With the release of over four new club events per week this year, we’re really being spoilt for choice when it comes to night-time events. For many, Friday brings out the absolute best (and worst) in us when we’re out on the lash at the end of a working week. “Let’s go to Ocean” is often the bawdy hiccough into the neck of the empty Vodka bottle; nothing like a solid dip in the big O to wash away the memory of deadlines. But sometimes our drunkenly muddled brains are forced to consider that maybe the Big O just isn’t going to cut it tonight. There might be too big a queue. We might not get in. It’s a big commitment. Fear not! You can also explore Bodega’s Pop Confessional, brave the Trent Army at Forum or “Get Lucky” at Rock City. Your options are broad, and each venue has its own charms. But what club night do students is best if they’re heading out on the pull?
Some club night names – ‘Get Lucky’ and the now retired ‘4Play’ as prime examples – have clear sexual overtones. This can sometimes raise eyebrows when we consider attitudes towards sex on nights out- a recent article by The Tab showed that a quarter of women are sexually or verbally harassed on nights out. On the other hand, a recent survey showed that a staggering 64% of women actually go clubbing for the sole purpose of meeting men, whilst a measly 12% go to have fun. So clearly, people do see nights out as a prime scouting experience.
Putting that debate aside, what can we expect from the guys and girls we are meeting at each event? Is the name a fair reflection of the expectations of clubbers who attend them? Are the girls just as likely to hit Santa’s naughty list as the boys? Through surveys, personal experience and colourful anecdotes, we give you our ultimate guide to where you’re really most likely to get lucky.
Some of the most enjoyable nights occur in the mid-week sector, particularly if the only company you want for the night is that of your best mates. Gin and Juice, Coco Tang and Market Bar are prime examples. Not only is the music good, but drinks are only marginally more expensive than other venues. And most importantly, the flirting is far more reserved in comparison with larger clubbing venues. The same rings true with Bodega’s Pop Confessional and Gold Teeth events.
Rock City’s publicized ‘Get Lucky’ Friday events fell just short of the top three venues to get your kicks at. The men try, they really do, and the girls are also guilty of that extra hair flick as their skirts move up another half-inch. But the fact of the matter is that it just lacks the unimaginative raw sexual vibe that accompanies Wednesday’s undergraduate oriented nights. It may be cute to some, but having a random man, dancing next to me for two minutes and then shouting above the music “So I can kiss you now?” just isn’t really going to float my boat.
NUMBER 3 – ‘Antics’ at Oceana. Asking around campus, the general consensus seems to be that there are more chicks than dicks on a Monday night, but even the layout of Oceana helps you acquire a target and home in! The dance floor, especially once everyone’s necked a shot back, much resembles an animal pen, with a multi-layered viewing area for your gawping pleasure. The night’s official tagline, ‘What Antics will you get up to?’ says it all.
NUMBER 2 – Ocean. Ocean’s casual vibe means you won’t find many girls in full glamour mode. But let’s face it; no one is a stranger to what happens when Baywatch comes on… What better way to get a sneak preview? And maybe the infamously long queue will work in your favour- a 3rd year Biology student brags that her and her friend “didn’t even make it in the club. We got talking to two guys in the queue and ended up back at theirs twenty minutes later”. When you don’t even have to get inside to pull that must be a pretty spectacular vibe. If you do make it to the end of the night, the infamous ‘erection section’ might help to put you in the mood for some loving.
And the winner is…. Crisis!
Crisis is definitely the leading nightclub venue for getting lucky. Every Wednesday, singletons rush in, and couples stagger out. This could be due to the unbelievable levels of testosterone that fly around on a Wednesday night, as sports teams head out for their weekly socials. If athletic types are your thing, Crisis is the venue for you! One 4th year student told us ‘my bedroom faces Derby road and not a week goes by when I don’t see walk-of-shamers strolling home on a Thursday morning, sports tie in hand. ‘ But there are also plenty of dark corners for a tryst and if things get flirtatious you can head down to Black Cherry Lounge for a more intimate vibe. Plus, if you pull mid-week and things get awkward in the morning, you have an imaginary 9am Thursday seminar as a get-out clause. Win.
So there you have it! Horny and out on the lash, head on down to Crisis, or if you just want to chill with friends then the smaller venues are perfect. Nottingham really has it all, so now you can pick the venue that most suits your hopes and expectations for the night.
Sources
http://www.rock-city.co.uk/blog/227-hello-nottingham-get-lucky
https://www.facebook.com/VICE.The.Guestlist/photos/t.1670581644/753944497997908/?type=1&theater
http://uk.tilllate.com/en/photoalbum/overview/9653889#161711714
http://uk.askmen.com/dating/heidi/50_dating_girl.html
http://uk.tilllate.com/en/photoalbum/overview/10115410#170773867
http://tab.co.uk/2014/09/11/a-quarter-of-women-are-sexually-harassed-on-nights-out-says-survey/
Edited by Nicole Jones