BUDGET NIGHTLIFE

Riva
4, The Quay, EX2
Tel. 01392 211 347
Arrived new and gleaming on the Quay a few years back, this glossy club has settled in well, with guest DJ spots from the likes of Trevor Nelson. A place to dress up a bit smart, where men can come over all Miami Vice at the cocktail bar and ladeees can chance the cobbles in their high heels. We’re talking urban chic inside; three seating ‘zones’, sumptuous sofas, glass table tops and a champagne menu. Better bring the credit card then.

Exeshed
18 Bedford Street, Princesshay Square, EX1
Tel. 01392 429 970
This glass-fronted cocktail bar-come-restaurant is bright, light and slap-bang in the middle of town. Its position on the Square makes it a great place for people watching and posing. Students are attracted to specials like the Mojo Rising cocktail night on Wednesdays with Mojitos for just £3 and bottled Corona for £1.50.

The Angel bar café
32 Queen Street, EX4
Tel. 01392 422 455
This European-style bar offers more atmosphere and a friendlier ambience then some of the more sterile city centre bars. A great selection of DJ-mixed tunes and live music is laid on throughout the week with an emphasis on cool grooves. The smoking porch out the back makes for interesting late-night conversations.

Mambo
37a Serge Court, Commercial Road, EX2
Tel. 01392 259 292
Mambo has recently hosted Dave Pearce and Tim Westwood, along with giving you the usual dance, chart and great drinks offers you expect from a busy club.

Amber Rooms
161 Sidwell Street, EX4
Tel. 01392 431 420
A fixture on the nightlife scene for some time now, this bar offers late night thrills via live music, plenty of space for lounging on the battered sofas, and a club upstairs that prefers its beats heavy man.

Havana Restaurant & Bar
38 Commercial Road, EX2
Tel. 01392 498 181
Live music is regularly advertised and the airy cocktail bar and outside terrace comes into its own if you want to spend a summer’s evening down on the Quay.

Kino Bar
Alias Hotel Barcelona, Magdalen Street, EX2
Tel. 01392 281 000
Tends to attract an older crowd but don’t let that put you off. If you want to up your style credentials and enjoy a late ‘night cap’ then throw off your inadequacies and head to this chic and plushy cocktail bar.

Veuve Bar
44 Queen Street, EX
Tel. 01392 493 581
Head down the iron stairwell below the Blue Fish Brasserie for a place that boasts surprisingly cool grooves. Go there at the start of your night to grab some sofa space and catch up time with friends before it fills up.

Club Rococo
Mary Arches Street, EX4
Tel. 01392 434 411
Where the older city crowd go to let off steam at the weekend after a hard week at work, you’re better off chancing it at the dirt-cheap student night on Mondays.

The Cavern Club
83-84 Queen Street, EX4
Tel. 01392 495 370
A rite-of-passage venue that continues to provide dark, underground thrills for the college and uni crowd. A renowned venue for upcoming Indie bands; toothpick-legged musicians can often be spotted hovering outside its entrance. Loads of different DJ-led nights also provide a haven for the poor in pocket who like their music with a cutting edge.

Timepiece
Little Castle Street, EX4
Tel. 01392 493 096
Surely the most popular student venue in town and still serving up the goods after all these years. There’s something going on most nights, from house, drum & bass, funk and latino to dedicated indie. The bustling, downstairs bar and outside seating is a great place to bump into friends and random characters. Head up the stairs to the club and lose yourself, and possibly your dignity, in the dry ice and seating booths. Things are slightly more cosy on the third floor where you can carve out your own space on the dance floor and throw some kerazee moves.

Hub
Mary Arches Street, EX4
Tel. 01392 424 628
DJs spinning drum & bass and the like, with the odd live band thrown in for good measure. This place may be a stone’s throw from Club Rococo but it’s a world away in terms of music and attitude.

The Arena
1 Summerland Street, EX1
Tel. 01392 491 419
In essence, junior Club Rococo. Proper, big old-school nightclub where the Burton shirt brigade go to get down and get lucky. If you’ve been knocking the drinks back at the Amber Rooms, you may be tempted to walk a bit further up the street and find yourself in the queue. Go on, give it a go!

Nudo Lounge
Bystock Terrace, EX4
Tel. 01392 272 709
Take a journey under the Queens Court Hotel and investigate. Definitely one to investigate, with a great location just off Queen Street and away from the townie brigade. We’re talking all things cool, smooth and with a groove.

Exeter Phoenix
Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, EX4
Tel. 01392 667 080
The bar is a light, colourful late-night haven if you fancy snatching a breather from some of the more raucous places in town on a weekend night. There’s always something interesting going on somewhere in its building and DJs regularly put some decent tunes together in the bar.

Gay

The Queen Vaults
8 Gandy Street, EX4
Tel. 01392 203 939
After it’s recent face lift this little underground gem boasts one of the best nights out in the city. A place where no one bothers anyone, everyone is there for a good time, and with great prices on drinks and cocktails, combined with the classic tunes, be sure to make a visit.

Escape @ The Green Room
Above the Zephyr Bar, Fore Street, EX4
Tel. 07800 929 225
www.escapenight.co.uk

Tue @ Riva
4 The Quay, EX2
Tel. 01392 211 347