By Amelia Edwards, Fourth Year English and French
The most haunted time of the year is fast approaching. As we scramble to come up with non-recycled costume ideas for a spooky night out, we think of the dark-lit nightspots where we’ll end October. We know they’ll probably look the same as ever on Halloween, but what if Bristol’s favourite nightclubs could dress up?
Motion (RIP)
Before I assign a costume to each of the city’s surviving nightclubs, I’d first like to pay my respects to Motion. An iconic, beloved (not by all) club and live music venue that once helped define Freshers’ Week in Bristol, this recently shut-down rave spot would dress up as The Grim Reaper. RIP.
Amelie Peters
Thekla
Thekla, on the other hand, is alive and well. From 10pm, its queue stretches for miles, lining the freezing riverside where almost-sober students shiver, filled with regret. If it’s not dressed up as one of those gatekeepers who order you to name five songs by the band on your T-shirt, this boat club will rock side to side as a seasick, sailor-pirate hybrid. Think navy and white splattered with fake blood, paired with an eyepatch and (optional) parrot.
I wish Halloween fell on a Thursday this year, because if it did, Thekla would definitely take a try-hard shot at emulating Morrissey. To fit in with the crowd of its weekly indie music event, the boat would metamorphose into the lead singer of The Smiths with a bouquet of flowers, gaping shirt, and not-so-subtle air of pretentiousness. I say this with love to all fans of Thekla Thursday (myself included).
OMG
On 31st October, Bristol’s favourite LGBTQ+ nightclub will dress up as a gay icon of your choice, from the timeless Freddie Mercury to Lady Gaga’s retro meat dress. This club won’t be celebrating Halloween in smoke and black sequins, but rainbow strobe lighting and ultra-energetic pop hits. Just be careful if you’re summoned onstage— the prize you win from an OMG challenge will bring back fuzzy memories on 1st November.
Lakota
This Halloween, Lakota will hands down be dressing up as Breaking Bad’s Walter White — the most prolific drug manufacturer in fictional America — in honour of its undying devotion to… Drum and Bass.
Electric Bristol
This massive live music venue, formerly known as SWX, is probably Bristol’s swankiest student nightclub. Now host to ‘Fishies’ after Gravity shut down (another fallen soldier, RIP), Electric Bristol will dress up as a sleek, scaly fish. Or maybe part of a fish, since it now shares custody of the event with other venues scattered around the city, like The Brass Pig.
V-Shed - JD Wetherspoon’s
I’m not sure V-Shed counts as a club — it is a Wetherspoon’s, after all — but it just about earns a place on this list because of the nightly DJ. V-Shed tries to be Not Like Other Spoons, but it does have at least one thing in common with its siblings: suspiciously sticky tables. For Halloween, this Harbourside pub will dress up as Season One of Stranger Things’ sticky, slimy Demogorgon, straight from The Upside Down.
I hope this spookily insightful list has inspired you to create your own Halloween dress-up ideas. If you’re planning to witness the outfits sported by Bristol’s nightclubs, try not to leave your own costume-making to the last minute— you don’t want to be overshadowed by the late Motion. If you’re staying in, don’t forget to enjoy a scary movie marathon with a big bag of (trick or) treats.
Happy Halloween!
Featured image: UnsplashWhat are you wearing to the club on Halloween?
