Pulse guide
Where to Find the Best Drum & Bass Nights in the UK
A city-by-city guide to UK drum & bass: the venues, the club nights and the scenes worth travelling for, from Bristol and London to Leeds and Norwich.
Why the UK is still the home of drum & bass
Drum & bass grew out of UK jungle in the early nineties, and more than thirty years later the country still has the deepest scene anywhere. Every major city has at least one regular D&B night, and most have several, running from rough-and-ready basement parties to arena-sized raves.
The good news for fans is that you rarely need to travel far. The trick is knowing which cities have the strongest crowds, and which kind of night you're after: liquid and soulful, jump-up and rowdy, or dark and technical.
Bristol
Bristol has a claim to be the spiritual home of the genre. Its sound-system culture and history of labels and producers mean D&B is part of the city's DNA rather than a niche. Expect heavy basslines, knowledgeable crowds and nights that run late in the city centre and around Stokes Croft.
London
London has the volume: on any given weekend there are D&B events across the city, from large warehouse venues in the east and south to smaller clubs where up-and-coming DJs cut their teeth. Book early for the big names, but don't overlook the midweek nights, which are often cheaper and just as lively.
Leeds, Manchester and the north
Leeds has one of the strongest student-driven D&B scenes in the country, and Manchester's warehouse spaces host some of the biggest events of the year. The north is also where bassline and D&B cross over most, so you'll often hear the two blended in the same set.
Norwich and smaller cities
Some of the most loyal crowds are outside the big cities. Norwich, for example, has local DJs who play D&B week in, week out to dedicated audiences. Smaller-city nights are usually cheaper, friendlier and a great way to discover new talent before they break through.
Tips for a good night
Buy tickets from the official promoter or a reputable vendor. Resale sites often add big markups. Check set times so you catch the headliner, bring earplugs (D&B systems are loud), and plan your journey home before you go out, especially for nights that finish after public transport stops.