The UK’s best cities for nightlife have been ranked and while the likes of London, Manchester and Newcastle are among the ratings, they’ve been pipped to the post by an unexpected winner
The city has long been a party hotspot(Image: Getty Images)
A good night out can be the perfect antidote to the January blues, and a new data analysis has revealed the ultimate party city in the UK.
Everyone has their favourite nightspot, and it’s often based on the type of clubs and venues on offer as well as the general vibe of the place. However, the travel team at Ireland Prestige Tours has decided to settle the debate once and for all and analysed a range of data to reveal which city comes out on top.
The study looked at factors including the number of nightclubs, bars, and pubs per 100,000 people, and the average cost of a hotel for two nights based on two adults sharing. Perhaps most importantly, they also looked at the average cost of a pint.. This helped the team give each city a total score which they then ranked to find the best place for a night out across the whole of the UK.
Southern seaside spot Brighton took the top spot thanks to the sheer number and variety of nightclubs and bars. While its score for average pint price puts it on par with London, the south coast city scored highly based on the sheer number and variety of nightclubs meant it beat competition from Manchester and Newcastle.
Brighton is known for its laidback, creative vibe by day, while after dark it offers a colourful and inclusive nightlife scene. Many of its clubs are just steps from the seafront, transforming from daytime bars and cafes to music venues at night.
Volks Club is one of the city’s most famous nightclubs, and its unique location sees it under Brighton’s promenade and right on the pebbly beach. On the weekends, it opens until the small hours, so you can leave just in time to watch the sun rise over the sea.
Nearby, you’ll find Patterns, with a seaview terrace that’s always busy during the summer months. By day, you can enjoy a bottomless brunch with unlimited pizza, and by night, the basement club has a lively schedule of DJ sets with genres from house to garage to soul. PRYZM Brighton is one of the city’s largest clubs, and its Wednesday nights are popular with students during term time. It also opens at weekends with three rooms playing a variety of music from chart to dance, pop, and hiphop among many other genres.
Brighton is also known for its wide variety of LGBT+ clubs, most of which are found around the Kemptown neighbourhood. Revenge, which is spread over three floors, is a local favourite. It makes the most of its location near the seafront thanks to its rooftop bar where you can enjoy the views. The Haus Of Cabaret has the upmarket feel of an old-fashioned cocktail bar, and offers an immersive experience with dinner, drinks, and dancing.
The city also performed well due to its huge variety of hotels, which range from seaside B&Bs to hostels and luxury hotels on the seafront. It’s no wonder it’s become a popular destination for stag and hen parties, as well as groups of friends just looking for some time away.
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Coming in at second and third in the rankings were Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Manchester, also cities with big student populations and popular for weekends away. Belfast came in fourth, scoring particularly highly for the number of nightclubs, and in fifth place was Aberdeen which has the advantage of an average pint price of £4, compared to £6 in Brighton.
The cheapest night out on the list is likely to be found in Gloucester, with an average pint costing just £2.75, meaning there’s no need to be nervous when it’s time to get the drinks in.
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