Entertainment in Bristol
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Elbow Room
Part dim-lit bar, part hustlers' pool hall, this is a favourite hang-out for Bristol's style-conscious frat. Rack up the balls and knock back the bourbons to a soundtrack of jazz, funk and hip-hop. For budding Fast Eddies, there's a pool competition every Monday.
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Goldbrick House
Uberposh drinking emporium that combines the ambience of a private gentleman's club (squeaky leather sofas, armchairs, chandeliers) with the champagne and cocktails of a Soho celeb bar. A new fave among Bristol's moneyed-up 30-somethings and media crowd.
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Queenshilling
This is the grand old dame of Bristol's gay scene. Q/S (as it is affectionately known among the locals) is a lively club-bar that specialises in burlesque nights and big cheesy dancefloor anthems. You can't ask for much more.
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Native
Bristol's top ticket, this tiny 200-cover club is right on the cutting edge, with drum and bass, latin, jungle, dubstep, hip-hop and jazz all making the playlist, along with a revolving line-up of guest DJs.
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Apple
Stocking more ciders than you could possibly hope to imbibe, this riverside retreat is a temple to traditional scrumpy. Chutney sandwiches and Ploughman's lunches complete the apple-flavoured experience.
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Thekla Social
After a hefty refit, Bristol's venerable club-boat is back with nights to cater for all tastes: electro-punk, indie, disco and new wave, plus live gigs and legendary leftfield night Blowpop once a month.
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Park
Longstanding choice with Bristol's night owls, with a scuffed-up aesthetic, banquette sofas and weekend DJs, plus globespanning drinks (Wyborowa vodka from Poland and Makers Mark bourbon from Kentucky).
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Ivory
Slate tables, deep seats and walnut furniture lit by designer lamps at this stylish new arrival. Superior beers - Staropramen, Hoegaarden, Becks - and fruit-flavoured vodkas attract a high-class crowd.
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Bar Orchid
A new gay bar just opened in the Old Market area offers a relaxed atmosphere and championing the motto 'Always a pleasure, never a chore'. It also has a great bar menu of home-cooked food.
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White Lion
The fabulous panoramic platform at the Avon Gorge Hotel wins the views contest hands down. On hot days punters pack the terrace tables to watch the sun sink over the suspension bridge.
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Carling Academy
Bristol's original superclub can hold a 2000-strong crowd, but it's practically never that busy. There's indie and R&B during the week and big house nights on weekends.
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Nocturne
A hyperexclusive members club, part owned by Massive Attack, with a decadent designer vibe and notoriously fussy bouncers, so smarten up your act and start queuing early.
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Pipe & Slippers
The Pipe is a solid bet for a solid pint and an equally solid meal - Bath Ales behind the bar and Pieminister pies make this ever popular with Bristol's boozer-cruisers.
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Woods
Cultured and cool, this is another haunt for Bristol's beautiful, crammed with glitter balls, refectory benches and Victoriana sofas, plus 50 whiskies behind the bar.
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Croft
Chilled venue with a policy of supporting new names and Bristol-based artists. There's usually no cover charge if you arrive by 22:00 Sunday to Thursday.
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Cube
Wickedly offbeat little arts complex, with an eclectic programme that takes in 35mm classics, acoustic sets, burlesque shows and highbrow discussions.
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Stark
Burgundy walls, rich red settees and pop-art prints in a metropolitan-style bar, with backgammon, pool and table footie when the small talk runs dry.
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Flamingos
On the club side the big nights include Flamingos (07980 842438; www.flamingosbristol.com; 23-25 West Street), with twin dance floors and five bars.
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Tobacco Factory
This small-scale theatre venue stages cutting-edge drama and dance. Catch bus 24 or 25 from Broadmead to the Raleigh Rd stop, south of the river.
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Timbuk2
This scruffy-chic club-venue is crammed underneath the arches off Corn St, and hosts a mixed bag of breaks, house, drum and bass and jungle.
reviewed
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Bierkeller
A legendary place that has played host to plenty of rock stars down the years, and still gets packed out on weekends.
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Griffin
The Griffin is a popular, predominantly gay, pre-club place decked out in day-glo shades and saucy artwork.
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Bar Prague
An Old Market area gay venue with a welcoming attitude and a live music and entertainment on most nights.
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Fleece & Firkin
A small, intimate venue, much favoured by indie artists and breaking names on the local scene.
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Colston Hall
The biggest concert hall in Brizzle, hosting everything from big-name comedy to touring bands.
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