A venue can make or break your party. An untuned sound system, lack of bars or bad crowd and your nights over before it even starts. For every bad venue their is a brilliant venue. To save you some time and money trying to locate the UK venues worthy of a night of dancing we look at six UK venues you need to experience.


1. Sub Club, Glasgow

“You mean apart from all the sexy, drunk Scottish people? I’d say it’s the fact it reminds me of a proper fucking nightclub; like wooden floors and proper sound and proper vibes, it’s a proper underground club.” – Honey Dijon

After 30 years of parties, Sub Club or ‘The Subby’ is hands down one of the best venues in the world. Period. The 400 capacity basement, located on Jamaica Street has built a reputation for rowdy, sweaty and quite frankly incomparable parties.

Like the counter culture movement it was born from, Sub Club goes against the grain of usual practise. Advance tickets are limited, instead favouring walk-ups. A way of ensuring the inclusive culture and attitude that it has become famous for. It also pays homage to the golden age of resident DJs. Harri and Domenic its long serving duo are an integral part of its success. The two artists regularly play all night long sets and many a man have described them as the worlds best residents.

As with all venues its booking policy defines its success. Where Sub Club sets itself apart, is their ability to build trends rather than ride successful fads. The bookers have an impressive ability to break local artists and underground talent alongside global headliners. What Sub Club does, others follow.


2. Printworks, London

There was a time when London’s nightlife lacked a centrepiece. A venue that could compete with Gashouder Amsterdam, Space Ibiza and Fabrik Madrid. The mega clubs of the dance world. It’s been a long time since there was that hot ticket that everyone wanted. Que Printworks and its 5,000 capacity venue in the former Evening Standard press halls. Its industrial architecture, sprawling layout and impressive club refurbishment make it a benchmark for underground music venues.

Tale Of Us, Gerd Janson, Mount Kimbie, Nina Kraviz and The Black Madonna are just a selection of the impressive catalogue of names playing week in week out. The bookings span the full range of house and techno but the mechanical feeling of the building lends itself perfectly. Reminiscent of Germany’s factory spaces and even those of Techno’s origins in Detroit. The halls seem to go on forever their scale, even during the day brightly lit and empty, are awe inspiring. It feels like a futuristic place of worship rather than a factory of a club.

The level of production is what sets this venue apart. Yes the line-ups are nice touch but it’s the attention to detail that really shines bright. Its all about the ‘Printworks experience’. Artists and ravers alike want to immerse them self in the venue.

“Other clubs in London they are fighting over each other to book talent, whereas we’re getting DJs who have come here – they’ve seen their mates play, they love the space and they are asking for dates”


3. The Tunnels, Aberdeen

Occupying two tunnels under the city, The Tunnels has been hosting Aberdeen’s best parties for a number of years. A subterranean rave cave with a quality sound system, professional promoters and the Scottish approach to partying makes it a must visit destination.

It underwent a refurbishment in 2015. Now complete with a new sound system it offered the venue a platform to further increase its pedigree in clubland. Its success however is mostly down to pitting the brightest local talent against major acts such as Haai, Patrice Baumel and Slam. This approach has helped establish The Tunnels in the upper echelons of venues in the UK.


4. Hidden, Manchester

Manchester is the spiritual home of partying. Home to the Hacienda and before that the illegal Warehouse parties that shaped the scene we know and love. In recent times The Warehouse Project has dominated Manchester nightlife alongside smaller independent promoters. The closure of Sankeys left a lack of competition at the top table something that stifled the Manchester scene for a short time. However since the introduction of Hidden, a multi room venue in a former textile mill the scene is once again booming with healthy competition.

The venue isn’t fancy and doesn’t do complicated. What it does do is quality underground music, delivered to an educated and energetic audience. Jeff Mills recently performed at the venue and on completion of his set at 6am went round and shook the hand of every member of the 200 strong crowd. Afterwards he said it reminded him of what clubbing used to be like. All-inclusive, care free and with a crowd open to experimentation.

Another story made its way to us centred on Theo Parrish the Chicago house legend. After playing non stop for 6 hours at the venue he enjoyed himself so much he asked about the possibility of a quarterly residency at the venue. He said it would be a way to wind down his formative DJ days in ‘proper venue with proper dancers’. These accolades from arguably two of dance music’s most important names speak volumes for the work being done by the team operating Hidden.


5. The Source Bar, Maidstone

When you think of UK clubbing destinations, Maidstone is not a city that comes to mind. However thanks to the tireless graft of Martin Aston, Matt Shipley and their team the endless stream of global headliners that land at The Source Bar rivals even the UK’s biggest clubs. Open three days a week Saturdays are dedicated to club music of the highest calibre.

Spread across 3 main rooms the venue offers a courtyard that is home to some of the most talented young artists in the scene. Source credibility comes through the friends & family vibe it has created. The residents and local talent it invites along play week in week out and are given the same attention as the headline artists they share the decks with. This is an important and often over looked cog in venue culture and one that if handled well offers an abundance of benefits. These are the benefits that The Source now reaps. Week in week out a full club, familiar faces and full throttle parties.


6. The Cause, London

Nestled 2 minute walk from Tottenham Hale station is the urban labyrinth known as The Cause. Having only opened its doors this year it has already built a reputation as one of London’s best small venues. Artists and punters a like are queuing up to witness the custom sound system, minimal lights and urban event space that is being praised by all that have had the pleasure to dance their.

Unlike many venues that have an air of stiffness and rigidity to them The Cause takes the opposite approach. Like its European counterparts in Berlin and Amsterdam its is laid back clubbing. All-inclusive attitudes and clued up dancers looking to go deep into the next day.

Its recent event with The London Loft party saw 5 rooms open and Francessco Del Garda, Voigtmann & S-AS (Subban & Adam Shelton) play long into the afternoon. This European attitude is a welcome breathe of fresh air for the more switched on ravers, trying to avoid the flash of multiple smart phones and pissed up punters that are so often found in UK venues.