While it might not be as expansive as that of other cities, Durham’s lineup of nightclubs is about as quirky and varied in character as the rogue’s gallery of a cartoon movie. Each club is unique in its charm and in the types of people it caters to: a Fab’s frequenter and a Loft local are completely different, but it can be hard to tell which you are. So we’ve put together a useful article on the archetypes who you’re most likely to find in every major club, so you can get an idea of where you belong.
Purely for fun we also sorted Durham’s colleges by nightclub – take this with more than a pinch of salt, as every college definitely contains archetypes from every nightclub (even if picturing a Hatfielder in Fab’s stretches the imagination).
Jimmy’s
Starting things off with the default choice for most Durham students, Jimmy’s is easily the most grounded and standard of Durham clubs, and this translates into its “type.” Jimmy’s regulars are fun, chilled out and ready for a good time, emblematic of its free entry and cheap drinks, and they can dance for hours to basically anything. Northerners in particular will have a great night here, as will the types of people who can sit down to watch pretty much any team sport and become genuinely invested a few minutes in. In terms of Durham colleges, everywhere will have a bunch of people who love Jimmy’s, but the ones who channel its energy the most are probably John Snow and Van Mildert.
Bab’s
Moving on to the big, the bright, and the beautiful – adjectives applicable both to Durham’s largest nightclub and to those you’ll find inside it. Bab’s is the crown jewel of Durham nightclubs and its regulars are the outgoing, sporty types everyone’s wished they were at some point. You’ll find them designing mixer combinations no one’s ever even thought of (and for good reason) and blowing their maintenance loans on one last drink five minutes before closing. It’s the home of student socials so most societies, and almost every sports group, will end up here at least once. Colleges that exemplify this maximalist social butterflying include, of course, Collingwood, its offshoot Grey, and the quintessential Durham icon that is Castle.
Fab’s
This one’s a personal favourite, but that definitely hasn’t influenced its assigned personality. If you’re a Fab’s regular (especially on a Thursday) and you aren’t queer… we’ll get back to you in a year about that one. You’re also always down for a low-stakes, eclectic quest to an obscure part of town, and you love silly, fun late-night antics that others would frown on. Your ability to create unique mixers wipe the floor with those of a Bab’s regular, as you’ve taken inspiration from some of the most unique combinations you’ll find in town. You’re also great at picking out outfits, and while you might not get as many themed nights as others, when you do it’s a truth universally acknowledged that you’re going to be the star of the show. It’s easy to tell which colleges fit here: Aidan’s, Mary’s and Josephine Butler are Fab’s to the core.
Loft
Despite being initially dismissed by many as the little sister of Bab’s, Loft definitely has its own personality type, and it’s not just limited to the hyper-energetic dancers peopling Dance Mondays (although there are plenty of those). Take the socials of the Bab’s crowd, the top-end music taste of a Fab’s regular and the Jimmy’s lot’s ability to make any time a good one, and you’ve got Loft personified: a photogenic, all-night-long silhouette you could expect on pretty much any dance floor in Europe. While you’ll have to develop an acute ability to differentiate male and female toilets (we’ve all been there… what do you mean we haven’t?) you won’t let any mess-ups drag you or your night down. You’ve got the self-assured confidence of a Cuth’s or Hatfield student and your outgoing, limelit nature is synonymous with John Snow, particularly its extensive theatre department.
Ozzy’s
Moving into probably the most niche entry on this list, Ozzy’s blurs the line between bar and nightclub, and its clientele reflect this perfectly. Laid-back, just as ready to talk as dance, and sometimes mixing students and locals without the enmity you’ll find elsewhere, Ozzy’s has probably the most reassuring crowd. It might not be the busiest but you’re guaranteed room to breathe and a good drink (especially if you like Guiness). Oh, and if you frequent this place on a drag night Monday, you’re as queer as a Fab’s regular (very). It feels criminal not to pair the most overlooked nightclub with the most overlooked college, landing Ustinov in this spot. And Chad’s also feels like it has similar energy, if only for the fact that both have impeccable bars.
Klute
We’ve finally reached probably the most iconic Durham nightclub – and a Klute regular is not someone you’ll ever forget. The life of the party even when there’s no party, the first to drop studying for a night out (or even attempt both simultaneously), if you find yourself here regularly you’re undoubtedly always ready for a good time. There’s a reason this place’s biggest night is on a Sunday after all. You thrive on spilling the night’s tea over a justifiably late breakfast with the closest friends you’ll ever know; shots after shots, dancing with strangers, and staying up long past closing are no strangers to you. It’s hard to find a college that matches this vibe more than South; and while this might seem unexpected, Klute seems to attract Hild Bede and Trev’s students quite often (at least from personal experience).
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