Nightlife in Kingston

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As it is close to London, and a relatively big city, Kingston Upon Thames offers a good range of clubs for a range of music tastes. Most nights of the week have something to offer from a selection of clubs. Due to the University, at which I am a student, the clubs mainly host events aimed at students. However, due to the vast range in music genres it could be open to those of you who aren't students if you wanted to give it a try.

McClusky's
McClusky's is situated overlooking the River Thames by the Kingston Bridge, a beautiful location. McClusky's is the first club I ever experienced in Kingston. It was responsible for holding the school disco in my freshers week. McClusky's often has events on throughout the year with either dress or music themes. One thing I really remember from the first time I went there is the assortment of corky's shots they had on offer behind the bar. I tried a marshmallow shot and although I wouldn't recommend staying on these all night (they are rather sickly as you can imagine) it is definitely a good bonding experience for University students. Drinks are a reasonable price but it is dependent on which night you attend.



For summer 2012 every Saturday is 'Get Sexy'. All drinks are £2 before 11pm and afterwards selected drinks are £2.50. All bomb drinks (jung bomb/skittle bomb/glitter bomb/buca bomb/melon bomb) are £3.70 or you can get 2 for £6. A special offer; if you double up on any spirit then you receive a free apple corky's shot. Open from 9.30am – 3am, the last entry is at 1am. Music on this night is current anthems. There is a link on the website to get free entry before 11pm or only £5 before midnight.

Every Friday is 'History' night which plays the best anthems and club hits from the past fifteen years. All drinks are £1.99 before midnight besides doubles, champagne and cocktails. Selected drinks are £2.50 after this time. Free entry before 11pm if you have a flyer, NUS or membership; after 11pm or normal entry is £5. There is a link on the website to get free entry before 11pm.
'I Love Wednesdays' has a different form of entertainment each week from foam parties to UV to fancy dress; it is an entertaining night for any student. Most drinks are £2 all night. You can get 5 bombs (any flavour) for £10 and 5 vodka mixers for £10. As with the other nights, there is a free entry before 11pm with a link on the website to find out more. If you have an NUS, flyer or MEM then you can get in for £3 after 11pm. Without any of these offers the entry fee is £5, still a reasonable price when you take into consideration the offer on drinks.

I recommend that you check out the McClusky's website to check out more up to date events. They often have guest appearances but what this club is most well known for is the fancy dresses throughout the year which are popular with students. I would say this club is appropriate purely for students but there are also occasionally under 18 events.
http://www.mccluskys.com/

Oceana
The Kingston Oceana is the biggest in the UK. It is the most popular student venue due to the huge range of different music rooms such as chart, Indie and cheese. It is suitable for a huge range of music tastes which makes it so popular as well as the ability to change the music you are listening to to suit your group's experience. Be warned; the first few times you enter this club you will get lost!

Fuzzy Logic is the biggest student night in Kingston held every Wednesday night. Free entry to all before 10pm and around £5.50 from here on; although you do get a discount if you present a student ID card. Early on in the night there are 2-4-1 cocktails and £1.50 drinks offers. Be prepared to queue on this night however, as it does get extremely popular. You can always look online for guest list options to prevent from queuing for so long.

Kinkee Thursday is another weekly event that plays R'n'B, House, Dubstep, Classics and Commercial Beats. I've only attended this night once and it wasn't very busy but it did mean that we didn't have to queue and were able to request songs that we wanted to hear. There are a number of drink offers and when I attended they had vodka jelly shots for £1. Entry is £5 and non-students are welcome.

Ocies is every Friday night for the end of the work week stress. A mix of cheese, club anthems and party music. WooWoo is also open for those who want a more relaxed evening. A range of drink offers before midnight and entry before 10pm is free; door price is £8 from here onwards.

Platinum is the Saturday night event. Karaoke is on offer in the WooWoo bar. Dance, chart, disco and urban music is on offer. Door price is £10; but as with most nights, free entry before 10pm.
Every Monday is 'Refresh' bringing retro, cheese and pop music. Early 2-4-1 cocktails and £1.50 drinks making it a fairly cheap night. Selected drinks are £1.20 all night and long cocktails are 2-4-1 all night. It is a £5.50 entry or £4.00 with a student ID.
The chill out bar WooWoo is also an option on most nights for those of you who aren't looking for a clubbing experience but rather to have a few drinks with your friends making it suitable for those of you who aren't students.

I suggest you check out the website for more up to date events http://www.oceanaclubs.com/kingston-upon-thames

Hippodrome
Hippodrome is owned by Oceana but offers a more relaxed atmosphere. Every Thursday is 'New Slang' which is an Indie and Alternative night. It is a brilliant venue for any of you who aren't interested in chart music. This is often the place I go to on a last minute night out as it is always a pretty much guaranteed night out. Prices for entry vary but it is never usually more than £5. Queues are fairly short so you don't have to wait around in the cold for long – always a bonus.

Bacchus
Bacchus provides a good range of music and theme nights every night of the week so you have a good choice every day of the week. On alternative Mondays there is '88MPH' playing 80s alternative and guilty pleasure music. A good start to the beginning of the week bringing you back to old school music.
Every other Monday that is not '88MPH' is 'Truffle Shuffle' providing Rock'n'Roll, Surf, Rhythm and Blues which brings the best of 50s and 60s music. This will be a carefree night for anyone who wants a happy dancing night.

On Tuesdays it alternates between 'Just a Groove' and 'Peace and Dub'. 'Just a Groove' night brings you the best groove, disco, funk and soul anthems; 'Peace and Dub' provides you with Reggae, Ska, Roots, Dubstep, Dancehall and Rub-a-Dub tunes. Although I am not a huge Reggae listener, I was surprised by how many songs I actually knew.

On Wednesdays, Bacchus alternates with 'Riot' night or 'New Noise'. 'Riot' night offers you the best in alternative genre from classics up until new releases. 'New Noise' is a punk and emo night for those of you who don't enjoy the typical chart music.
Thursday nights offer 'Get Loud' and 'Rump Shaker' alternatives. 'Get Loud' provides you with Dubstep, Drum'N'Bass, Hip Hop, Electro and Old Skool. 'Rump Shaker' offers similar tracks ranging from Hip Hop, Garage, Grime, Dubstep, Jungle, Drum'N'Bass and Bashment.

Monday to Thursday entry costs £2 with a flyer before 11pm and £3 with flyer after this time. If you don't have a flyer the price is £4 all night.

End of the working week; head to Bacchus on Friday for either 'Collision' or 'Growler' nights. 'Collision' plays Indie, Alternative and Beats all night if you found this the best way to let off some steam after a stressful week of exams or coursework. 'Growler' gives you Electro, House, Techno and Bass sounds if you prefer something with a faster pace. £3 entry fee before 11pm with flyer or £6 all night without.

If you fancy a night of celebration mid way through the weekend before your return to the working week, Bacchus offers 'Midnight Boom' or 'Is This It?' nights. Rock'N'Roll, Pop, Alternative and Electro is on offer during 'Midnight Boom' nights. 'Is This It?' provides you with Indie, Rock, Alternative, Classics, Hip Hopm Electro, Indie AND Dance ensuring everyone in your group enjoys at least a few of the songs! £3 entry fee before 11pm with flyer or £6 all night without.

End of the week, Sunday Night, is either 'Take Over' or 'Toothpick'. Old Hip-Hop, R&B, Dancehall, Soul, Rare Grooves, Funk, Soulful House and Chilled Dubstep is on offer for those of you attending 'Take Over' whereas 'Toothpick' gives you Jumpin' Rhythm & Soul, Ska &Rocksteady tunes. Plus both nights are FREE entry.

With such a range of music genres and an event each night, it is hard to imagine you not finding something to your taste at Bacchus.

I suggest you check out the website for more up to date events [LINK=http://www.bacchuslatebar.co.uk/whatson/]http://www.bacchuslatebar.co.uk/whatson/
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Ama-gi
Every Friday is 'Love Vodka' night with the cheapest drinks in Kingston. There are also free Vodka Love T-Shirts and Hoodies.
A good fall back club but each night is very similar to another in terms of music and crowds. It is quite a small location and often gets very busy. Just be warned if you are not a fan of being shoved around the dance floor. However, it is an easy place to go to on a last minute night out as it is a cheap location open most nights of the week and you're always bound to see other people you know as a student.

Pubs
The two main pubs in Kingston that appear to get the most student attraction is The Mill and Wetherspoons. The Mill is a great place for pre-drinking as it is right next to Ama-gi with offers on drinks such as snakebite and shots. Even though it is a pub it becomes more like a bar on student nights due to the number of people. This is a great place for socialising as you are able to sit and talk to people you meet there.

Due to the range of club types as well as the music genres on offer on each night, I find it hard to believe that no one could enjoy the nightlife in Kingston. The atmosphere is lively and friendly. As a student it is easy to meet others on nights out as well as bonding with people you live with or those who are on the same course. Kingston University also has social nights for each course and sport but you can also attend with friends who have their own socials. I have enjoyed my first year at Kingston with all the socialising and can't wait to start my second year knowing all the best places to go.

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