Nightclubs
In Bristol you’ll find everything from cutting-edge, underground DJ bars, to plush and ostentatious superclubs. There’s also an array of venues that work hard to attract students with cheap drinks and entry fees, so a night out need doesn’t have to do too much harm to your bank balance. The Syndicate
It’s not exactly cool or edgy, but this big and brash club is a guilty pleasure for many a Bristolian. Set over cavernous floors, it plays host to the most extravagant Saturday night out in town, complete with pyrotechnics, aerial artists, confetti cannons, and some of the UK’s biggest DJs. Unbeatable drinks offers, banging dance tunes, and bargain-price VIP tables add to its decadent charms.
15 Nelson Street, Bristol BS1 2JY. Motion
Set in a warren of converted warehouses, and serving as a skatepark by day, Motion is no ordinary club venue. Dark nooks and neon-drenched spaces form a labyrinth of hedonism where cutting-edge DJs belt out throbbing house tunes for the revellers who jump up and down into the early hours. Motion is aptly named, as you won’t stop moving once you’re here.
74-78 Avon Street, Bristol BS2 0PX.
Pubs
Bristol’s centuries-old history as a port town, and reputation as the epicentre of cider, ensures that there’s a plethora of atmospheric historical pubs and drinking dens to pick from. Llandoger Trow
Having first opened its doors in 1664, this Bristol landmark was one of the city’s last timber-built constructions. Steeped in mythology, it’s said to have been once frequented by pirates, and served as inspiration for the Admiral Benbow pub in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. It’s also been claimed that author Daniel Defoe met the legendary sailor and castaway Alexander Selkirk here, which prompted him to write Robinson Crusoe. Today it serves hearty pub grub and a fine array of draught beers, all at reasonable prices.
King Street, Bristol BS1 4ER.
Cocktail bars
While there may be an abundance of traditional drinking dens, Bristol’s boozing scene is in no way stuck in the past. There’s some rather chic cocktail bars and innovative gastropubs, perfect for whenever you feel like a spot of indulgence. The Milk Thistle
Housed in a historic abode, this seductive venue prides itself on serving innovative variations on classic drinks – treat yourself to a Bootsy Collins, made with tea-infused gin, or a rum Old Fashioned mixed with orange blossom honey and peach syrup. The interior is just as tasteful, with stained glass windows, vintage leather armchairs, and handsomely restored fireplaces.
Quay Head House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 1EB.
Live music
The city’s legendary underground music scene has spawned artists like Massive Attack, Portishead, and Tricky, and continues to be a major draw for visitors from all over the UK. Whatever you’re into, you can expect to find compelling live performances across Bristol. The Louisiana
This Spike Island institution is indisputably the best place in town to catch the next big things in indie, rock and folk, in an intimate setting. Over the years it’s played host to the likes of Coldplay, The Libertines, Kasabian, Kings of Leon, The Strokes, and The White Stripes, and it’s still a place to catch the rock gods of tomorrow.
Wapping Road, Bristol BS1 6UA.
