When you go out into town on a Saturday night now all you see is fights, bother and police making arrests.
I'm a 24-year-old woman, and I might sound boring for saying this, but I would much rather spend the night in the local old man's pub, with grotty carpets that are still cigarette stained from when you could smoke in pubs.
The last time I ventured into a nightclub or late bar in Leeds (except the Stone Roses because that's my guilty pleasure) it was packed with Instagram girls posing or 18-year-old lads starting bother with each other and honestly, that is not my idea of a fun night.
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I remember borrowing my best friend's ID (who was a couple of years older than me) revising her address and date of birth so I could use it in the local nightclub when I was 16 - we've all done it so don't get on your high horse - and I enjoyed it for a short while. But now it just feels like a chore.
To go into town these days you need a full face of makeup, including some over the top eyelashes that weigh your eyelids down all night, fake tan and a brand new outfit because god forbid you wear the same one twice - who can be bothered? To then go out and be papped in every girl's Instagram story as she videos the dancefloor, for your feet to hurt in heels that are way too high and to struggle for a taxi home. It might be for some, but not for me.
I'd choose a night in a pub or working men's club any day of the week. What could be better than night time entertainment at the weekends, bingo, pub quiz, raffles, live music, and better yet... karaoke. I grew up listening to my mum and auntie play North Soul or best of the 80s, so a night singing 'The Snake' or '99 red balloons' on the karaoke is a dream.
These clubs and pubs are kind of like a dulled down real life Phoenix Nights, one of my favourite British sitcoms - besides Only Fools. Who doesn't love Peter Kay!
Better yet it's cheap drinks, I don't think I've ever paid more than £4 for a double rum and coke - in Leeds you couldn't even get a pint of coke for that. And it's at least £10 for a fancy cocktail that's gone in two sips - none of that in a grotty pub, they don't even serve cocktails to begin with.
Yes I know they're not the most aesthetically pleasing or 'Instagrammable' venues and the carpets might smell of stale cigarettes but honestly I'm much happier sat in the old boozer with a packet of salted peanuts than paying over the odds for something that looks ridiculously fancy. And better yet, there is always a bar dog.
Another reason why I would choose one of these kind of places for my night out is the people. They're nicer, they have stories to share, you can chat to them for hours without knowing their name, and even duet with them on karaoke - and this is coming rom a person who can be pretty antisocial at times. I love the fact you walk into a club and everyone knows everyone, the locals chat to the bar staff and its just a pleasant place to be.
They often serve some good home cooked grub too, chips gravy and mushy peas is an all time favourite.
Whenever I step into a working men's club it just reminds me of my grandparents and family dos such as christenings, 60th birthday parties - you name it has been celebrated inside these four walls. I vaguely remember my primary school dance contest being held in one too - they hold so many memories inside from generations before us, it's rather nostalgic.
And I'm all for the décor, they always resemble a bigger version of my great-gran's flat, with an added bar of course, they just feel homely and welcoming and maybe that's why I would choose to spend my weekend in one rather than clubs.
I'm sure every person reading this can think of a nostalgic memory that makes them feel warm and happy inside from a working club or 'old man's pub'. In fact, I love the vibe and want to be apart of the community that much, I now work behind the bar in one in Morley on a Saturday night and I love it.
Besides, I'm all for supporting the local boozers, especially after covid!
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