BOX Nottingham

You'll find this sprawling venue tucked behind Thurland Street's unremarkable facade, but once you're inside, the exposed brick and steel beams create exactly the kind of atmosphere you want for a proper night out. The cocktail list shows genuine thought – none of that theatrical nonsense with dry ice, just well-balanced drinks made by bartenders who actually know what they're doing. As the evening progresses, the music gets louder and the dancefloor fills up with a crowd that's refreshingly mixed. Students rub shoulders with thirty-somethings who've clearly made the effort to dress up, and somehow it all works. The sound system is decent enough that you can actually enjoy whatever the DJ's playing, whether that's chart hits or something with a bit more edge.