By Dominic Donaldson
After a week of working hard in the office, we all like to let our hair down and go a bit wild at the weekend. Whether you are into film, theatre, food or frenetic partying, a venue can either make or break the night. This is why we all have our favourite places to go, somewhere where we can guarantee that our money is well spent, that the atmosphere will be fabulous and the night will not be a disappointment. All good venues are promoted by word of mouth, and as people are becoming less wary of spending their last few pennies on experimenting with a new place, we are here to give you some of our top recommendations for venues in the UK.
Cinema
Although I love the surround sound, the director style comfy seats and actually being able to see over the head of the person in front, modern cinemas are lacking a certain something. I miss the days of threadbare velour seats, gold tasselled velvet curtains and spotlights highlighting art deco interiors. If you miss this kind of thing too, then you should get yourself down to the Duke of York’s Picturehouse in Brighton. This cinema has been going since 1910 and it is famed for its arty ambience and massive stripy legs on the roof. It also has a wonderful tea room with a balcony, so rather than just handing over your pennies to go watch a film, you can actually have a day out. As far as cinema venues go, it is definitely worth a visit even if you are from well out of town. Thankfully, it is renowned for late night showings and for playing cult classics.
Food
There is nothing like sharing a big meal and a few glasses of wine with friends. Unfortunately, unlike the rest of Europe, the UK doesn’t seem geared to socialising in this way. The majority of people that I know happily forego dinner in favour of a few pints of lager straight after work and a kebab on the way home after having an argument with a taxi driver. Fortunately there are few little treasures that can be found where the atmosphere is conducive to a less drunk social occasion, one of them being Curry India in Colchester. This treasure of an Indian restaurant has an intimate atmosphere and wonderful staff that happily let you spend the entire evening taking over the whole restaurant if you wish. Delicious dishes combined with a varied wine menu mean that all tastes are catered for.
Gigs
Small music venues with a disposition for local talent are also becoming a rarity as licenses for entertainment are being restricted by local councils. Sometimes the best thing a group of people can do is hire a place for themselves. Once again, a Colchester based venue is on hand to offer the discerning music lover somewhere to escape to, and has the option of being an indoor or outdoor event. The Minories is a beautiful listed building with a mature garden. Capacity is limited, but the provision of home cooked food, fine wine and friendly staff make this a favourite place for promoters to book bands.
Comedy
And it is back to Brighton for one of the best comedy venues in the country. Komedia is a long standing staple of the seaside town and it attracts big names on the circuit whilst offering the traditional candle lit table set up with food and drink. Due to its popularity it is wise to book well in advance, but the mix of local comedy talent with established names guarantees a great night out for all who go.
Dom Donaldson is venue finder.
Find out more about Venues that are available to hire and interesting places to go at Venue Directory.
