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Kyle MacNeill

Kyle MacNeill

Contributing Writer

Kyle MacNeill has been contributing to Time Out since 2016, and now also writes on arts and culture for the likes of The Guardian, The Face, Dazed, VICE and Huck. First focusing on London's nightlife while he was still getting ID-ed, he headed up north to Manchester – the Superior City (sorry not sorry!) – in 2019. With MCR now his focus, Kyle's keen to find the best art, music, scran and parties in town and is committed to cementing the city's lofty status while happily residing in the Northern Quarter, Time Out's very own fourth-coolest neighbourhood. Ever at risk of becoming a cliché, he loves magazine shops, basement clubs, vegan cafes and playing darts at a classic boozer.

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Articles (22)

You can now play ‘The Traitors’ in the flesh, if you dare

You can now play ‘The Traitors’ in the flesh, if you dare

These aren’t your faithful friends. Instead, total strangers surround you at a table. Their searing eyes bore into your soul. Marble-sized beads of sweat cascade down your face. ‘I’m not a traitor, I swear!’ you whimper.  Yeah, right. That’s you banished. It’s an early cloakroom for you. Don’t panic, though. You haven’t just made yourself look like a tit on telly. You’re not in a castle in Scotland, you’re in a function room in The Castle down the road. The compère isn’t Claudia Winkleman — it’s an amateur comedian. And, thankfully, you don’t have to trick your new best mate into missing out on fifty-thousand quid. Instead, you’re at a ‘The Traitors’ spin-off shindig. Or so you could be very soon. Because a whole host of happenings inspired by the wildly successful BBC show are in the making, aiming to draw on the high drama (and high camp) of the latest series. While some events producers are still making finishing touches before revealing more, several have worked to a speedy turnaround to hop on ‘The Traitors’ train. Luckily for us, they’re every bit as chaotically theatrical as the real thing. The robes, the goblets, the catchphrases In case you’ve been living under a rock the size of the one Andrew from the latest series abseiled down, ‘The Traitors’ is a BBC game show which sees 22 strangers try to ascertain who is ‘faithful’ and who is ‘a traitor’. Along the way, the group has to complete a series of outdoorsy tasks that will probably give you flashbacks to when the zi

The 11 best clubs in Amsterdam

The 11 best clubs in Amsterdam

Though Amsterdam is trying to move away from being a tourist party destination, it’s still known for being very, very fun. From hen dos and party boats to the red light district and those infamous coffee shops, Amsterdam is a seriously good time, and one you’ve likely had on your bucket list for a while.  So if you’re ready for a night out that never has to end, you’ve come to the right place. Dam has a diverse nightlife scene to suit all tastes, from DJ sets at 24-hour thumping clubs to live music at a trendy 1940s bunker. Like Berlin? You’ll find the influence of its gritty nightlife scene right here. Budapest? Find ruin bar equivalents a-plenty. Read on for the best clubs in Amsterdam right now.  RECOMMENDED:🍷 The best bars in Amsterdam🌿 The best coffeeshops in Amsterdam📍 The best things to do in Amsterdam🍴 The best restaurants in Amsterdam This guide was updated by Callum Booth, a writer based in Amsterdam. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Battle of the takeaways: Time Out writers pen love letters to their favourites across the UK

Battle of the takeaways: Time Out writers pen love letters to their favourites across the UK

In a ranked list of what are objectively The Best Feelings in the World, hearing the doorbell ring and knowing that there is a lovely person on the other side of that door, holding your delicious dinner, has got to be in the top five. No doubt you’ve got your beloved spots that you return to time and time again: a comforting curry, a life-giving bowl of noodles, a waffle drizzled with chocolate sauce, possibly with some squirty cream on the top. But remember, it’s important to try new things, too. To give you a bit of inspiration for your next meal, we asked Time Out writers from London to Liverpool to tell us about their top picks when they’re hungry at home. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Is pathetic public transport killing northern nightlife?

Is pathetic public transport killing northern nightlife?

Long before the Dantean hangover or crushing comedown comes another conundrum after a night out: how the hell am I going to get home? For the lucky few living in enviable digs, the answer might be as easy as a swift stumble down the road from bar to bed. For most of us, though, we’re going to have to rely on a set of wheels. And unless you’re a Wish version of Bradley Wiggins giving it the big ’un on a Lime bike, you’re probably going to need someone else to help control said wheels.  The journey back to our gaffs has never been more of a faff. Once the clock strikes double figures, a pre-planned route or some seriously thorough CityMapping is needed. The domino effect of these uprooted routes is fewer nights on the town – and it’s another nail in the coffers for late-night venues trying to stay open. And, even before midnight, public transport is properly mid – especially in cities outside of London. ‘After 11pm, businesses face a huge issue of dispersal,’ says Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industry Association (NTIA). ‘The night transport infrastructure in the majority of cities across the UK is very, very poor.’ The main nightmare? Councils across the UK threatening to stop night bus services. Photograph: ShutterstockLiverpool at night Over summer, Glasgow operator First Bus announced it was withdrawing its night buses due to there being ‘not enough appetite’ to justify running it. Luckily, thanks to pressure from local business owners, the NTIA and an agreement w

The 22 best things to do in Manchester

The 22 best things to do in Manchester

An urban myth has persisted for a hot second: it states that Manchester is sparring with Birmingham for the title of the UK’s Second City. It misses the mark; most Mancunians would happily do away with both Brum and London and take the title of the UK’s Best City. Fight us! Two of its neighbourhoods made our list of the coolest in the whole world, after all. Manchester is, of course, known the world over thanks to its rich history, spanning every corner of culture – footy, fashion, dance music – you name it, we’ve been there, done that and sold the promotional T-shirt. Plus we boast a hell of a lot of big names, from The Smiths to Marcus Rashford. But while it’s impossible to ignore such an ace past, the city isn’t an archive gathering dust. Relentless construction, a newfound confidence and the next generation of creatives are driving the city crane-first into the future (including the new Factory International, opened in June 2023). So, if you’re down to skip ahead to the next page of destiny’s script, make a beeline for MCR. Without any further bumbling, here are the 22 best things to do in Manchester. Just don’t call it the Second City, OK?  RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in Manchester📍 The best things to do in Manchester🍸 The best bars in Manchester🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Manchester This guide was recently updated by Kyle MacNeill, a writer based in Manchester. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For

The 30 best record shops in London

The 30 best record shops in London

Vinyl is back, baby. After decades in the dumps, records are now even more popular than CDs and are officially the best-selling of all physical music form. Suddenly your parents’ dusty Fleetwood Mac collection in the attic is looking a bit cooler, eh? London is one of the world’s best cities for crate-digging. Driven by stuff like dazzling vinyl-only editions and massive events like Record Store Day, this city’s independent record shops are thriving. And far from only found in classic music-geek hotspots like Camden, Brixton and Soho, these days stores are flourishing everywhere, with fab ones dotted all the way throughout the capital. Whatever your music taste, from reggae and hardcore to new wave and hip-hop, there’s a London record shop for you. Here are 30 of our absolute favourites. Get thumbin’ through those discs! RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The best markets in London.🎤 The best music festivals in London.👩‍🎤 The best London songs.🎸 The best shows and live gigs this month.

The 18 best funny songs of all time

The 18 best funny songs of all time

It's easy to set goofy lyrics to a melody and call it funny. It's even harder to craft a hilarious piece of music that's also, y'know, a good funny song. Doing just that is what separates the masters from the dregs of YouTube. The multi-hyphenate comedians and musicians below range from rock icons to fully-fledged comic legends. Queue them up – perhaps alongside our favorite mood-enhancing happy songs and one of the best comedy films of all time – and you're sure to get a laugh and a good groove at the same time.  RECOMMENDED:😊 The best happy songs🤝 The best friendship songs🎤 The best karaoke songs🍿 The best comedy movies😂 The best family comedy movies

The 25 greatest songs about rain

The 25 greatest songs about rain

From the rain-soaked streets of London to the alleys of Portland, people love to complain about rain. But people the world over also love to sing about the rain. It's not all sadness and metaphors for weeping, either. Sure, you'll find some tears amid the 25 songs about rain below, but you'll also find psychedelic classics, joyful club bangers and wet-hot disco jams. Together, they constitute the ultimate rainy-day playlist. Don't worry about the rain, either. Rihanna brought her umbrella. Listen to these songs on Amazon Music RECOMMENDED:❄️  The best snow songs☀️  The best summer songs🎤  The best karaoke songs😭  The best sad songs😊  The best happy songs

So you've never been to... Rye Wax

So you've never been to... Rye Wax

In a nutshell… A superhero of a venue – record shop by day, club by night – but with no capes or masks required. Where is it? Just head down to the basement of Peckham’s beloved Bussey Building. What’s the vibe? Underground in every sense of the word, its mega nights far exceed its miniature proportions. You won’t rub shoulders with posers or supposers, just a crowd of those in the know. Contrary to its name, there’s a focus on nights that go against the grain, with leftfield and techno sounds from cult selectors and producers. What makes it a great venue? We could wax lyrical about Rye Wax for aeons, eras and epochs. It’s a sweatily small space which hosts parties that are simple, great and simply great. There’s even a padded plank hanging from the ceiling which punters use to thump along to the earwax-melting beats. What’s the booze situation? As well as draught beer from Camden Hells, they do a two-for-a-fiver deal on Old Blue Last cans on weeknights. Oh, and absinthe shots are available if you really want to make it a big one. What’s coming up there soon?You can find all Rye Wax listings right here.  RECOMMENDED: Discover more venues you've never been to in London

So you've never been to E1 London?

So you've never been to E1 London?

In a nutshell...Originally known as Studio Spaces, E1 is now a late-night club for certified big nights out. Where is it?A ten-minute walk from Shadwell station. What's the vibe?The fact that it opened on last NYE with 27 hours of non-stop techno tunes should give you a good indication. It puts on heady, hedonistic nights for the heads (and with head-turning headliners, at that). It’s got the more intense vibes of Continental European clubs, housing serious ravers and seriously good selectors. What makes it a great venue?E1 is all thrills, no frills. Its main attraction is the ludicrously banging soundsystem – a custom Funktion One unit with all the trimmings. Add to that its aforementioned huge line-ups and what makes it simply great is simply its simplicity. No need forany gimmicky extra rooms, dodgy themes, earlier finishes or swanky props. Just world-class bookings, extended sets and a dedicated space that you’ll mentally – but not physically – lose yourself in. What's coming up there soon?We’re most excited for a five-hour extended set with acid and electro party-starter Helena Hauff, which is set for August 10 (get it in your diaries, people). Oh, and techno legend Chris Liebing is also spinning tunes for an especially long time on August 26 – don’t sleep on this one either.

So you've never been to Blues Kitchen Brixton?

So you've never been to Blues Kitchen Brixton?

In a nutshell…The Deep South via south London, packed with more heart than you can shake a (cocktail) stick at. Where is it?Hop off the tube at Brixton, bop your way down the main road then pop down Acre Lane for a couple of minutes. There are other Blues Kitchens in Camden Town and Shoreditch, if that’s closer to your ends. What’s the vibe?With superb soul food appetisers and raw, soulful live music on offer, it’s filled with a buzz that’ll blow away any winter blues. What makes it a great venue?At the risk of sounding all ‘Grand Designs’, it’s got an ace interior livened up by ceramic bar tiles and a load of vintage Americana touches. It makes a really cool alternative to more conventional nights out, especially for fans of live music rather than banging beats. What’s the booze situation?The cocktails are good, and under a tenner (or two-for-one on Wednesdays). If you fancy yourself as a bit of a connoisseur there are loads of whiskeys and bourbons to try. Otherwise, go for the craft beers. What’s the music schedule like?Every Tuesday is bluegrass night, which sees resident band Too Much Talking get people shaking, while Wednesday is Swing Night and Thursday (if you haven’t got RSI from too much foot-tapping) is Soul Night.

Listings and reviews (1)

Hangar

Hangar

While the bar that sits above, Wringer + Mangle, is slick and chic, downstairs at Hangar you’ll find a proper basement without any need for fancy decor. Having been The Laundry and Mangle in the past, the space has been taken over by excellent London promoters Percolate. It's got a no-nonsense spaciousness that distinguishes it from other, more compact spots in east London. There's a new soundsystem incoming soon too, supplied by the same team who built Printworks’ rig. We’d be lying if we said that the bar above Mangle wasn’t pretty spenny (the Bubbles & Bottles menu is eyewatering rather than mouthwatering) – but in the basement you’ll fare much better with standard eastside prices for beers and the like. Strap in and prepare for take-off!

News (14)

First look: Manchester’s blockbuster new £210 million arts venue

First look: Manchester’s blockbuster new £210 million arts venue

The fact is, Manchester’s Factory International is not yet finished. Head down Water Street in Salford and you’ll get the idea: there’s hi-vis everywhere and construction is still going strong. Builders carrying smouldering soldering guns are busy slaloming through a maze of cranes, diggers and trucks, trying to finish in time for its opening this October.  Thought to be the UK’s largest cultural project since the Tate Modern, the mega arts space got the go-ahead in 2017 and has cost a budget-blowing £210 million, made possible thanks to the government, Arts Council England and Manchester Council coughing up cash for its coffers.  Photograph: Pawel Paniczko Just last week, Factory signed a £35m sponsorship deal with insurance company Aviva, insuring against any funding issues and giving the building a new name: Aviva Studios. Unsurprisingly, the name change hasn’t been met with smiles all-round – but there seems to be a level of understanding considering the current creative climate.The project itself, though, is set to pay off: up to 1500 new jobs will be created, it will bring an expected £1.1 billion into the city’s economy every single year and Factory Academy will support young creatives via free training programmes. And, since the space is the new home of eighteen-day arts biennial Manchester International Festival (MIF) – which kicked off just last week – the venue has been partially opened. Time Out was invited along for a sneak preview of the space. 1500 new jobs

Time Out Londonが選ぶ、無料で楽しめる音楽ドキュメンタリー13選

Time Out Londonが選ぶ、無料で楽しめる音楽ドキュメンタリー13選

現在の世界的な危機のなか、多くの都市のクラブ、ライブハウス、レコード店が営業休止を余儀なくされている。しかし、音楽の世界を広げる方法は、まだいくつもあるのだ。ここでは、音楽にまつわる最高のドキュメンタリー作品を紹介したい。全て無料で視聴できるものばかりなので(Netflixなど「いつものサービス」は、一旦忘れて)、ぜひ楽しんでほしい。 『LDN』 (Nathan Miller, 2017) ロンドンにおける現代のグライム、ドリル、ヒップホップの広がりを決定的に捉えたドキュメンタリー。誤解されがちでもあるこれらのシーンだが、その熱量や盛り上がりをリアルに感じることができる。登場するのは、J Hus、Kojey Radical、67、Fredoなど。監督はドキュメンタリー映画作家、ネイサン・ミラー。彼はロンドンのエースホテルでアルバイトをしながら、この作品を作り上げた。 『The Burger and the King』 (BBC, 1995) 「エルビス・プレスリーと食べ物」との素晴らしく、少し不思議な関係性を伝えるドキュメンタリー。食べ物をこんなにも愛していた彼だからこそ、一生のうちにフライドピーナッツバターサンドをあんなに食べていたのだ、と納得させられる。 The Sound of Belgium (Director's cut) from Jozef Devillé on Vimeo. 『The Sound of Belgium』 (Visualantics, 2018) 伝統的なオルガン音楽からテクノ音楽へと時代を進めながら、ベルギーのダンスミュージック界の歴史に余すところなく迫り、紹介するドキュメンタリー。2020年4月5日(日)まで、ディレクターズカット版が無料で楽しめる。 『I Was There When House Took Over the World』 (Channel 4, 2017) ハウスミュージックの誕生をテーマにしたドキュメンタリー。2部構成となり、前半ではシカゴのシーンの始まり、後半では、世界での広がりにスポットを当てている。ナイル・ロジャース、マーシャル・ジェファーソン、ハニー・ディジョンなど、シーンの中心にいた人物から若手DJなどへのインタビューもたっぷり。 『Marc Bolan – The Final Word』 (BBC, 2007) T・レックスの音楽は、滑らかでクールなギターフレーズにあふれていた。BBCが制作したマーク・ボランの幼少期、名声、悲劇を描いたこのドキュメンタリーで、その魅力を改めて感じてみよう。1970年代の究極のミューズの姿も見ることができる。ナレーションを担当しているのはスージー・クアトロだ。 『Fantastic Man: A Film About William Onyeabor』 (Alldayeveryday, 2014) ナイジェリアのファンクアーティスト、ウィリアム・オニーバーについてのドキュメンタリー。監督のジェーク・サムナーは、デイモン・アルバーンやカリブー、フェミ・クティなどと語り合い、ナイジェリアを旅してこの作品を完成させた。魅力的で美しい光景を見ていると、自然にファンクの魔術師の物語に引き込まれるはずだ。 『Chas and Dave: Last Orders』 (BBC, 2012) 愛すべき悪ガキ二人組、クリスとデイブは、「ロックニー」と呼ばれる音楽スタイルを確立したことで知られる。ロックニーは、ロンドンのパブロックと古き良き時代の音楽を演芸

The best music documentaries you can watch for free on YouTube

The best music documentaries you can watch for free on YouTube

Despite the current global situation, there are still millions of ways to broaden your musical horizons whilst clubs, gig venues and record shops remain closed. Here’s our pick of some of the finest docs out there. Forget Netflix and the rest – these are all available to watch for free, baby! Enjoy!  ‘LDN’ (Nathan Miller, 2017). Watch here. The definitive document of London's modern grime-drill-hip hop explosion, which blesses this oft-misunderstood scene with the excitement and fervour it deserves. Featuring J Hus, Kojey Radical, 67, Fredo and more, ‘LDN’ was made by documentary filmmaker Nathan Miller, who was working part-time at the Ace Hotel at the time.  ‘The Burger and the King’ (BBC, 1995). Watch here. Elvis had a truly fascinating, slightly messed-up, relationship with food, which is told through this riveting doc. Only a man who used food as a proxy for love could stuff quite that many deep-fried peanut-butter sandwiches into himself in one lifetime.  ‘The Sound of Belgium’ (Visualantics, 2018). Watch here. Moving chronologically from old-school organs to techno, this rave-whistlestop tour takes in the whole history of Belgium’s dance music scene. Enjoy the extended cut for free, on isolation offer, until April 5. ‘I Was There When House Took Over the World’ (Channel 4, 2017). Watch here. Miniature two-parter on the birth of house music. Grooving through the beginnings of the scene in Chicago, there are lots of heavyweights lending their wisdom

Nightlife news: Old Street’s Club Aquarium has had its licence suspended

Nightlife news: Old Street’s Club Aquarium has had its licence suspended

We’re only a couple of weeks into 2020, but London’s nightlife has already been dealt a blow. This time, it’s Old Street’s Club Aquarium – a long-running venue which features an actual swimming pool – that’s under threat. Its licence has been suspended and is up for a full review later this month. The original incident that put Aquarium’s future in jeopardy happened after an afrobeat night in October. The Night Time Industry Association (NTIA) – a trade body which helped save Fabric and is now campaigning for Club Aquarium’s future – said of the incident: ‘No associated arrests or public disturbance complaints [were] reported.’ Instead, the NTIA says that a crowd was erroneously told that an afterparty was at Club Aquarium, and had to be dispersed. ‘Islington Police Licensing initially praised the club for the steps it had taken.’ The Islington Tribune reports that Club Aquarium was then implicated in a ‘bottle attack’ on New Year’s Eve, which saw a man hospitalised for head injuries consistent with being hit by a champagne bottle. Two men were also arrested at the club on New Year’s Day for possession of an offensive weapon and affray. The police response on this occasion has been more critical. ‘Unfortunately, this incident is not unique as the venue regularly comes to police attention owing to incidents of serious crime and disorder,’ Sergeant Neil Fraser has told Islington Council.  The police’s account of what happened on New Year’s Eve is very different from the version

JUST ANNOUNCED: Bicep are headlining Field Day 2020

JUST ANNOUNCED: Bicep are headlining Field Day 2020

The first headliner for Field Day 2020 has been announced – and it’s a proper flex. Belfast boys Bicep are bringing their big beats to London for an exclusive live set, meaning it’ll be the only festie in the capital that they’ll be hitting up. Strong stuff, indeed.  It’s a little bit bonkers how quickly Bicep have bulked up into a festival-topping mega name. They started just ten years ago as a blogger partnership, sharing dusted-down Italo, house and disco records. After turning to DJing they started producing retro-tinged tracks, before setting up the Feel My Bicep label in 2012. They only performed live for the first time four years ago, but their name on a poster has already become a surefire way to round-up ravers ready for a heady night out. Expect some big-room staples (‘Aura’, ‘Glue’) from their self-titled debut LP.  This is the first announcement for Field Day 2020, which returns to The Drumsheds in Meridian Water after breaking in the site last year. The vast warehouse spaces, including the new indoor main stage, will be popping off continuously from 3pm to 3am on Saturday July 11, making it a uniquely late finisher among London’s one-day festivals. Oh, and first release tickets are only £35 – almost the same price as Bicep’s sold-out March 2020 gigs at Brixton Academy, our Casios inform us. Get ready to muscle into the queue.  Bicep play Field Day at The Drumsheds on July 11 2020. Check out Time Out's music hub here.  

Printworks just dropped its Spring/Summer 2020 line-up

Printworks just dropped its Spring/Summer 2020 line-up

Club cloakrooms may be filling up with cosy clobber, but Printworks is looking into the future. With spring in its sights, the mega venue has announced the first acts of its SS20 season. A Printworks line-up drop is always exciting news: in just a few short years, the cavernous Canada Water club has become one of the definitive destinations in London for anyone after a dance. It's no surprise, then, that the former newspaper factory has scooped some headline names. It’s kicking off a whole month before spring officially starts, on February 1, with a party featuring Maribou State, Quantic, DJ Seinfeld, Lil Silva and Donna Leake, a line-up as eclectic as it is electric. This basis of savvily selected selectors sets a theme throughout the season. Take February 21, for example; you've got legendary minimal house and YouTube algorithm faves DJ Koze and Matthew Herbert, but also DJ and singer-songwriter Nabihah Iqbal. Basically the fresh-off-the-press hot take here is that Printwork's SS20 line-up is big news. Just maybe hold off the spring looks until a few months in, yeah? Printworks’ Spring/Summer 2020 listings so far:January 31 Holy GoofHoly Goof, Turno b2b Hendex.  February 1 Printworks PresentsMaribou State (DJ), (A-Z) DJ Seinfeld, Donna Leake/Folamour, Lil Silva, Quantic (solo live), SG Lewis (DJ).  February 7 GoldFishGoldFish, guests TBA.  February 21 Printworks Presents DJ KozeDJ Koze, (A-Z) Floating Points (DJ), Matthew Herbert (DJ), Max Cooper (live), Nabihah Iqbal, spe

The Wireless Festival line-up has just been announced – and it’s peng

The Wireless Festival line-up has just been announced – and it’s peng

Wireless is one of the most sussed festivals in the calendar. What began in 2005 as a random mix of indie and dance names (Hard-Fi! Mylo! James Blunt!) has mutated into the defining underground festival of a generation. Unlike many other fests out there, Wireless has found its niche: massive American hip hop stars and under celebrated, ignored-by-the-mainstream UK acts from the fertile worlds of grime, drill, hip hop and afrobeats. Nobody else puts this amount of urban UK talent on such a big platform, and it’s something to really celebrate – despite attempts by Haringey Council to curb the festival, including prohibiting artists from swearing and wearing ‘offensive clothing’ onstage. Regardless, the line-up just got announced, so let’s look at the high-profile Yanks and the local-ish legends playing Finsbury Park this year… Big-name Americans Headliners-wise, it’s an all-American takeover of N4. Travis Scott and A$AP Rocky bring their heady brands of hip hop across the pond, heading up Saturday and Sunday respectively. Friday’s shared headliners Cardi B and Migos (pictured) are a surprise – given Cardi’s on-off relationship with her hubby (aka Migos’s Offset). There’s also special guest Future bringing the Atlanta bangers, plus fellow statessiders Tory Lanez, Lil Uzi Vert, Rae Sremmurd, Ski Mask The Slump God, Young Thug and Californian megastar Tyga. Repping the UK Yanks but no thanks… honestly, there’s so much homegrown talent right now it’s hard to know how the American

We Love Hackney fights back against the borough’s nightlife curfew

We Love Hackney fights back against the borough’s nightlife curfew

Back in July, Hackney Council voted unanimously to impose a curfew on all new pubs, bars and clubs opening in the borough. The motion stated that venues would be forced to turn out their punters by 11pm on weeknights, and midnight at the weekend.  Predictably, this proved unpopular with local promoters. ‘With new businesses facing either shorter opening hours or [paying ] lawyers’ fees to fight for a late licence, it’s only going to be big chains that can afford to open in Hackney,’ VFD owner Lyall Hakaraia warned us in July. Now community group We Love Hackney (WLH) is heaping pressure on the council by taking them to court. ‘We’ve decided to launch a Judicial Review to have the new restrictions overturned,’ spokesperson Matt Sanders tells us. ‘We’re working with Leigh Day solicitors, who specialise in equalities cases, and Philip Kolvin QC, who successfully defended Fabric nightclub.’ The legal challenge hinges on the allegation that the council didn’t consider that its decision would disproportionately affect certain groups.  ‘The council are prioritising the cultural interests of older, more affluent people at the expense of everyone else,’ argues Sanders. ‘Legally, the council have to consider everyone’s needs when they make decisions. We think they have failed to do so here.’ WLH also contends that the decision could be especially detrimental for the area’s LGBT+ nightlife. ‘LGBT+ venues are far more likely to be small, independent and community-owned,’ says Sanders. W

Dig the many wonders of Wilderness Festival

Dig the many wonders of Wilderness Festival

There’s always an absolute cavalcade of stuff to do at Wilderness festival, the annual weekend Oxfordshire festival that takes place this weekend. So we’ve squeezed the programme of its juiciest events for you to sip on… RELAX It’s all well and good having a well large one at a festie, but it’s even better to feel well and good in yourself (between the hangovers, at least). Ace news, then, that there is a plethora of every yoga offshoot imaginable, from Rocket to Mandala Flow to our favourite: Paddleboard Yoga, which sees you stretching out downward dogs while floating along. The Lakeside Spa is there as per usual too, offering a zen hotspot in the form of the Full Tub (oh, and you can get a bottle of champers for your soak, too). LEARNYou learn something new every day – even if it’s early afternoon at a festival and your head feels like an unwashed NutriBullet. On Friday, The Forum stage is hosting the crew behind ‘No Such Thing as a Fish’, a podcast featuring writers from ‘QI’ and the head-spinning facts they uncover during their research. Plus, save your late-night epiphanies (and consequently, your friends’ time) for Wilderness Saves the World: you can pitch your best idea for global change to an expert panel, with the winner nabbing a free ticket to next year’s festival. EAT AND DRINKThe amount of munch on offer is outrageous: but our bite-sized review is that it’s really, really good. An exciting new space is The Counter, where you get to watch your food – from Som Sa

Holy ship! Red Bull just announced six killer London boat parties

Holy ship! Red Bull just announced six killer London boat parties

Whatever kind of dance music floats your boat, the newly announced event Red Bull Music Odyssey should be of interest to you. On June 30, six different party boats carrying 50 DJs and musicians take to the Thames, each dedicated to a different wave of UK dance music – from dancehall to D&B. Along with a ‘captain’ – a headline artist – each vessel will be bursting with both seasoned seadogs and young whippersnappers of the respective genres. The crews are shipshape. The house and techno boat has Scottish party-boy supreme Denis Sulta at the helm with support from deep house originator Larry Heard, while the jungle jetty will see timeless hero Goldie reeling in some fresh sea bass. Joining the fleet is the UK rap boat with ‘Bad’ star Steel Banglez as the skipper while the UK radio ship has a load of hands on deck(s) (Flohio, AJ Tracey, D Double E, Heartless crew). For the jazz and broken beat ship, Red Bull has lined up the blissful vocals of Peven Everett, and last but not least we’ve got the dancehall boat featuring Jubilee and Kranium. Blimey! Every boat will set sail at the same time, creating an armada of top DJs on the capital’s river. Not in London? Don’t fear, the whole event will be broadcast live on Red Bull Radio. Best bring your lifejackets – because these boats are going to get TURNT. Who's playing each boat? Line-ups for Red Bull Music Odyssey.  Boat name: The Forever DancerCaptain: Denis Sulta.Guests: Larry Heard (live), Jocelyn Brown, Jayda G, Jamie 3:26, HAAi.

Five of the best parties this Bank Holiday

Five of the best parties this Bank Holiday

FRIDAY m.A.A.d City – The Kendrick Lamar PartyFollowing his February stop-offs in London, K-Dot is back in the maad city. Well, sort of – it’s another instalment of the semi-regular night near Old Street beholden to all things Kendrick, with 1Xtra dons CJ Beatz and DJ Cable spinning tunes dedicated to the King. Trapeze Basement. SATURDAY Love Supreme at the RoundhouseA spin-off of the ace annual Love Supreme festival, this Camden one-dayer promises jazz, funk and soul by the pound. Three stages of music, talks, screenings and DJ sets run through the day, featuring Mr Jukes, Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, Elli Ingram and more. Then, hopefully in a return to the venue’s ’60s roots as a bohemian rave shed, an afterparty runs till 3am, helmed by Tim Garcia and Henry Wu. Roundhouse. The Queen’s Yard Summer Party 2018More than 50 excellent selectors are set to play over a whopping 14 venues across Hackney Wick this weekend. The selection of spots is as dizzying as its line-up: one wristband will get you and your pals into a terrace, taproom, boat and a deli. Plus, there will be a load of food and bevs to keep you fuelled for 18 hours of adventures. Various Hackney Wick venues. Little Gay BrotherLGB is back at Omeara for another all-you-can-eat buffet of madness and hilarity. This voluminous party always lays on the good times thick – thanks to their gaggle of hosts and dancers, who are known for vibing a crowd while casually strutting on a travelator. Oh, and their promise of an

Six awesome bass nights in London

Six awesome bass nights in London

Love dubstep, bassline, D&B, garage, UK funky or pretty much anything with loadsa bass? Kyle MacNeill picks the parties that should be on your ribcage-rearranging hit list Sticky Feet After chips with gravy, the thing closest to the hearts of students up north is smack-you-in-the-face bass. Leeds – one of the spiritual homes of bassline music – has hosted Sticky Feet for the past six years. Now it’s bringing its subwoofers to The Garage. The Garage. Tube: Highbury & Islington. Every Fri. FabricLive If FabricLive nights were a type of fabric, it would be a coarse, thick, heavy-duty one. After all, these parties are, to accidentally quote Meghan Trainor, all about that bass. Expect BPMs higher than a genius IQ score and packs of lads shouting ‘phwoar!’ intermittently. Fabric. Tube: Farringdon. Last Fri of the month. Garage Juice A few times a year, the Garage Juice parties arrive at Brixton Jamm to get people two-stepping to classic garage DJs (think Artful Dodger, DJ Luck & MC Neat). Wave goodbye to wanky kale detox smoothies and say hello to Garage Juice: it’s better for you – promise. Brixton Jamm. Tube: Brixton. Next one Fri Nov 24. Visions Video Bar Named for its ornamental scattering of VHS machines, this joint is a sweaty mecca for bass lovers on Kingsland Road. You have to get your name on the guestlist via Facebook a bit in advance, so don’t sleep on it. Head to most of the nights here and you can expect a sonic smörgåsbord of grime, dubstep and low-end bangers. 588a K