The University Club has always been one of my favorite clubs in Gainesville! It is definitely a space for LGBTQ+ folks to go and be themselves and have a good time in a safe space. The music and drinks are good. Great place to have a good time with friends! I usually go for the drag show, which always features some amazing local talent and occasionally out of town performers! My favorite night to go is definitely Saturdays when the show is hosted by London Darling! They have drag shows every Wed, Thurs, Fri, ans Sat night with the shows always starting at 11:30 PM. Pictured are Nicki Mirage and Marisol Lords, two regular Saturday night performers. read more

Great drinks, great people, super good vibes every time I come here. The shows are amazing as well, honestly if you haven't been here already you're missing out! UC is a Gainesville staple. read more

University Club - Dance Clubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The bartender was rude. He was irritated he had to pause his conversation with the only two people in the establishment. There was something blasting loud over the speakers that was just noise. I had heard from others to skip going here, but I was in the area and wanted to see for myself. I didn't even finish my drink. I couldn't wait to get out of here. Yikes. I'd never bother coming back here. read more

Just a fabulous experience, can't say enough about the risqué dark wave and fetish night! The people are freakishly sociable, appropriately dressed for a vampire ball! Most patrons seemed appreciative of a "special" secret visit by the "Senator " dressed in his négligée teddy! The drinks are marginally acceptable for those that appreciate finer spirits as served in DuPont Circle in DC. The staff were friendly and provided supportive hugs when I identified as a "service dog" with my skinny puppy head-hat, but nonetheless didn't see the humor when I asked where the nearest fire hydrant was? Overall a fun and historic long running club for the over 21 kiddies at UF that want to actively research fetish social interactions for their Social and Behavioral Science Undergraduate Degrees. read more

University Club - Puppy Fetish Night ! Hugs for the pups - Dance Clubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Best Gay bar in North Florida. What an amazing group of staff, drag queens, and guests. I've had so much fun at this little gay bar. Will for sure come back again. read more

Well they open at 9pm. Had different groups standing out front waiting to go in and called at 9:15 to find out the issue because we could not see anyone inside. Told us we had to go around back to enter. Weird but ok. Then get to the back and go up stair to find a $10 cover at the door with no reason for it. Understand having one later but we were just going for a drink before heading out to support the gay bar in the area. Had the opposite affect. read more

Best club I've been to!!! It's open to 18+ and 21+ so it's great for any college student. The music is good and the dj takes suggestions. Plus, like any gay club the drinks are amazing! Lighting and music makes it the perfect club for a dance party read more

Super small club. It was cool seeing a drag show for the first time. The space is really tight though. I wouldn't go again but good for a first time experience. read more

I used to go to the UC all the time for dancing. Me and my friends went for their New Year party hoping for a good time. It was a $10 cover, but that got you food and champagne. Well, there were so many people there that I got neither. The drag show started way too late and had to stop for the midnight countdown. People just wanted to dance but the show continued. The security for this place needs to increase. There were two security people there, and they could not control a drunk crowd. A fist fight happened right in front of me in the smoking area, and the people involved weren't thrown out. Then they got into a second fight. At least you can't smoke inside there anymore? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

This was such a fun place and the drag show was phenomenal (better than one I've seen down in key west). Also, drinks were cheap and good! Will definitely be returning! read more

I have been going here for years. The shows are great and the events are lovely, but I recently had a very confusing and terrible experience with a bartender I have seen a lot recently at UC. He is normally pretty drunk behind the bar but I have never had an issue at all at the club or with this bartender before the other night. I (21) and my little brother (19) came in and sat down to listen to the open mic night. I ordered a beer and he ID'd me and my little brother. He becomes very upset suddenly and tells my brother he is much too intoxicated and must leave, explaining he is refusing service to my brother. My brother,who doesn't drink, ordered nothing, and who's ID clearly says he is 19 was shocked. We were very confused and explained he had nothing to drink and doesn't want anything to drink. He became increasingly angry and "trespassed" my brother. My brother left and still very confused I ordered a beer again to which he said I would "just take it down to my brother" and i was "trespassed" as well. He was yelling and causing a scene. Even "supposedly" calling the police when I asked why exactly we were being trespassed and that his word was enough. My brother, who has autism, was extremely embarrassed and we assumed he took his behavior as drunk behavior. I am not sure but there is something seriously wrong with the guy. Beyond being plastered behind the bar every time I've been served by him, this situation was extremely weird and disgusting. I called the other day just to make sure that the event was 18+ to which i was told everyday is 18+. A very odd and uncomfortable situation, if he has another side to this story I would like to know if there was some kind of miscommunication, but OVERALL I WOULD NOT AVOID THIS CLUB BUT THIS BARTENDER. (Black/brown hair, tattoos, normally wearing a hat, and younger/mid 20s) read more

Over all is not too bad but a drag Q I met there was so mean to us. Will never go back

I am a tad bit surprised that UC has such rave reviews, really. Perhaps five years ago UC was better (in fact, I know it was) but now I feel like the music has drifted away from gay-oriented dance and towards the same banal hip-hop and pop remixes every other club plays. Where is the Deborah Cox, where are the Moto Blanco remixes of things like "Love Today"? There is SUCH good dance music out there beyond Brit, Beyoncé, et al . . . go to a club in Miami or even Pulse in Orlando and you'll hear great music you just won't very often at UC. Also, there's hardly any room to dance on a busy night: the dance floor is waaaaay too small, in fact, the physical space UC is in is half their problem: it's too small for what's going on here and not very attractive either. They need a larger, fresher, venue. Lady Pearl and the drag show is hit or miss: some of the talent is actually pretty good but I've seen far better elsewhere and I know enough drag queens in the region to think we should get better talent from Jax, Orlando, and so forth than the ones we get here. Lady Pearl CAN be funny though at least. When I lived in Savannah, Georgia, I got to see some very good drag and we could learn something from them, though in fairness Savannah has become a regional center for drag so it's expected they have a high level going on up there. I've had some very fun times at UC, but for a college town this size we need a better gay club. I appreciate the fact we have one at all, sure, but it could be much better. I went to Ascension last night (goth/industrial night at the Attic) and it was more fun by far than UC . . . different scene, yeah, but really . . . people are praising UC based on its past, it needs to focus more on its present and future. Sure, I've made out with boys here, met people here, have fond memories, but many times my boyfriend and I will drive to Orlando to go clubbing now just because the options are much better there. read more

This is the most messed up place i've ever been to. The bouncer denied my best friend who is 28 because he believed she was under aged and that she had been to this place before. I told him to check his cameras as we have never never been here before and actually just recently moved to town, but he told us he didn't care. He kicked us out and gave refunds only to the white people in our group. We have never felt so discriminated against and will not be returning any time soon. read more

I'm not much of a clubbing person, but the UC is fun for drag shows. The drink prices are reasonable and if the downstairs area is too crowded for you, the third floor bar is a bit more quiet and less crowded. read more

This place is so much fun! They have awesome drag shows and vixen dance nights! It is a great spot for LGBT partying! The dance floor doesn't get crowded until after the show, so it will be a late night. Dancing doesn't start until around midnight. The bartenders have always been super friendly, and they have some great, very strong drinks! The entrance is in the back, in case you don't know. There are three levels which is super cool. The first is the dance floor, and show. The second is the entrance and a balcony to look down to the first floor. The third floor is quiet and secluded with a bar and pool tables, perfect for talking and drinking. I would recommend going on a Thursday, bringing a few friends and having lots of fun! read more

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I love the UC! Personally, my favorite time to come is after the drag show because everyone gets up and starts dancing. Typically, at bars I might feel self conscious or targeted by men, however, the UC truly is a safe space! Also, all the bartenders are really nice, which great read more

#3 The University Club also known at the UC is a fun and exciting place no matter if you are part of the LGBT community or not. This is the type of place that keeps people coming back for more. They have wonderful bartenders who whip up some amazing drinks and amazing staff that help make this place great. The drinks are strong but they taste great and when it is not super busy the bartenders will make a drink to your liking. They also do great drag shows here and you can usually find a lot of local talent. I do wish they had more drag shows and invited queens from other cities to this place but I can see how it would be hard to do that. This place gets very busy on the weekends and at night so make sure you keep your friends close. They do charge a small cover some nights as well. You do have to enter in the back and walk up some stairs to get into this place. I hope you go out and try this place out! I am sure you will have fun!! read more

The UC is a great place to grab a drink and experience a good time out with great music and ambiance.

music is good but the ginger security guard cursed me out for trying to go with my friends downstairs for safety lol. hella ppl saw, it was rude asf and i cried after read more

Always happy to find a LGBT spot when out of the town since we have hardly any at home. It was very nice. The place was packed with people. Diverse crowds. 3 bars. Drag performances. I danced the night away. They had huge drink selections and $1 Jell-O shots that were not weak. They played a great assortment of music and the people were awesome. Didn't take one photo lol. read more

Everyones like family here...truly a place to visit and have a great time. 3 bars, 3 floors, two smoking outdoor patios for smokers and vapers can vape inside here. read more

UNWELCOMED. I am tremendously disappointed. my friends and I thought this would be the place (after moving out of state) to finally express ourselves. i am highly disappointed and frankly, i'm pissed off. My friend and I walked in here and they denied my friend saying she "has been here and that she was not allowed", but it was the first time we've ever step foot in here, thinking it would be accepting. (I was so mistaken). i've never felt so UNWELCOMED by a establishment. The manager talked to us, (thinking that maybe he would understand the situation) they refunded us, except my black friend. We feel so unwanted and so tremendously degraded. i can't believe a place like this would treat a very diverse group like this. i am baffled and so disappointed. my friend left this place in tears (who is 28) and we feel so disrespected and not treated in a humane and kind way (nothing even close to that). i wish i can give this place 0 starts because they don't deserve even 1 star. DO NOT GO HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO FEEL DISRESPECTED. read more

This place has been here forever! The cover charge was really cheap to get in, if there was even a cover charge at all. The location is great, and all of the employees were really nice and treated you with respect. There are male and female bouncers to keep the drunks in line. The only dance floor is on the bottom floor, and the space is really small. It can get crowded here really fast. Sometimes I would end up here 2-3 nights a week for; drag night, 80's night, or just a random night. There were always drinks specials and a cooler of water at the end of the bar for those who are thirsty. All age groups are represented here, even my Mom and family friends have frequented UC. If you live in Gainesville, you have to go there at least once to say you have been. read more

This is a fairly average small college town gay bar. Its usually busy and crowded on Thursday nights. The drag shows are fun with dancing in between the drag sets. There are probably an equal number of straight girls to gay guys. Not sure why that is, but I cannot believe the number of straight girls that frequent this bar. (Get a life, please?) Drinks are reasonably priced and people are friendly. Mostly locals up on the small 3rd floor with the pool tables. I've seen minors with drinks and those who give minors drinks be thrown out of the bar. I'd suggest not engaging in that type of activity. Its a quick way out of the bar. A tip: You have to enter through the door from the alley (up the wooden stairs on the back of the building). Don't try to come in the front door off of university avenue. That door is locked and you'll feel like a moron. Give the UC a shot. Not the best gay bar on the planet, but an inexpensive, fun time in the conservative central Florida region. read more

Great drag shows, great staff, great drinks, a place where you can be yourself in a safe and welcoming atmosphere.

Lady Pearl.. Are you calling my name.. Lady Pearl, Thursday night drag show.. I remember when you pulled me up on stage for my 21st (my reall, therefore 2nd) birthday... told me how much you loved my boyfriend, asked me about his secret spots and tossed up my skirt like it was blowing in the wind. you're divine.. i hope you're still showing all the little boys the ways of the world.. You made my day, you made my year. Thanks University Club for always rocking and keeping the dance floor bumping.. read more

Oh...back in the day. I was practically club furniture here. Ive drunk, puked, danced, done drag, watched drag, made out with boys, walked in fashion shows in this place since I was 17. It really is a home away from home for so many. Oh how I miss thee. read more

We came up for the night from Orlando as a getaway from a rough week. Kenny's hospitality was unforgettable. We will be back.

I love this place. Friday is a good day to go there. Good price for drinks and love music at the university Club. The show starts 23.30 and it's amazing. Love it here. read more

The UC is a Gainesville mainstay. For a while I was the resident DJ for the Tuesday night TWITCH, but with graduation approaching, I'm now just an occasional attendee. Drinks rock, especially with Elaine behind the bar, Chastity adds a lot o color to the door and when its open, the top floor provides a great place to chat. You'll see a colorful and varied crowd depending on the night. I even got pix of my girlfriend with the mayor one night. Joey does a great job Thursday, Friday and Saturday with house and pop hits. Given the size of the place, it doesn't take much to ramp the party up. The decor is '1980s' but not in a retro way - it just hasn't changed. I'm not sure any of the drag performers have either. Very fun place. read more

Even as a little straight girl I was readily accepted and loved. This place rocks because of the people that make it happen. Untz Untz Untz Untz!!! read more

Wonderful place for a married man who is obviously confused about his sexual identity to find "love in the bathroom." Be careful, mine brought home Gonorrhea and shared the love! read more

One weekend I went to Gainesville for a night on my way down to Orlando. I wanted to explore a little and see how many bars we could hit over here. University Club was the last spot of the night and just be warned I was pretty tipsy by then. The cover was like $5 and the doorman was pretty chill. This location has an upstairs and downstairs area and I like the whole vibe. We started upstairs and grabbed a drink from the bartender there. He was making the best gin and tonics and had good recommendations for other stuff. Prices very fairly decent here as well. We could sit on the balcony and look down at the dance floor to avoid the initial crowds while picking up a bigger buzz. There was also a drag show performance. We met a few people and talked for a bit. Once the dancing was picking up we went downstairs. The music was good and I was surprised how busy it was on a Thursday Night. Friday and Saturday must be even better! Wait till school is in session and then all the little gators will be flying through. A good spot in Gainesville for sure. read more

Since it is the only Gay bar in Gainesville, I have been coming here since my first year of college. I have some great memories in this place. Over the years it has changed a lot, some for the best and some for the worst. Ernie is one of the bartenders here, he is so sweet. He is fast and always tries to accommodate everyone's drinking needs. The drinks are really strong. They are basically all alcohol and a splash of whatever you're mixing with. (5 stars there) I've never had a complaint about their drinks. Usually they're below 5 dollars! The drag shows have always been ok, there are much more talented drag queens in Orlando or anywhere else for that matter. I loved the shows back in the day when Jade Jolie was around. I've seen drag shows all over the U.S. and the Gainesville drag show at the UC is definitely a 2, maybe a 3... that might be too generous. One of the things I'd have to say that has changed are the DJs. A few years ago, the music used to be much better. Now, the music is mostly house music with little variation. Overall, I love the UC. I basically grew up there..it grows on you. It's the best gay club in Gainesville but it's basically the only one you find. read more

To me its crazy that a place in Gainesville charges a cover. I went this weekend and didn't think it was worth it. Its ok but not great.

Good drag shows. Great $1 Jell-O shots. If you're a student don't forget to ask for student discount.

The UC, it's a classic! The music is good, but there's literally no one on the dance floor. I went with my bestie and saw a drag show. Some of the queens were pretty bad, but one was vogue femme-ing it up like a pro. The drag queens are silly, include the crowd and as long as standards aren't too high, you'll enjoy it. You're going more to a comedy show than anything else. Also, my girl Nathalie totally won the hula hooping contest and a $25 gift certificate. Solid work! She said she saw the competition and knew it was over before it started. "Those hips don't lie!" The UC's time has come and gone, it's a shell of it's former glory, BUT it's still worth the trip for a show and a laugh. read more

I love UC but sometimes you gotta question their choice of music on a Weekend... about 50% of my visit over the fall 2018 was filled with really bad music and you can tell from the energy and mood on the dance floor it was bad. read more

The UC is a staple of mine for Gainesville night life. This club is conveniently located off University Ave at the top of Downtown Gainesville. My friends and I usually come here after bar hopping for dancing and the drag shows! I'm not a big fan of paying covers but for UC I will. It is typically $5 and there is an ATM inside of you don't have cash. UC gets pretty packed especially during the school year. I went last night for the first time this summer and it was not as busy. The drinks are strong and the music is always on point. There are three levels and each bartender I've met is generous and kind. When I came here for my birthday everyone pulled out the red carpet treatment. There are a couple of downsides. For one the club is older and hasn't seen a lot of renovations. I have also been a couple of times when the fire marshal closed the doors due to over crowding but that was when we arrived closer to the end of the night. Try the Jell-O shots! They are sometimes a $1 and good! read more