Bristol didn’t use to be full of secret underground bars, swanky cocktail joints and hipster cafes, well there were some but not as much. We remember those old bars and clubs you frequented back in the day.
This place has now been demolished but used to be found next to the Blue Mountain. If you wanted a grimy rave this was the place.
2. Panache
You’ll remember this place for the ridiculous light up dance floor. It was closed down in 2011 after the police and council provided over 4,300 pages of evidence against the club that didn’t have the best reputation:
“Footage from council CCTV cameras and Panache staff head cameras revealed door staff grabbing clubbers around the face and violently ejecting them from the premises, groups of bouncers assaulting cowering customers and apparently punching them on the ground, and staff chasing punters down the road.”
3. The Tube
The current location of Redlight. This place used to be owned by Massive Attack and sweat would drip of the ceiling but it was GREAT. There was a night on a Wednesday if you had a moustache (or wore one) you got in for free.
4. Arc Bar
This used to be next door to where The Strawberry Thief currently is. Massively grimy, you’d be offered so many drugs in there that it was like that sketch in Brass eye with the made up drug names.
Now a Tesco on Filton Avenue, this place was a rough as balls pub that served cheddar valley and let you dance on the table.
8. Level
DJ Suv with MC at Full Cycle Level nightclub Bristol
Spread across three floors, it was bloody grimy. One of the original hosts of Propaganda, it shut down in 2006 it got turned into flats but it was next to the petrol station on Park Row
9. The Cooler
The Cooler on Park Street you’d find live music and the legendary DJ George doing indie disco during the week. Those that have been there will of course remember Klub Kute.
Up on Park Row, The Dug Out survived until 1986 but is considered the home of Bristol’s music scene
12. The Studio
Formerly located on Frogmore street it saw The Clash, Iggy Pop, U2 and many others play here. It’s even got a facebook group dedicated to it’s memory. Now it’s sadly student flats.
Previously Jesters Comedy Club it turned into Metropolis in 2008 before shutting its doors in 2012. Sadly still sitting derelict at the moment on Cheltenham Road.
14. The Croft
Via Paul Towsnend
A great place in the middle of Stokes Croft. Lasting for 11 years The Croft closed its doors in 2013 but never fear the Crofters Rights rose in its place.
15. Syndicate
Now SWX, most of Bristol’s 2000s clubbers would have visited here at least once with over 3.5 million people visits in its life time.
16. The Mandrake
One of Bristol’s longest running clubs, The Mandrake was open for over 40 years until it became Basement 45 in 2009. This photo says it all.
17. The Lokiel
Before Thekla there was Lokiel, the original club on a boat.
You’d find this old place on Small Street. Legendary for drinking under age back in the day, this quote sums it up:
‘The place where I first got drunk “legally” – Spaghetti Tree, which is now Timbuk2. They’d let you drink at 15 as long as you bought a pizza – BOSH!!’
It has now been replaced by Timbuk2.
20. Oceana
Oh Oceana, the 00s staple for a student. This place is now Pryzm and… is pretty much the same as it was.
Got a favourite Bristol pub or club that we didn’t include? Then tell us below in the comments.