There are much better clubs than Oceana in Leeds, but, unfortunately, there are few that are…read morebigger, or busier, than this sprawling establishment on the corner of the Merrion Centre. Sprawling was the only word I could think of to describe Oceana Leeds; there must be dozens of rooms in this place, all decorated differently - dancefloors, boudoirs, ski lodges - but rather than endearing you to the club, this just annoys you as you spend half your night on the move, or trying to find friends you've lost in the labyrinth. They do have a student night where some drinks are ridiculously priced (80p), but this gets overcrowded, meaning that the mazy interior becomes even more hazardous. The real gripe most people have with this place, however, is the way it can up its prices with no notice for one random evening. For example, on Easter bank holiday Monday, the entry fee went up to £9, and you struggled to find drinks cheaper than £3.50, which, for Leeds, is a bit shocking.

Ok, so essentially Oceana, in theory, when all rooms are open for the offering, provides the client…read morewith seven themed rooms, separate spaces, clubbing/bar experiences. Due to size and central location this was my buddy's reason for organising his birthday bash up here. Granted, it's definitely got size on it's side, it's easy to get to, there's plenty of dance space, and once inside and all gathered together in collective buddy solidarity, there's an actual properly DJ for you to get your groove thing on. Or down. Or jiggy with. That sounds wrong. I got change from a tenner for paying to get in, and compared to some of the places I've been to in Manchester, for a large city centre club, I didn't find that too unreasonable. Some of my Yorkshire counterparts tended to disagree, but c'est la vie right? Also, if you can grab a flyer off one of the promotions people, and you get there before 10pm, entry's fiver. So I didn't think it was too bad at all. Inside it's absolutely massive, and depending on what night you go in, you can have access to up to seven different spaces. Oceana seems to have taken some influence from the bigger clubs in Ibiza like Pacha, that have separate themed spaces for patrons to dive into and enjoy, rooms I remember were the Ski Lodge, the New York Disco, the Venetian Ballroom, and Secret Garden. Drinks weren't too hard on the wallet either, a nice bogof incentive before the night hit the midnight hour. Once you do hit the midnight hour you've got three hours of partying left, as kickout time is decent 3am. Good times were had by all, not marvellous, but not hideous either.

I had a wonderful time at this club. A mixed crowd of all. The music was amazing. It has a lot of…read morewood so the sound was actually great. They don't serve food as far as I know. The night I was there it had DJ's, but I believe they have live music too on other nights. The area is filled with other great spots and restaurants. So you could grab a bite elsewhere and then head here to dance the night away.

Have you got the funk? If you're a smooth mover, then get your dancing shoes on and prepare to…read morestrut your stuff... If you can find a small haven of space on a Saturday night, that is. Yes, HiFi -it's one of my favourite places to bust out my best grooves. (I'm not suggesting they're good, but I'm sure they're a spectacle.) I'd not been back for some time, so when the opportunity arose this weekend, I couldn't turn it down. As I was arriving, some of my friends had left, and in some respects I can see why. It was absolutely heaving, and of course the music was incredibly loud, as standard. It's difficult, as I was certainly getting the rage whilst trying to make my way to the toilets, or the bar -it's one thing for a venue to be heaving (this is fine, and can elevate the fun), but it's entirely another when you're battered and shoved beyond belief. Perhaps it was because it was so late, and so folk were drunk, but there were rather a lot of pushy people and manners had almost entirely left the building. It costs nothing to say 'excuse me'! Anyway, rant over. That being said, once I managed to wade to the bar, things got a lot better. The chap who served me was lovely and friendly, and beer in hand, I managed to find a spot with my comrades where we could dance with abandon. Top tip - the steps by the stage seemed to be the most spacious throughout the evening! And that brings me to the music. It's always utterly fantastic - for all the funk, soul and reggae that you could want, this is the place to come. I've not danced for a solid few hours in quite a while, and can absolutely say that it was fantastic, and in spite of the crowds I'm hoping to come back again soon. Drinks wise, I didn't really check out all the options, but there's a fairly decent range to suit most tastes. Price wise it was £4 in at about 1am, perhaps more earlier on, and the drinks are standard -expect to pay about £3+ per drink. I agree with Ben, the door staff are quite the jobsworths, though this keeps out the riff raff, for which I'm grateful! (And, they are friendly, don't get me wrong.) The toilets were in a bit of a poor state, but having been in much worse, it's not all that bad. Essentially, the biggest draw is of course the fantastic DJs, live music and comedy at their other regular events, friendly staff and having a right old dance. Highly recommended for a proper night of fun. Just be patient with the crowds!

Space is a sort of underground-yet-mainstream club that seemingly has an ever increasing popularity…read moreamongst the Leeds youngsters. Located down a side-street at the bottom of town, this place used to be strictly attended only by those in the know, but due to a growing reputation and some good marketing, it no packs out every time it is open. The two nights are Habit (Thurs) and Funky Dory (Sun), and they seem pretty similar to one another - a standard entry fee of around £6, pretty cheap bottles and shots, and of course, plenty of funky house and dirty electro. The reason Space works so well is it has an utterly unique feel - literally underground (with no way of any natural light getting in), ridiculously loud music pumping out of speakers basically on the dance-floor, and the sort of light shows that induce epilepsy The ceilings are so low you could probably touch them if you wanted to, and the toilets are a unisex free for all fitted with hair straighteners. It's a unqiue experience, and one you're unlikely to forget - the name 'Space' is a little misleading however!

There has been a decisive shift over the last year or so in the heart of Leeds' club scene. Fading…read moreaway are the pounding grit of hard house nights, with the trend now leaning towards a funky edge. And club promoter and resident DJ of Funky Dory at Space on Sunday's Gavin Lampitt is all for it. "Yeah, Leeds has got funky. It's what the crowd wants" He's bang on the money too as he and his uplifting sounds will tell you late on a Sunday night. Indeed, for those hardcore clubbers your weekend really doesn't have to stop until Monday morning. "We saw a niche in the market for a quality Sunday night but now we've filled it and the people are loving it". Again, you can't argue with him as the floors get crammed in this intimate yet very cool venue. Funky Dory isn't just a filler for a traditional quieter night, it plays with the big boys of a Friday or Saturday night. The crowds are also growing with hundreds of sweaty up for it clubbers giving it their upmost attention. It's refreshing to see so many nights available to clubbing conniseurs and Funky Dory adds to the cities musical diversity. The sound is very much funked edgey vocal uplifting house with the odd timeless classic thrown into the mix for good measure. The atmosphere is also something you notice especially after the pubs throw out from eleven onwards. Well dressed and concerning clubbers descend on Space's doors for a night of pretty much guarenteed frovility. This is because promoter Gavin Lampitt wants to make it more of the same. "We're not into big name DJs. It's about the sound in Leeds, not who is on the bill. I think the people of Leeds are perhaps a bit more disconcerning than in cities like Sheffield and Manchester. The so called super clubs lose some of the fresh vibe and that is exactly what we don't want to happen here, Our aim is to expand the brand name and we've recently done that at Mission where we do the first Friday of the month." For an example of the musical menu that's going to get you gyrating, the residents list a hole host of influences that have impacted their sets. They range from DJ Sly and Vertigo to Rob Tissera and old school legend Tony Walker. And it really comes out in their sets. It has to do so in order to keep your lagging legs at the centre of the action. But it all seems to be going in the right direction for the Funky Dory boys and word is speading like wild fire. The venue and promoters have bottled something new for Sunday night party goers, but just remember staying out till 3.30am may seem like a good idea Sunday night but may feel less so at 9am Monday morning on the bus to work. Spread the new in word-Funky.

Before it's renovation last year, Mint Club was one of the places I did my best to steer clear of…read morewhen going on a big night out in Leeds. Unfortunately for me, my friends are all big drum 'n' bass/dubstep heads and we ended up going more often than not, to see the latest underground names - generally pitching themselves up at Mint Club, who charged an extortionate entry fee as there'd only be us and a handful of others who knew what we were getting ourselves in for. Thankfully, the heavy bass remains. But everything else has been done up; from the DJ to the bar to the toilets to the dancefloor. It's still not the best nightclub in Leeds but it never was, it had it's niche market and it still does. There's novelty value for the non-dance heads too. The seats are enlarged polos.

Oh the joys of small clubs. For me the intimate experience, attention to detail and all round…read moreatmosphere blasts the so called "super clubs" out of the shark infested water. Don't agree? Well head down to the Mint Club and reassess. This really is a true clubbers dream. I always loved it as a venue but since it's The Mint Club has undergone a £500, 000 refurbishment, I'm becoming quite obsessed with the place. The sound system is immense and a cutting edge lighting system called a 'DISCO PANEL' which features in the 'Watergate' club, Berlin has been installed. This claims to be the first of its kind in this country. Whatever, it works the club like a dream. The sounds served up tend to stay away from mass market convention, offering Tribe House and minimal Techno. Indeed, it regularly boasts the DJ set of Techno uber God Sven Vath. Try not to bounce off the walls when he's in town. The Mint Club also welcomes back Asylum and Filth to its roster of Saturday club nights along with a whole host of quality mid-week and Friday club nights. It's full-on action and no room for ear plugs or dance fatigue. On top of this the bars, DJ booth, seating areas, dance floor, toilets, and outside area have all been up graded to a very high specification. Swanky, underground and a priority of quality over quantity, win win all the way.

As you would expect from a music venue really, a little walk out of the main centre (up hill from…read morethe train station, so prepare to be out of breath if you're running late!), expensive bar as per (drink before and after, I vote after party on call lane, or 52% frankly), better value, nicer drinks. Sticky floor as per, toilets you'd rather avoid, as per, but the stage is great, the sound is always pretty good. One thing I wasn't very happy about on my most recent trip there (my fellow gig goer even more than me), I know security is very important, but to make me chuck away things I needed for medical reasons, not even just a case of shoving them in the coat check area until later, was a bit of a gripe. It's never amazingly organised, and it is a bit of a pest to find your way around, but that's all sort of the gig experience that hasn't changed since I was a teen metal head!

The O2 Academy, previously the Carling Academy, and even more previously the awful club Creation,…read moreis a welcome addition to a city lacking a music arena. While the 15000 seater Leeds arena is being constructed, the academy has played host to the biggest music acts to come to the city in recent years - the autumn 2009 line-up for example, includes David Guetta, Massive Attack, and The Cribs, revealing the wide range of genres attracted to playing here. It's a good, if tiny, venue for acts of such magnitude, as two and a half thousand sweaty revellers are packed into very little space ensuring a proper gig-style atmosphere. Less impressive however, are the Academy's standard nights, such as Pet Sounds on a Saturday. While drinks are cheap and the music is good if you're into indie, the set-up of the venue just doesn't really work as a nightclub. One huge room with a sticky stained carpet means that it feels more like a high school disco than anything else. This is an aspect of the Academy that you fail to notice when you're watching a band play, but something that becomes hugely evident when there's nothing but booze and a DJ to occupy you.

Mook, awful name aside, is a charming little bar well hidden in Hirst's yard near the bottom of…read moretown. I first noticed the place a while back when staggering out of Space at an ungodly hour one Thursday night/Friday morning, and it looked appealing to me even then, despite the fact that I was seeing double. I had never heard of the place, but vowed to check it out one day, and that one day came a few months back on a Saturday evening. I was surprised at how busy such a well hidden bar was, but even more surprised by the laid back atmosphere and refreshing lack of pretence that is all too common in a cocktail bar in Leeds on a weekend. The clientèle were a mixture of old and young, and while the DJ played some banging electro, it was much more a bar than a club - a few people were dancing, but most were just chatting away, which is possible as the music is at the perfect volume. Drinks-wise, the cocktails are inexpensive for what they are, and there's beer and wine at surprisingly low prices (under a tenner for a bottle of house). If you can manage find Mook down that dark alley they call Hirst's yard, get involved. You won't regret it.

I loved Mook when I came here! The staff were lovely, the atmosphere was electric, and most of all…read moreit was one of my first dates with Hot Steve and we had an ace time. Also, the clientele were pleasantly unpretentious for a city-centre bar. I even accidentally ended up at Mook when I was supposed to be taking people to Room, which says a lot really. I hate Room.

Well we've got such an eclectic mix of cultures and people in Leeds, it shows in many aspects of…read morelife. We're also known for being one of the largest student populations in the country. So it makes sense that the student nightlife measures up and the Leeds Met Student Union does pretty well in that department. What you'll get is a diverse range of DJ nights and live music. In the coming months you'll get the likes of Passion Pit. A lively band of electronica music loaded with samples, glitches and effects. What you won't probably get is the likes of U2 or global superstars but you've got the O2 Arena for the likes of that. You'll also get cheap beer and plenty of it. We need to keep the sound of underground music spreading and thankfully Leeds Met help do this. Get yourself a gig guide and get down to rock it out or if you're feeling brave enough even stage dive. Probably not wise though!

Leeds Met would get four stars. Or even five. It's a really great venue. And I've seen probably…read moremore than thirty gigs there. Good ones, for the most part. However, I'm still bitter. I went to 'Live At Leeds' a bit ago now, specifically on the premise of seeing Bombay Bicycle Club (a really good band, FYI). We got there an hour and a half before BBC's stage time. Joined a queue. No, we enthusiastically joined a queue. Only to find that, two hours later, we'd missed Bombay Bicycle Club. Because they were on in the bar. Not the venue. SAY WHAT?! After all that though, that wasn't the venue's fault was it? Probably not. It's certainly the better of the two big university venues and is set-up so you are up close and personal with the performers; there's hardly a gap between the stage and massed people. Beer's relatively inexpensive. Shots aren't. Steer clear of shots. Unless you've just missed Bombay Bicycle CLub.

Rock of Ages has become somewhat of a sore point amongst friends of mine, and I feel sad to say it…read more Rock of Ages is a fantastic club night in Leeds. Filled to the brim with all the cheesy 80s guitar toting, riff playing, lead-break busting songs that you could ever pray for the DJs who organise this event will have you up and air-guitaring in no time. Amongst a veritable menagerie of artists, bands certain to be included on the playlist are White Snake, Jon Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Led Zepplin, Boston, Journey and more. There are all the classic sing-alongs and they always finish with a winner. There is nothing more enjoyable than a group chorusing of "More than a feeling" with all your friends and random friendly strangers! The only problem that Rock of Ages now faces is its venue. Back in the good old days when it was held in Mine in the University it was more popular than ever, with hundreds flocking in to enjoy some good old rock. Sadly now it has relocated to Rios, which has certainly knocked it for six. Every time I get the reminder email through Facebook I feel a twinge of guilt, as my loyalty to the event is simply outweighed by my loathing of Rios. It is a terribly run club, in an awful venue with people I would really rather avoid hanging about within the vicinity outside. The last time I went there, a Saturday might I add, they ran out of vodka. I mean, for goodness sake. That is atrocious. Oh Rock of Ages, please please please move back to the Uni so that I might sample your delights again! A fabulous night, run by some truly lovely blokes, in a god awful venue. I guess it depends whether you can face entering Rios really, doesn't it?

I've had two The Living Room experiences, the first in Manchester and the second in Leeds. Whilst…read moreManchester is slightly lighter in it's decor, Leeds favours the moody dark leather, of which there is lots of the stuff. The Living Room belies it's name, as when we first went, being told to dress up nicely, something I rarely do unless forced, clean yes, good quality yes, tidy and nice, rarity, but yes being told to dress up nicely to go to a place called The Living Room really did confuse me a bit. Dress codes are important here, and this is evident with the men in black on door whenever the hour turns from day to evening. White trainers are not allowed. This is something of a staple no matter which Living Room you choose to dine and drink in. Our party consisted of 12 and one birthday girl. The table was booked in advance, and when we showed up our reservations were held and the table was waiting for us, and a nice and smartly dressed chappy showed us to our table. They weren't told it was a birthday party, but when they found out, they made an extra fuss of the birthday girl, which was lovely, there was even a birthday cocktail and dessert. The waiting staff were really attentive and very calm considering the duration of our stay, and much to my shame, the slightly intoxicated behaviour of a couple of the girls. Ordering here at a night time when there are no buffet or lunch offers can be expensive, so make sure your wallets and purses are nice and full as for three courses and a couple of drinks we were each down by about £30-£35 in the money department. The food was lovely, but as Alexandra states, it was overpriced for what it was. It's a lovely place to eat for an occasion, the decor is slightly over the top with dark leather, dark tones on the walls, lots of dark and plush hanging fabrics, and at times with the low lighting and dark walls, it's often a bit hard to see what your eating, and if alcohol is involved, each other. There was a good atmosphere, everyone lapped up their food, and it was a really good night. Maybe my fond memory of the night is carrying my rating to 4 stars, but in this case I think it warrants it.

The Living Room is a chilled out pub/bar by day and a funky lounge/cocktail bar by night. It is…read moreopposite La Tasca in a white building that looks kind of scary at nights with a bouncer in either side. MI5 stylee. During the day it is relaxed and not too snotty like some restaurants can be. The waitresses are friendly and welcoming. They sell a good range of lunch options including sandwiches, salads, hearty English dishes and the more exotic yet more frequently found Thai Curries. The food quality is average to be honest, and slightly over priced for what it is. In the evening it is a pleasant place to be, if you like trendy lounge places. Slightly pretentious and quite strict on door policy. I wouldn't get in if I wore my usual attire of tatty jeans and grubby boots but then if I did get in I would feel really out of place there. It's quite dressy and for me a bit uncomfortable as I'm not really that kind of gal. I would go here if......... Day-time: Someone else was paying Evening: Works do or quick cocktail before a dinner somewhere else, as long as I'd been pre-warned to dress up a bit.