Venus

For some ill-defined reason, we find ourselves humming that Bananarama tune from the 80s as we slink our way down Manchester’s main thoroughfare, Deansgate, towards the venue for tonight’s action: I’m your Venus / I’m your fire… at your desire.

Negotiating a few steps past the legendarily tight Venus door, we find ourselves in Venus indeed, in all its vainglorious splendour. But before we get stuck into the weekend glory, here’s a quick history lesson – Venus started out as club night at a club called Club V. After a decade of disco devilry the club night Venus left Club V and became a club called Venus. Christ, I need a drink. A fluorescent one with an umbrella in. Barkeep, my brain’s melted - this is a liquor emergency!

You still with me? OK, then take my hand and let’s explore. This is a club built by clubbers, for clubbers. As well as hosting nights from hed kandi, Twisted Elegance, Retro, Bitch and others, Venus also relies on their residents – folk like Andy Clarke, Chris J Frater, Ryan Stent, Mike Lee, John Steward, Les Paul and Dave Ellis - some of whom have been with the club for a decade or more, and know exactly what buttons to push to turn on the Venus dancefloor.

Talking of which, time to crank this beatbox up to Rhumba and get involved. The bar area is towards the back of the club, with a large circular chill-out area, with wide couches and mood lighting. There’s also a cinema area and then there she blows - the main dancefloor, with a mix of genuinely lovely, grown up clubbers, reveling in the music and the company of one another.

Venus has really nailed the details – from the sound system to the double lady’s toilets for sit-down socialising; from the lights to a mobile phone charger that takes three minutes to charge your phone to 50%. But nightclubs are, essentially, about that magical combination of people and music. And Venus has got that equation worked out to perfection.

The underground club for all your clubbing delights await for you here. Dave has been running this place for what feels like centuries. He knows who to create the mood and the décor it’s smooth, seductive and aimed for one thing-having a good time. The atmosphere in here its one of the best in Manchester and people dance the night to the very early hours. The people to come here love house music and that’s what they normally play week in week out. They have three main lobby areas where you can chill on the white leather sofas or have a quick cig in the outside section of the back yard.

Venus is a club night at V bar on a saturday night.
It plays funky house music and is very popular yet still small enough to be quite exclusive and not over run.
Prices to get in are between £10 and £12 depending on time of entry.
Dress code applies on this nite so not jeans, trainers and sports wear.
Venus is very dark and there is a chill out room attached so there is opportunity to chat to friends as the dance floor is very noisy.
There are sofas around the edge of the dance floor and there is a tv screen playing cartoons for further entertainment.
Drinks are expensive but you find this in most clubs.
Taxis are always acessible as on the main street in manchester.