A good club night is like finding a good Barber (which if you’re struggling with we can help you over here). With so many nights disappointing, and so many factors important to the right night, knowing the best clubs in the area, and the events on offer is invaluable.
There truly is little worse than waking up after a very average night and realising you drunkenly spent far more than you bargained for, or even worse, spending lots at the club hoping if you drink enough, paying for entry and all the money spent on pre-drinks will be worth it, only for the club to play hot garbage the entire time. As someone who has regretted a night for more than just how drunk I got, knowing your clubs is vital, especially for students. You need to know where’s best on each night of the week, as you never know when all of the friend group can go out.
It could be Monday one week, it could be Friday another week, you have to take the chance when everyone’s free, but who wants to risk an F-tier night? Thankfully, I’ve compiled some independent clubs/bars that offer a great time. So sit back with your pre-drinks, and have a frantic read of the following list, and figure out where the hell you’re going tonight.
Dead Wax Social
Every settlement needs a great dive bar, and Dead Wax social is more than happy to be labelled as such, proudly describing themselves as Brighton’s trendiest drive bar. It’s one you won’t miss, with its neon vestments adorning the entrance, topped with its signature skull. As a bar it’s comfortably one of the best in Brighton, great selection of drinks and on site pizza that goes perfect as a late meal with your drinks, but that’s only half of the draw, as if you’re there just for a few drinks and are tempted by the pizza, you’ll find yourself having a few more as you’re tempted to stay longer.
If you do stay longer, you’ll watch more and more people filter on to the dance floor, as this dive bar transforms into a great night out. It’s a great business model really. You come for a few drinks, get tempted by pizza and order an extra drink with it, and by the time you finish, the dance floor starts to fill up and you can’t resist. I can’t fault it however, every time I’ve stayed for the full night, I’ve always had a great time.
With a wide variety of music, they’ll be something for everyone, but keep an eye out for their themed music nights, as it’s one of the few places in Brighton unafraid to show off a little edge. From Hip-hop to Punk to reggae and ska, they are the only club catering to a variety of music tastes. So keep an eye out, for their unique events, but even on a standard night, you’ll have a great time with rowdy but friendly crowds and an eclectic selection of music. It’s comfortably one of my favourite bars/clubs to enjoy a night out in.
Address: 18A Bond St, Brighton BN1 1RD Website: www.deadwaxsocial.pub
Club Revenge
I’ve had a lot of good nights in Brighton and a lot of bad ones, and until more recently I would have said Revenge was in the middle, kind of alright. But… I found myself there with some friends and gave it another chance, and I had a really great time. So I gave it a few more subsequent tries, and I now think it’s one of the best clubs in Brighton period. Being a club for lgbtq+ and allies it’s a great safe environment where everyone has each other’s backs.
In my experience I’ve never seen anyone hassled or made uncomfortable, and it’s a fun non-judgemental space. The second floor of Revenge for me was the difference maker, in the nights here i didn’t enjoy, they were spent entirely on the ground floor. It just wasn’t the right kind of music for me, but the middle floor had a more varied selection of club classics, which accompanied by a few drinks and the welcoming atmosphere made for a great night, with a refreshing lack of regret the following morning. But the piece de resistance is the Smoking area.
“The smoking area?” Yes, for so many, myself included, the smoking area is the best part of the night, whether you smoke or not. It’s a chance to chat some bollocks drunk and at Club Revenge you’ll find yourself on top of the roof, overlooking Brighton’s seafront. I’m not a smoker either, but the 10 minutes of respite and chat about the night and whatever you didn’t have the balls to say sober just help keep the night from waning.
Address: 32-34 Old Steine, Kemptown, Brighton BN1 1EL Website: www.revenge.co.uk
Green Door store
This is a controversial choice as it’s not considered a club, and would hate to consider itself one, but this list is about the best nights out. The Green Door store is one of Brighton’s most loved hubs for grassroots music and also features one of the few edgy club nights in Brighton, titled appropriately “I F***INGH8 CLUBBING”. For those who want a fun alternative night, with all of your favourite bands seldom played at actual clubs, this is for you.
From Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes to MF Doom and Lily Allen, even if you love clubbing, this night has plenty to enjoy. Surely the students’ choice as well, with the bar always free entry, and prices to the club nights usually at £4. They even host free gigs if you just want to check out some local musicians, without having to worry about it being worth money or not.
If you’re not convinced, have a look through their events, there’s bound to be something that interests you. As they state themselves “Our ethos is pretty simple – with up to 10 events a week, we guarantee something for everyone!”. If you truly can’t find anything I’d still argue you should check them out. Nothing wrong with taking a chance on some free or low cost nights and expanding your horizons.
Address: 2,3, 4 Trafalgar Arches, Brighton BN1 4FQ Website: thegreendoorstore.co.uk
Volks Club
Hands down winner of best located club in Brighton. A night out here will find you as close as you can get to the beach whilst still being inside. “Leading the way in new and underground club nights in Brighton for over 25 years.” Volks is the place if you just want a classic unapologetic club night, full of bouncing tunes and a vibrant jumping crowd. A real haven for Drum and Bass.
Your head will be pounding, the sweat will be dripping, and you’ll be sore the morning after. It’s exactly what a Drum and Bass night should be. It may be a smaller venue, but that only adds to the experience, a sold out DnB night in a small venue is a rite of passage for any fan of underground clubbing.
Address: 3 Madeira Dr, Brighton BN2 1PS Website: volksclub.co.uk
Chalk
Finally it goes without saying that Chalk is on this list. Perhaps Brighton’s biggest club, Chalk is far more than a nightclub, but a fantastic venue. They’ve hosted many household names over the years, with recent examples such as YungBlud and Arlo Parks.
They even host some less typical musical events, with comedic royalty Tim Heidecker of “Tim and Eric”, a duo responsible for shaping much of the internet’s sense of humour. But Chalk at its core, despite its truly impressive array of events, is a nightclub at its core. By no means does a huge act need to be playing for this place to make for a good night.
They have multiple weekly club nights to make for a great evening amongst friends, with a variety in themes and music, nights such as Let’s Kill Disco (70’s, 80’s and 90’s anthems) and Secret Discotheque (Pop Classics of the last 10-15 years). And watch out for their monthly events, Polyglamorous (Queer Dance Bangers) and Notorious (Grime and RnB). When it comes to variety and just actual pulling power, nothing can stand up to Chalk. There’s few clubs in England let alone Brighton that work both as a great night club and attract such a fine variety of both already successful artists and up and comers.
Address: 13 Pool Valley, Brighton BN1 1NJ Website: chalkvenue.com
