The Lanes

You'll find this place tucked into a handsome Georgian building that's been gutted and rebuilt as Bristol's answer to a proper nightclub. The ground floor bar serves cocktails that bartenders actually care about - none of that syrupy nonsense you get elsewhere - while upstairs the main room pounds out everything from house to drum and bass depending on the night. The sound system is genuinely excellent, which matters when you're three drinks deep and completely lost in whatever the DJ is throwing down. Weekend queues can be brutal, but midweek events often showcase local talent alongside bigger names, making it worth checking their lineup regularly rather than just rolling up.