Am I the only one who is sick of having nowhere good to go for a night out? I don't think so. It seems, like many I have spoken to, are very disappointed in the lack of choice when it comes to going out somewhere in Milton Keynes for a drink and general good time.
Don't get me wrong, the big clubs in Milton Keynes are usually packed full of people and obviously Milton Keynes is well catered for in the regular 'binge' nightclub department. But that is not my scene. I believe that large numbers of people in Milton Keynes feel this way. The mainstream is not their scene, but what I am saying is that there is very little alternative.
Because there are lots of people ready and willing (queuing in the cold in their hundreds),club owners know there is alot of money in the mainstream scene. That's obviously why the centre of the town revolves around it. a good alternative could be placed at the other end of the city centre. It should be something similar to the theatre district, but with a variety of venues and diversity of music and entertainment.
We don't want more monuments to the pisshead culture that are now clustered together-conveniently for drunks to stumble from one to the other. We need a change, then lots of rockers, punks, ravers, and other social groups would come out of the woodwork and into town. Music is an important part of a night out for me, it sets the mood. Music brings together like minded people and draws people into other social groups. I can't be the only one who prefers to communicate without shouting over the same old cheesy pop music.
Places like 'Shout!' are good and offer something different, giving the rock people at least one decent option. But there are not enough places like this. There is a growing Drum 'n' bass community in Milton Keynes. Have a look at our forum. But again, they are crying out for venues. It seems the prime spots were taken by big companies, who have found large success nationwide and have replicated their gold mines in Milton Keynes. This forces alternative groups into smaller, lower profile venues, dotted in various awkward places in and around Milton Keynes- The Pitz, 'Shout!' and Deadly Fusion for example. They start up with high hopes but usually close within months. Dingey venues have spoiled the atmosphere and the locations which are difficult to find draw in little or no 'passing trade'. Often the venues have bad reputations which also adds to the lack of interest.
So here we are, thousands of people, with nowhere to go after a hard week of work, will somebody please start a good alternative, before I do. I wonder what they do with MK Bowl for the other 10 months of the year? If anyone can recommend a night out, I am open to suggestions E-mail me using the contact box below. Oh and please include your name and email address if you want us to publish your comments.
Your comments:
variety — variety 2008-04-25 03:49
Yeah! regular variety variety variety
Where's the variety — RichardM 2008-04-18 09:07
If you like going to clubs and trendy bars then you probably wont be too disappointed in what the City Center has to offer. However these all seems to be geared towards the 20 something crowd who read FHM and love popdancernb music. Im not slating these people as I was one of them a few years back (Im 31 now). But what I long for in the center is a variety of places to go for a night out. What about a good old fashioned bar with decent music and a nice atmosphere. What about a rocklive music bar where you can see decent bands playing. Go anywhere in London and you get a really good variety. Look at the types of independent bars etc that you get when you go to Cities like New York London etc. Surely its about time that we stop introducing the same crappy big chain bars and clubs into our City Center and let us have the variety we deserve!
A good night out! — ChristianBowler 2008-04-15 07:57
I am in total agreement with you on the City Centre front there is nothing I like beter than standing in the cold for half an hour waiting to get into a night club that is exactly the same as the last one I stumbled out of !!! NOT ! Have you tried the Forester arms in Stony Stratford they have a band on every Saturday from 9pm there is everything from blues to Rock and on Wednesdays they have an open mic session which can be varied in styles. just a thought .....
what's clubbing anyway? — Gibbo 2008-04-11 22:13
I think we are just getting old and partied out. Put your feet up with a cup of coco. (Yeh ok)........
embaressing — Hayley Golder-Oppong 2008-03-27 07:16
I am a huge lover of hip-hop and RNB but i have to ask why do MK clubs only offer this type of music when it is blended in with Pop music underage drinkers and chavs why cant somewhere be opened that has differnt genres of music other than mainstream pop but also sets standards such as dress codes and age limits. The amount of under age drinkers in many MK City Clubs is embaressing i am 22 and feel old on a night out.
the point — Connie Gurney 2008-03-27 07:15
The demise of The point nightclub.. Flamingos.. and directors wine bar cut out a brill night out for adults 24 upwards Id say! Weds night up the station end used to be heaving..
The plough at water eaton — RJ 2008-03-27 07:13
Try the plough at water eatononly had one visit but great night and good atmosphere and the price of beer is ok.
sanctuary — Sarah 2008-03-27 07:12
Gotta agree. I never missed a dnb rave at the sanctuary since i first discovered it. Been raving for years. Deciding to take the sanctuary away from MK was one of the biggest mistakes made. It made MK one of the most popular places to rave ive met people at the raves from as far as Scotland Liverpool Hastings and even people from abroad! It was one of the most renouned clubs for dnb hardcore and garage in the UK. Although we do get a few raves/nights worth attending to suit our music tastes nothing can ever come close to the experience you had there. and all it really was was four walls and two floors but is really missed by so many. If anyone had the money and a bit of sense it would be replaced by a simalar venue! Its what people of my social group want and there is plently of money to be made a win-win situation.
sort it out! — Amber 2008-03-27 07:08
I completely agree i dont go out in mk no more because its to boring for of the same music and same people. Im into hardcore and hardhouse etc.. but they dont cater for that no more do they?? Santuary was a legend and what happened they shut it and building a stadiem i mean HELLO our football team sucks. MK sort it out!!
glory days — Alison 2008-03-27 07:05
Im 32 and I can remember the glory days of The Point every thursday when grunge ruled and Fat Tuesdays and Happy Wednesdays. The new alternative nights are all very well if youre under 20 which everyone at Shout seems to be but what about us older ones? I dont go out in MK anymore cos Im fed up with feeling as though Im past it.
