Clubs (Dance Music) and Music Bars in Exeter, Devon*

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Clubs (Dance Music) and Music Bars

• hot house and volts is now RIVA: COCKTAIL BAR AND NIGHTCLUB! it's under new management and i've had some amazing nights out there. Their cocktails are £3.50 before 11 and they are definately as good as hotel barcelonas. would recommend it to anyone, esp on a fri or sat!
• Rococo - Exeter's biggest club (not saying much), and the easiest place to get laid, especially if you're lax when it comes to upper age limits. Bouncers look about 60. Annoying black bloke in the toilets, who has a go at you if you don't pay him £1 to wash your hands. Timepiece - The most popular one, especially with students, and Exeter's relatively high emo population. Crowded as Hell, and about as well vamped out as a horse stable. Has its own burger bar. Cavern Club - About as big as my garden shed, but could be worse. Another indy/emo/alternative/student-type place. Bouncers don't ever seem to get off the door, illustrating how safe it is considered to be. Amber Rooms: Well, it has an upstairs part, open sometimes as late as 4am, making it Exeter's latest licensed bar/club. You can go into the bar, and sneak upstairs to the club, via a door, behind the Bouncers' backs (I know, 'cause I do this regularly, muahahahaha!), thus saving the £3 or £4 entry fee. Arena - Over 21? Then you're too old to go here. Ladies gain free entry, and a free glass of champagne, on Friday night, which sucks if you're not a lady, but I guess must be pretty cool if you are. However, the male: female ratio positively sucks, and any given woman is usually surrounded by about five lecherous blokes. Exeter's second chaviest club. Mambo's (formerly 'Warehouse'): Compensates for Exeter clubs' otherwise lack of violence. Bored of having teeth? Even more bored of having kneecaps? No problem at all, just take a night out here. One of the few clubs, the Bouncers of which I feel sorry for. Hell, they probably need to be as fit as footballers, the amount of running about they have to do. An absolute must, if you're a violent twat, or a woman who likes violent twats (or both, of course). Exeter is generally pretty rubbish, for nightlife, with places being annoyingly spread out (who likes walking a considerable distance, when pissed, thirsty and cold?), closing too early, and being very small. On the plus side, there aren't usually many fights (taking 'Mambo's' out of the equation, that is). Also: Butler's (a bar) reopens soon, and is apparently looking very nice, so that might be worth a look in....
• If you don't still have your own teeth, try Rococo. If you enjoy queueing, like the challenge of merely getting to the bar, and have some I.D., try Timepiece. If you're under 21, and a lecherous bloke, or a woman that likes to sleep around, try Arena. If you're a nutcase, or a woman who likes nutcases, or both, try Mambo's. If you like confined spaces, try Cavern Club. If you like even more confined spaces, try the upstairs of Amber Rooms. Or if you're called 'Amber', 'cause the irony would be pretty cool.... If you like a buzzing nightlife, give Exeter a miss.
• Arena is probably the best...Rococcos I wouldnt touch with a barge pole unless you are in2 grab a granny!!!
• Check out the Amber Rooms in Sidwell Street for great DJ's in the club and in the bar.
• Hothouse and volts is now closed, i actually liked it ! sad i know... and most of the clubs are now open till 3am here, so we are catching up !
• If you want hip hop and cheesy music..go to ARENA on friday or saturday nights..these are the busiest times..roccoco's is terrible..a medley of dance remixes and a playlist consisting of beyonce and 50 cent and nothing else..over 21's on friday..over 25 on saturday..dont even bother..its rubbish!!..same goes for warehouse, boxes and boogies..same old same old..same cheap crowd..but if thats your thing then you'd probably like it..but stay away from warehouse on a friday night because its absolutely dead!..the best club in exeter has to be timepiece by a long shot..bit classier (lol)..hip hop on thursday, indie/alternative on friday (which is by far the best night..got the best crowd..and if bands like franz, bloc party, the libertines, the kooks, razorlight get you going, chances are you'll enjoy yourself here..its the cool night some may say)..saturday is a mix..some indie/rock..some dance..some pop..again, its not too bad..but friday is the best..apart from that theres not much else..try the lemmy on a saturday..it says students only..but they'll probably let you in..thats good if you want to have a laugh. Cavern is good on weekends..good indie club..sometimes punk too..thats all in Exeter really!

• North Bridge Inn, a mixture of House, Hip-Hop, Breakbeats and Funky Beats on Thursdays fortnightly and Open Decks on alternate Thursdays. Jazz, Funk and Reggae on Sundays.
• Magelake in Uffculme
• The Pheonix Arts Centre has some great gigs and the new years eve party this year was bangin'. Think I saw Joss Stone there - Drinking not singin thankfully.
• timepiece on a friday night is good bcuz there seem 2 b less kids hanging around the area, altho exeter isnt that good. also amber rooms has just been refurbished and is pretty good bt keep it quiet else it will go downhill like timepiece...
• If your looking for fun with your mates just drinking than Timepiece is the way the go! If your looking for cheesy tunes to dance to than Arena or Rococo's is the place!. Best pub has to be Imperial - Can't believe no-ones mentioned it before!!! Drinks are just over a £1
• Timepiece -not on a friday tho
• All shite except the Cavern.

• Three Fat Fish-Funk on a friday/sat sometimes Timepiece; variety of music, good balcony/garden bar thing. Everything else can be a bit "cheesy"
• though exeter has picked up a little in recent years, we still pale in comparison to most cities. because of the incredibly out-dated licensing laws most clubs close at 1.30-2am... the main clubs are Arena (which is basically a cattle market), Hothouse (has its name for a reason - not for the overly sweaty!), Warehouse, Boxes and Boogies (three clubs in one big building, something for everyone), and of course Timepiece. timepiece is probably your best bet, the have a really relaxed dress code - you can walk in on a saturday night wearing jeans and your knackered but oh-so-comfy trainers! who wants to look like they're on their way to a job interview anyway?! also the cavern is always worth a visit! if you're after bars then the phoenix arts centre and the picture house bar are fabulous!
• timepiece is probably the best. stay away from the quay if underage kids and tacky music piss u off, but its not bad for a laugh and u can finish off a nite out there.
• There are a few; Roccoco (painfully cheesey, Arena (just painful), Warehouse, Boxers and boogies (can be fun when very drunk, but only occasionly) Timepiece (its feel's the inside of a fairground ride and they use speakers with the power of earphones. Hothouse/Volts (Very cheap) They Lemmy (uni night club, can fit 1500 people but they put at least 500 more then that. However this is all exeter has. You may think your town doesn't have as much, but Exeter is isolated, there's nowhere to go and as a uni student I can tell you most of us seem to hate this place! People from London find this place too pathetic to cope with.
• All shite apart from Timepeace, but if you like the hassel of fights every night and a danger of drowning in the river Hothouse/valts and wearhouse are worth a gander.
• Exeter has possibly the worst nightclubs in the world. Every single DJ seems to have the same record collection - and it's a terrible wedding party styley one. Argghh its a nightmare! None of the clubs have even an ounce of personality. Stay in, or go to Bristol.
• Slimepiece, the Cave.
• FUCK the cavern with a 10 foot pole the only place to go in exeter is the Metzo on the main road
• Exeters nite life is pretty poor. timepiece is the only club verging on ok. hothouse is only bearable if you are extremely drunk, but even then terrible. the cavern hosts some good new years parties along with the phoenix. warehouse, boxes and arena-poor!
• timepiece
• timepeice is "fresh", but stay away cus it's getting to busy, everywhere on the key, arena, and rococoos!! are collectivly the pissholes of the planet
• Timepiece
• all the crap down on the quay, esp volts and hothouse, seedy little s**tholes, arena is reasonable and timepiece is pretty cool
• Timepiece on a sunday, though the men are a bit grabby.
• Only 1 good club in Exeter and even thats getting shit!!! Timepiece is excellent on friday nights!! Collision baby!!!
• Timepiece on a tuesday night!
• The Timepiece still rocks.
• THE CAVERN. I have been to both Arena and Hothouse once and never, ever again. I once got accosted by a townie outside arena, asked if I would take him home and almost vomited on my feet. I haven't been back since. And Hothouse smells like wet dog.
• Timepiece,little castle street,amazing.
• hahahaha Hothouse...in one word NO!!!! don't do it
• NOT HOTHOUSE. Timepiece is friendly and there aren't too many nasty people in there. The Phoenix when it hosts parties.
• Get hold of a free copy of monthly listings magazine "The List" (from retailers all over town) - that's all I use to find out what's on!
• All awful!! but Rococco's is over 25's at weekends, Arena is good but NO atmospere at all. Hothouse takes its name from everyone sweating to death, but Volts downstairs gets better after few pints. Cavern, drum and Bass, good but smells of pee. Warehouse, best mix of chart music, but stroppy bouncers and more marines you knew existed! Timepiece can vary in its quality, better midweek and a more studenty place, great bar downstairs if you dont fancy dancing. Torquay/ Plymouth for serious clubbing!!
• HotHouse and Volts is probably the better of a bad crop. Thanks to the old farts in the council and there antique licence laws.
• Exeter has been known for its rather limited nightlife for quite a while. with the majority of residents leaving the city for greener fields. STOP PRESS!!!!! hang on, how long has it been since you have visited Exeter? well you're in for a shock ....... the long awaited decent night out has arrived. ARENA the club on everyones lips yes a decent clud in Exeter i think you will agree. With a top quality club you are bound for a top quality night, but sexy people need only try for the ARENA is not for the faint hearted. Now for the lot of you who are underage forget it your not going to get in, they are bring the older age groups back out clubing again... i must admit i didn,t expect this type of club in Exeter but i was happily surprised. So for all you lot who have put Exeter down and thought of us as as have a second class night-out its time to check again.... they can prove that they are the best with a beda nomination under their belts aswell... ARENA has put Exeter on the map. So there!!!!!!
• the youngest person to ever enter a club must have been at hothouse
• They are totally, utterly the worst clubs anywhere. This doesn't really detract from Exeter's better points but tourists beware.
• Exeter has the worst selection of clubs in the county! Only for you if you enjoy a night out with underage and underclothed kids who should be at home with their ovaltine. The Mint's good though for a free boogie and it's open until 1.00 am, bit cramped though.
• Cavern club, queen street
• I spent 3 years at exeter as a student. keep away from all the quay clubs unless you want a novelty night like 80's. we always went to timepiece as it seemed most fun, casual, at home etc.
• I have been living in Exeter for the whole 20 years of my life, and currently am studying in Copenhagen. I have missed Exeter so much since my stay here and I don't think people really appreciate it! Yes the night clubs are pretty small but they have a great friendly atmosphere. Hothouse and Volts is a great place to go if you're between 18-30 and want a good cheap time! Mainstream Chart music upstairs (which is cool if you're not into grunge or indie and like to dress up on a Friday or Saturday night as no jeans or trainers allowed upstairs in Hothouse although dresscode is less stricter downstairs in Volts) and hardcore dance downstairs! Also there is Rococo's for over 21's or 25's depending which night you go which has a friendly much more mature atmosphere! Warehouse is certainly for the younger crowd!! But with great dance music and great foam parties when they have them! Boxes is a lot more Indie with a more relaxed dress code and Boogies the 70's retro club which is great for a laugh, especially if you want to get your flares out!!! Timepiece is pretty good but full of students!! But all in all I'd say the clubs were great. It's a great place to catch up with friends cause you're bound to know someone if you have lived here a long time!!
• The Cavern: in Gandy Street - open for daytime as a pub, but gigs most evening: mainly hardcore etc, but world music, indie rock, folk etc etc. Lots of free nights, sometimes paying tho.
• Boxes is an OK club (over 18s) on Friday (indie) night. A bit Kevvey on Saturdays, but still full of 16 year old girlies! Way-hay!
• Boxes, on the Quay. Free for students before 10 on Friday (Indy night) + Saturdays (bit of everything). Timepiece on Thursdays (Indy, rock) Little Castle Street.
• Warehouse at the Quay (student). Timepiece by the court/library.
• The best club in town is Timepiece in a new location, about ten yards from where it used to be.
• Wahehouse & Boxes, Hothouse & Volts, the Cavern, Timepiece and the relatively new Rococcos - all have dodgy nights and are quite small but you'll probably have some of the best nights of your lives here! The vodka's cheap and the music's cheesey!

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