The Best Clubs in Bristol
Discover the best clubs in Bristol, from warehouse heavyweights to intimate underground gems, and dive into the city’s unbeatable music culture.
Last updated: 1st Dec 2025
Originally published: 22nd Jul 2021
If you love music, you’ll know about Bristol’s storied history. From reggae and trip-hop to drum and bass and dubstep, the city has been responsible for cutting-edge sounds and has produced some of the country's best artists.
The clubs aren’t bad, either. No matter what type of night you’re looking for, it’s likely you’ll find it in Bristol. From massive warehouses to intimate, low-ceiling haunts, the choice in the city is second to none.
Here are the best clubs in Bristol that any passionate raver should have their eye on.
Photo: Motion Bristol / Facebook.com
Capacity: 1,000
Location: Unit 2 Victoria Terrace, Bristol BS2 0TD
Motion has returned! And we’re delighted to say that it’s still one of the best clubs in Bristol. Now holding events at Unit 2 Victoria Terrace, it’s as though the legendary club never left. While the capacity is now 1000, the energy remains. The new space retains the industrial, warehouse feel of the Motion of old, and to be honest, the booking policy is still on point. The likes of SBTRKT, Y U QT, Chloe Robinson and Luuk Van Dijk have graced the decks as part of Motion’s ‘Momentum’ club night series, which pairs established talent with up-and-coming names.
Photo: Thekla Bristol / Facebook.com
Capacity: 400
Location: East Mud Dock, The Grove in Bristol BS1 4RB
Thekla can definitely call itself unique due to the fact that the venue is inside a boat!
A converted trading vessel, it has been handed over a few times, abandoned and rejuvenated, and now serves as an important cultural centre in Bristol that delivers gigs and club nights in abundance. This is somewhere to check out if you like those closer, more intimate nights.
The award-winning venue hosts events that cater to an array of tastes with amapiano, rock, 00s throwback parties, DnB, reggae, soul, techno, and so much more. Any Thekla party is a party worth attending.
Photo: Lost Horizon / Facebook.com
Capacity: 350
Location: 1-3 Elton Street in Bristol BS2 9EH
Lost Horizon is an independent arts centre and bar that showcases art, music, and performance located just outside the city centre.
Built by the team behind Glastonbury Festival’s Shangri-La, Lost Horizon is dedicated to supporting all creative forms. So when you aren’t raving or enjoying incredible live bands, the venue also hosts workshops, classes, exhibitions, conferences, markets, theatre, and so much more.
Find events at Lost Horizon HQ
Photo: Lakota - Bristol / Facebook.com
Capacity: 1,180
Location: Lakota, 6 Upper York St, Stokes Croft in Bristol BS2 8QN
One of the most crucial Bristol clubs for three decades, Lakota is a three-storey building with a warehouse look. Four dance floors are spread over the venue with a killer sound system to compliment the huge electronic artists that perform there.
The balcony and bar overlook the main dance floor at this venue that’s recognised as one of Bristol’s key players in underground music. Outside of music events (including many free ones), Lakota also hosts Oktoberfest events, football screenings, and more.
Photo: Clock Factory Bristol / Facebook.com
Capacity: Unavailable
Location: 63 Union Street in Bristol BS1 2DU
Bringing state-of-the-art lighting and an incredible sound system to Bristol, Clock Factory is an old industrial building with high ceilings and exposed brickwork, making it a stunning and unique rave location.
The beloved Bristol nightclub has welcomed a range of live artists from many genres over the years although it tends to focus more on electronic sounds, with drum and bass, dubstep, bass music, and techno making up much of its 2023 events.
Photo: Electric Bristol / Facebook.com
Capacity: 2,000
Location: 15 Nelson Street, Bristol, BS1 2JY
You’d be mad to miss out on an event at Electric Bristol. Whether you’re a party goer looking for the best drum & bass, jungle, house and techno, or up for seeing globally renowned hip-hop and pop acts, the venue really does have it all. It’s the type of place that, after one event, you’ll be hungry for more, and luckily, you can find all the latest events right here on Skiddle.
Find events at Electric Bristol
Photo: Basement 45 / Facebook.com
Capacity: 280
Location: 8 Frogmore Street in Bristol BS1 5NA
Another club that’s valuable to Bristol’s underground scene, Basement 45 is incredibly intimate and stripped-back, giving that super exclusive feel. It’s the place to be for discovering the best upcoming underground artists.
Basement’s music policy is a mixture of many with DnB, house, bass, garage, metal, UK funky, rock, and more. It’s all about banging tunes no matter the genre. Get over there to enjoy all this, two dance floors, two bars, and many incredible artists.
Photo: The Loco Klub / Facebook.com
Capacity: 300
Location: The Loco Klub, Clock Tower Yard in Bristol BS1 6QH
We all love a rave in a tunnel! And if you’ve never been to a rave in a tunnel, it’s about time you checked out The Loco Klub. One of the best Bristol clubs is hidden in the former Ash Pits of Brunel’s original station at Bristol Temple Meads. Head over and explore the venue’s tunnels while electronic tunes blare.
Photo: Coroners Court / Instagram.com
Capacity: 500
Location: Backfields, Stokes Croft in Bristol BS2 8QN (adjacent to Lakota)
Definitely one of the best clubs in Bristol for those who like something a bit different, this Gothic-style rave haven used to be a coroner's office, used for determining unexplained deaths.
Perhaps the newest of all Bristol nightclubs, Coroner’s Court opened in February 2023 by the team behind Lakota. After testing out for a handful of events here and there, they decided to open the former mortuary as a full venue.
Specially curated underground music is showcased across two rooms with regular takeovers from grassroots and small music labels.
Find events at Coroner’s Court
Photo: The Fleece Bristol / Facebook.com
Capacity: 450
Location: 12 St Thomas Street in Bristol BS1 6JJ
This legendary venue has welcomed some huge names since it opened in 1982. We’re talking Oasis and Radiohead levels of huge.
While live music tends to be its primary focus, putting on shows every night, The Fleece also has some club nights. Particularly popular with live music fans and students, you can find it in Bristol’s city centre.
Photo: Dare to Club / Facebook.com
Capacity: 375
Location: 1 Alfred Street, St. Philips in Bristol BS2 0RF
Some pretty big names take to the decks at Dare To Club to bring banging tunes to ravers, either indoors across two rooms or outdoors.
While many genres are celebrated at Dare To, those with a more sunny sound, like reggaeton, salsa, Latin, bachata, and similar seem to be most popular! If you’re thinking about wandering over to see what’s on, it’s a good idea to check their events calendar before you go as they offer some very niche events outside of music too.
Photo: The Students' Union at UWE / Facebook.com
Capacity: 800
Location: Frenchay Campus in Bristol BS16 1QY
With freshers getting closer and closer, this student bar is already getting ready to help all the newbies make friends, have a good laugh, and probably drink a little more than they should. They've already got some stunning events to check out including ABBA bingo, pizza parties, quizzes with cash prizes, and drag parties.
Find events at The Students' Union At UWE
Photo: Circuit Bristol / Facebook.com
Capacity: 1,500
Location: The South Buildings, Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5UH
Circuit is one of Bristol’s newest clubs, and they’ve got a stacked line-up of events for you and your mates to enjoy. Love your ‘90s and ‘00s R&B? Get on down to Bingo Jamz for a night of chaotic fun with fantastic tunes. They’ve also got regular nights on Fridays and Saturdays, ABBA-themed day parties and of course, Halloween events for those who love spooky season.
Photo: The Lanes / Facebook.com
Capacity: 500
Location: 22 Nelson Street in Bristol BS1 2LE
If you’re looking for a bit of a different night out, The Lanes might be the one for you! With bowling lanes, karaoke, pool, pizza, and live music and club nights, there’s lots of fun here to fill your night with.
Club nights at The Lanes are often themed, with their California Love being the perfect example as a 90s-00s hip-hop and R&B night.
Photo: The Prospect Building / Facebook.com
Capacity: 5,000
Location: 45 Feeder Rd, Bristol BS2 0SE
The Prospect Building is a music lover’s dream. All bases are covered across two rooms, and whether you’re looking to hear cutting-edge electronic music, dance music legends or indie rock titans, you’ll find it here. The likes of Ben UFO, Biffy Clyro and Pendulum are just a selection of the names that have thrilled crowds at The Prospect Building. But there’s more. The venue regularly hosts cultural events, a true hub for creativity and one of the best clubs in Bristol.
Find events at The Prospect Building
Photo: O2 Academy Bristol / Facebook.com
Capacity: 1,600
Location: 1-2 Frogmore Street in Bristol BS1 5NA
Opening in 2001, the O2 established itself as a much-loved live music venue in the city. But it’s also one of the best Bristol nightclubs with Taylor Swift, guilty pleasure pop, and other themed nights.
In the city centre with public transport links nearby, the O2 is easy to get to. And there are loads of bars and pubs around if you get there early and fancy a bev while you wait.
Find events at O2 Academy Bristol
Photo: The Love Inn / Facebook.com
Capacity: 175
Location: 84 Stokes Croft in Bristol BS1 3QY
The Love Inn was created by the team behind Love Saves The Day Festival and The Small Horse Social Club. Open until 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays, head here for late nights spent enjoying music from the best DJs and producers in the UK.
Capacity: 220
Location: 6 Upper York Street, Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS2 8QN
Moon Club is a brand new venture from the team behind the legendary Lakota. Named after a previous club that operated under the same name in the 1980s, it boasts an intimate atmosphere, best-in-class soundsystem and a killer set of bookings across the sounds of drum and bass, ukg, bassline, house, techno and more. It’s likely to become your go-to spot in the city when you’re looking for a sick rave.
Capacity: 3,000
Location: 30 Pennywell Rd, St Jude's, Bristol BS5 0TH
DOCUMENT is an absolutely cracking venue. Located in a huge, industrial former document storage facility, it’s headed up by the minds behind Motion and The Marble Factory. The likes of Josh Baker, Armand Van Helden and Leftfield have graced the stage at Document, treating Bristol’s ravers to electric sets full of energy. But it’s not all about raving. DOCUMENT also hosts Bingo Lingo events and food festivals, making it a must-visit venue for those who want to get their cultural fix.
Bristol’s nightlife is truly one of a kind, and this list shows just how much the city has to offer once the sun goes down. From huge warehouse raves to intimate underground sessions, the best clubs in Bristol cater to every kind of music lover. With so many iconic spaces and genre-spanning lineups, it’s easy to see why people travel far and wide to experience the best nightclubs in Bristol. Now all that’s left is to round up your mates and get ready for an unforgettable night out.
Click or tap here to find unreal Bristol raves and club nights
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
Header: Motion Bristol / Facebook.com