cute woman), only had one glass of red and a port, got home at midnight. I kid you not I was a wreck the next day. It can’t have been that I’m older, I reckon it was the port.

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Digidigdig@reddit

I know, I thought it was my hearing so asked the bartender to repeat it and he just showed me the card machine. Duly tapped with a mutter of ‘kin Hell!

That’s sounds lovely ☺️ and yes, almost definitely the port! 😂

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KonkeyDongPrime@reddit

Shit gets lively but people don’t wear ridiculous costumes, dancing a bit more reserved than say Netherlands gabber nights. There are UK rave and London Raving subreddits for better advice. I’m assuming you mean a proper rave and not a townie-pop music nightclub?

Beware the month you come, depending on what you want. From May onwards you start to get more day raves. August is mainly day raves and festivals. London better for maintaining nights 10pm to 6am raves through August. Bristol pretty kicking.

Look at what you want and book in advance. Book far enough in advance and you will get cheap tickets.

If you just want a jolly with a bit of dancing, you would be better finding a bar that has a dance floor and music you like. Again, check on the London social sub.

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