The Clubs You Need to Experience in Bristol

There is always something going on in the early hours of the morning in Bristol, and people come from far and wide to party in this city renowned for its music and rave culture. Artists from around the world perform across Bristol’s stages and the city has been the birthplace of numerous DJs who create some of the best dance music the UK has to offer. The clubs in Bristol are truly diverse with something to suit any taste; from the big-hitters to the more underground scenes, here is our list of the club you need to experience in Bristol:

By Charlie Walker | Updated Jan 19 2024

A DJ performs in front of a lively crowd at a concert. People are raising their hands and dancing under colorful lights. The venue is spacious with an arched ceiling, and a balcony area is visible where more attendees are enjoying the show. — Image via bristolpost

Cosies

A group of people socialize at a lively gathering in a dimly lit, low-ceilinged, brick-walled space. They are standing close together, holding drinks, and chatting animatedly, creating a warm, energetic atmosphere. Some are dressed casually, while others are in brighter attire. — Image via 365bristol

34 Portland Square, BS2 8RG

'Rum, Roasts & Reggae' - Cosies is truly a jack of all trades. A lovely spot for a morning coffee, a celebrated wine bar in the evenings and on certain nights is transformed into one of Bristol’s smallest yet most prestigious dancefloors.

Cosies aims to host a variety of acts for all who love good dance music, meaning there is a range of great nights to choose from - they recommend their legendary Reggae Sundays as a good place to start.

The club has a reputation for celebrating the best of dub and drum and bass, meaning the tiny venue often reverberates with heavy beats that keep pulling revellers back. Undoubtedly still one of the top nightclubs in Bristol!

See upcoming events here

Basement 45

A lively nightclub scene with vibrant, colorful lights and a mix of pink, blue, and purple hues. People dance under abstract ceiling decorations, creating a surreal, energetic atmosphere. Motion blur emphasizes the sense of movement and excitement. — Image via headfirstbristol

8 Frogmore St, BS1 5NA

Situated under the Banksy on Park Street, Basement 45 takes its name from the premises previously used as cellars which give the club its interesting layout of intimate, vaulted rooms.

Perhaps not what you would expect to be hidden away amongst gay bars and the blare of pop music, this club is a haven for underground music lovers and often hosts some of Bristol’s best DJ’s.

The club holds frequent drum and bass nights for which it gained its reputation, as well as a range of house and grime events to keep any raver happy. One of the most underrated nightclubs in Bristol!

See upcoming events here

Lakota

Crowded nightclub with lively partygoers dancing under colorful lights and music. Confetti fills the air, and a large screen displays visuals on stage. People on the balcony are also enjoying the atmosphere, with vibrant laser beams adding to the energetic vibe. — Image via headfirstbristol

Upper York Street, BS2 8QN

If you enjoy chart-toppers and donning a pair of heels on a night out then Lakota is not the club for you. Visitors should expect to get sweaty as the crowd busts their best moves on the teeming dancefloor where trainers are an absolute must!

A true veteran of the underground club scene in Stokes Croft, Lakota is a Bristol nightclub that attracts some of the biggest names in reggae, garage, and drum and bass.

Occupying a warren of interconnected rooms across three floors, the club plays host to a range of themed nights where the place can be transformed from an exotic jungle one night into a psychedelic wonderland on the next.

Make sure to book tickets in advance as the queue of music lovers often snakes down the street outside this Bristol club.

See upcoming events here

Coroner's Court

A black-and-white photo of a crowded concert or club with raised hands and phones visible. The audience faces a stage with bright lights illuminating performers, who are silhouetted against a striped backdrop. The venue is dimly lit with spotlights and ceiling fixtures. — Image via Lakota

6 Upper York Street, BS2 8QN

The new joint set up by the Lakota team, this 500-capacity venue carries the same vibe and ethos of its forefather.

Now known officially as Coroner's Court, it had been used as a temporary venue for some time, and to much popularity, hosting artists like Palms Trax and Shanti Celeste, but this year it finally put on its big boy pants to become its very own, standalone venue, no longer just the backgarden shed for Lakota.

Their aim is ambitious, to make Coroner's Court "Bristol’s central hub for underground music", a hard act to pull off in a city with such rich nightlife, but it seems they've been making headway.

By having specially curated nights across two rooms, supporting smaller artists as well as hosting big 'uns, and by its small capacity that encourages soft-exclusivity and cultivates a crowd of those who really care, Coroner's Court has hit the ground running, and it's got everybody talking.

See upcoming events here

Motion

A crowd at a concert or music festival with their hands raised and smartphones up, capturing the moment. The stage is illuminated with red lights and laser beams, and a performer is seen in the background amidst smoke and visual effects. — Image via edmli

74-78 Avon Street, BS2 0PX

Motion is a Bristol club that is a magnet for some of the best DJs from around to world who perform, largely due to its reputation as being the crown jewel of Bristol’s underground music scene.

Previous acts have included DJ EZ and Andy C as well as ever-popular nights from resident collective The Blast. The club’s interior remains simple and industrial, still very much resembling the factory space which it once was.

The main stage is held inside a shell of a huge warehouse that is often filled with incredible light shows entertaining the enthusiastic crowd of up to 2,500.

Top tip: bring your sunglasses along for when you stumble into the early morning light after a night of non-stop dancing. Its one of those nightclubs in Bristol that will make you go all night!

See upcoming events here

Thekla

A crowd gathers enthusiastically around a stage in a dimly lit concert venue. A band performs under vibrant orange and white stage lights, while some audience members dance energetically in the center. The atmosphere is lively and charged with excitement. — theklabristol.co.uk

East Mud Dock, The Grove, Bristol BS1 4RB, UK

Thekla is a unique nightclub located on a converted German cargo ship minutes from Bristol’s train station.

Club nights span a range of genres to cater to different tastes as the ship lays host to club brands including fiftyone27, hospitality and fruity antics. Regular club nights are Thursdays’ Pressure, for your indie and alternative crowd, and Pop Confessional on Saturdays for your guilty pleasure pop tunes.

The club also has a long history of supporting up and coming artists in its intimate live music venue (previous guests include Massive Attack and Portishead), and hosts up to seven live gigs a week at its busiest.

Check out the shedule here.