Flares & Popworld - Middlesbrough

You know exactly what you're getting when you step through those doors on Albert Road – and that's precisely why it works. The two-room setup gives you the best of both worlds: Flares throwing it back to the 70s and 80s with disco balls and proper cheese, while Popworld pumps out early 2000s anthems that'll have you screaming along to Britney and Busted. The drinks are reasonably priced for town, the staff actually seem to enjoy themselves, and nobody's taking themselves too seriously. It's the kind of place where you'll find yourself doing the Macarena at 1am and loving every ridiculous minute. Sure, it's not sophisticated, but sometimes you just want to belt out Mr Brightside with a room full of strangers who are equally committed to the cause.