We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t help you have the best night out possible. Ada White has been all over the midlands and has compelled a list of the best places you and your friends can visit.
To start with, you can’t have a list of clubs in the midlands without Mosh. It’s a stalwart in Leicester’s night club history. You are not truly a student in Leicester before you have been. The three floors will almost certainly have something to suit your taste, from R&B and hip-hop to techno and house music, as well as indie and rock. They have something for everyone.
The vibe is nice, and even though it may not be to everyone’s taste, it is most definitely a student-friendly club, with cheap drinks and events centred around most festivities. Mosh is definitely a club that you should check out if you’re interested in experiencing Leicester nightlife.
Sticking to Leicester, we go to Club Republic. This isn’t a place you can go to every weekend, but there are regular events that attract students from all over the Midlands. In terms of events that I have personally been to, for lovers of Afro-Caribbean music, both Party and Bullshxt and 0/100 are a must.
UncleTeo events are always great and centre around international music and celebrating different cultures. With Leicester being one of, if not the cultural hub of the UK and the large number of international students in both Leicester and the rest of the Midlands, this is a great place to both meet people and dance to your heart’s content. With multiple rooms and a large warehouse-like main room, it is an extremely fun night out.
Going over to Nottingham now, a great event to attend is Monsta, especially for those who enjoy South Asian culture and music. This may sound a bit daunting at the beginning if that’s not your kind of thing, but there is music for everyone. They play everything from early 2000s club bangers to the new popular songs in the charts.
I’ve gone to this event a fair few times and I’ve always had a great time. The opportunity to immerse yourself in Asian culture and meet people from all over the Midlands is amazing, and like the majority of student nights, the drinks are very affordable. The Monsta brand has been expanding since its first event at ICON nightclub in 2021 and has begun doing events in London, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, York and recently Leicester. It gives students a chance to experience multiple different clubs due to it not being tied down to a specific one, and perhaps find one that you can go to on non-event nights.
Now to a venue that really excites me, though it might be the most niche one on this list, Lab11. If you love EDM music, this is the place for you. From drum n bass, bassline, house, jungle and everything in between, this is one of the best venues in Birmingham. Most of the times that I’ve been to Lab, it’s been for the day parties, which at times can feel like an endurance event.
Starting a 2pm and ending at 11pm, the day parties take a lot out of you, but for someone who really loves the music, it never feels like it lasts long enough. For those who agree with that, they move the party completely indoors at 11pm and keep it going sometimes until 5am or 6am. I must say I have stuck out the whole time, and it left me wrecked for days after. There are multiple rooms, both indoors and outdoors, and just like many raves, the majority of the people there are having an amazing time dancing and mixing with the other ravers. I personally have met lifelong friends through raving, especially at Lab, and I feel like that’s what makes it a truly attractive option for a student’s night out.
Again, getting closer to home, how better to end this list than with a night out dedicated to Leicester students? Located on the University of Leicester campus, O2 Wednesday, hosted by Let’s Disko, is the perfect night for students. It’s a pretty big club, and with most of the nights being themed, it gives the opportunity to have fun surrounded solely by other Leicester students.
Some of the themed nights are focused on dressing up, or a particular type of music, or even some specific bands and artists. Similar to the other nights, the drinks are reasonably priced and won’t stretch your student budget too much. From personal experience, there’s music for all tastes, and everyone there is friendly.
In comparison to most clubs, the smoking area is huge and it’s incredibly easy to meet people and make friends. I’ve had many experiences at O2, but the one that stands out to me the most was last June at the end-of-year party. It was the last Let’s Disko event of the student year and for a lot of people the last of their time at uni. A lot of tears were shed and I’m not ashamed to admit that I was definitely one of those people with a lot of my friends graduating last year. It’s a place where you can make memories and hopefully some of you can have a lot of fun there.
There’s a whole lot more to see in the Midlands and nights out to be had. It’s definitely worth checking them out, there’s a lot that I haven’t been able to mention. The most important thing to remember is: Be safe, have fun, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
