Cabaret Voltaire

I’m reviewing this mostly to remind myself to come here again on my next visit!
Doesn’t get busy until late and the crowd are very young (possibly underage) but I definitely want to come back!

Used to be my favourite club in Edinburgh before the take over. Now frequented by students and Yahs and tailored more towards the meat market. Music is ok at times but it’s just not what it used to be. Will always have a place in my heart though hence the 3 stars and not 1.

The best club in Edinburgh in my opinion. There is an upper bar and lounge area that leads to a seated area filled with bench seating for groups At 11pm the downstairs potion of the club opens up and although its 7 pounds to get stamped if you show up at around 10:30 you can get in without a line and get down to the lower level quickest. the lower part of the club is broken up into 4 sections. 2 dance floors conjoined by a bar/​lounge area and a chill room on the far side. there are also 2 more bars downstairs, because at around 2 am (club runs till around 3) it is so crowded that you cannot hardly moved through the fog. The Cabaret Voltaire also has a coat check downstairs, its 1.5 pounds but you want to check any jackets as it gets extremely hot once it gets filled. A great place for groups on the weekend, check the web sight for dj line ups and special events.

I went here on a Friday night so safe to say it was quite busy! I didn’t really resent the £5 to get in as this is pretty standard for this area and time.
However i was quite shocked and resentful for the prices of drinks! £2.90 for a shot of sambuca?! As a student this was pushing my budget a bit so this was the only drink i bought all night.
Maybe it was this lack of alcohol in me that therefore made me not rate Cab Vol very highly. It was extremely dark which some people may find atmospheric but I was not a fan of! I know it is in the old Edinburgh vaults/​caves but the place was verging on claustrophobic! Again for some people this may add to the charm of the place but made me feel quite uncomfortable.
Maybe during the week the prices are better but nothing can shift the dark, gloomy, close atmosphere for me!
I can imagine that with a few drinks in you Cab Vol would be reasonably enjoyable, but I would definitely not rush to go back, with plenty of clubs that are cheaper and have a nicer atmosphere nearby.

Judging by past reviews of Cabaret Voltaire, it’s something of an Edinburgh institution. But it had shut down, right? Nope. Cab Vol just relaunched last night (May 2012) and is looking quite sexy I must say.
I hadn’t actually seen it before the relaunch, but was told that whilst it was still cool in it’s underground cave-​y-​ness, it could get a little humid (exactly because of the underground cave-​y-​ness) and was a bit fousty.
With that so-​fresh new-​paint smell still lingering, whatever they did has served it very well. A nice bar upstairs, with big booths up the back, and apparently cocktails in teapots with dry ice to follow soon (I KNOW), then the sprawling club downstairs with two different dance floors and two different bars, it’s got a lot going for it.
The crowd on the night of relaunch were young. I mean, I’m youngish (I think… I hope still maybe?) and I felt a bit old here. But that was relaunch night. I’m sure as it settles and the club nights become a bit more routine it’ll mix it up. Given the area (Cowgate) and it’s tipsy-​tripping distance from some other great bars, it’s the best club in the nearby area I’d wager.
It’s underground, so it’s dark. And it’s still cave-​y (well I meant it’s in the Edinburgh vaults /​caves) but the rooms are all big enough it’s not a squeeze, there’s cool wee touches like cinema seats in one bar, and neon piping round some others. I’m looking forward to heading back when it settles a bit — but so far, so good.

I’ve been here on a number of occasions to see bands and I really like it. I’ve also heard that the club nights are very good.
It’s a bit like a cave, would make a good Goth club!

So there I was with no ticket or even a poor soul to drag along with me but I was determined to see the resplendent Walter Schreifels & Band. A cheeky face value ticket from the support act, you say? That’ll do nicely thanks. (Aside; I abhor the middleman that comes with booking online so from now on I’m going through the actual acts themselves. Stick it to the Man, man!)
Close to Waverley Station and nought but a short walk over North Bridge. It’s got a nice cosy cave-​like feel to it, ideal for gigs. Now I’ve not been on a ‘night out’ here and to be honest I’m not exactly bothered by that. Dark nooks & crannies are my favourite spots but no need to take a sudden deep interest in your shoes; your fellow patrons are friendly and it’s not hard to strike up a pleasant conversation here.
There’s one thing I really dislike about Cabaret Voltaire though and I think it puts a dampener on things; come 10pm, no matter, the place gets cleared out for a club night at 11pm. It’s like your parents coming home annoyingly early and chucking your pals out. As well as you. And the entertainment. Uncool in my opinion.
A-​OK-​and a half.

Maybe it’s just because I’m old, but I swear this place was better when it was called the Honeycomb. I lived in Edinburgh ’96-’98 and was a regular back then.
Had the same experience as Gavin M. in having to pay twice to get into both rooms — except we only paid for one and sneaked into the other later on.
The night I was there, Jon Pleased Wimmin — who I was very excited about; I’m old, remember — was playing upstairs. He was disappointing; looked like he couldn’t be arsed as he kept wandering off somewhere.
We sneaked downstairs and it was like the old days again — even spotted a few of the old faces.
I won’t hurry back, but for nostalgia’s sake, I will be back.

It’s a little shameful that I still haven’t been to this Edinburgh club on a night out, but I finally made it there to see a comedy show. The most bizarre show I have ever seen, but this review is about Cab Vol (as it’s popularly known) so I’ll stick to that.
It’s extremely central, being just a few minutes walk from the Royal Mile. I was surprised by the sheer size of the place; normally this may create an almost impersonal atmosphere, but Cab Vol is quite cosy and cave like, spread across two levels and wonderfully lacking in day light of any kind. As I said, I haven’t been when the whole place is vibrating with music, and packed with people, so I’ve got more Cab Vol experiencing to do! However, it’s worth heading there on a Tuesday night, when entry is free and music is dubstep, house, and techno. It’s definitely going to be the first night I head there anyway.

Cab Vol (as it is known to locals) is a mixed bag. Sometimes it is pretty rubbish, but I have also had some of my best nights out here. The club is pretty cool to look at, being underground and open brick walls giving it a cave like feel. Built under the arches of South Bridge, it breaks itself down naturally into two rooms, which both have a kinda cool grubby chic to them. Although often packed, the club is the sort of place where it matters less than those on George Street.
This is mainly down to the music; claiming to be a more alternate club than we are used to in Edinburgh, Cab Vol plays drum n base, dubstep, electro and other similar genres of music. Due to the monging /​moshing nature of this music it doesn’t matter if you’re squashed up against someone as you really don’t need to flash your coolest dance moves. Also most people in their are either wasted of just a bit off their heads so it does have a slightly out of control but fun atmosphere.
The prices for drinks are ok and the bar stocks most of what you’d expect from a small club. Tuesday is the most popular night, and this is also it’s downfall. Most of the time it is great, with free entry and good drum n base meaning it’s popular with the cool kids. However word of mouth has also meant that any Rah wearing bright coloured skinny Topshop jeans, high tops and who knows one Pendulum song so thinks they’re proper dnb kids turn up which kinda puts a bit of a downer on what otherwise is a good night.

Cabaret Voltaire is yet another gem buried in the Cowgate. I know quite a lot of people don’t like it, however, so I will get its criticisms over with.
1) The bouncers: I’ve personally never been turned away but plenty of people have been told they’re not getting in because they’re ‘too drunk’ after having had a mere sip of shandy or the equivalent. This is a genuine grievance but one which of course benefits the club in the long term.
2) The drinks: They’re overpriced. I once paid £3.70 for a bottle of Magners which, in a place marketing itself to students mid-​week, is just a rip-​off. The entry fee can also be extortionate if there is a top DJ playing. Again, however, this is ultimately to the club and the clubber’s benefit as it reduces all the usual problems which excessive drunkenness causes on nights out.
Putting these minor issues aside, Cab Vol (abbreviated name) is a great club. The layout consists of two subterranean and interconnected rooms with a bar in each. When a good DJ is playing the place is generally heaving and this, coupled with the reverie of the bass, creates a phenomenal atmosphere. Further, the VIP room is as lush as you’ll find in any George Street club if not better. Although pricey at times, Cabaret Voltaire goes way beyond the average clubbing experience and offers exciting new music in a very special environment. I only wish my friends would let me go there more often!

I’m quite partial to the underground, cave like feel of Cabaret Voltaire. I like a nice dark, moody atmosphere, where you can lurk around in the shadows sipping a drink and pretending to be mysterious. Being a massive sneaky people watcher, this scenario appeals to me. Alternatively, you might just want to be normal and go there and have some fun and good times.
The gig space of Cabaret Voltaire is kind of like being in someone’s basement, and isn’t particularly big, but it has given any gigs I’ve seen quite a cool, intimate feel. I recently saw a few really decent bands here and smugly stood right at the front, just because I could, so it’s a good place to catch any bands that you want to see close up. Apart from gigs, Cab Vol hosts a range of regular club nights and has showcased some fairly big name DJs in its time, so it comes well recommended if you’re looking for something a bit alternative and not your run of the mill chart music assault.

Cab Vol (cringe at the abbreviation) is popular amongst students and locals alike as a place to find alternative music within the confines of an interesting environment. By the latter I refer to the burrow like low ceiling, hidden hallways and moody lighting. By the former I refer to the surprisingly good drum & bass events, and alternative house sets.
Drinks and entry fee are pretty standard in terms of price and in general it’s a reliable and fun club to spend the night. Expect excruciatingly long queues at the weekend.

This is such a f’ing cool club.
When you go here (because you will, trust me) make sure you’re looking particularly cool. Get rid o that waist-​coat and cardigan and don some ripped jeans and a nice tee. They have some amazing nights here, particularly Music Boutique, and rank in some brilliant DJs.
The club itself is really cool, it;s underground so has the whole stone-​work arches going on, high ceilings and a lavish upstairs. It’s one of my favourite places to go to in Edinburgh — if I was cool enough I would be here all the time.

I love Caberet Voltaire.
In fact, I only have one complaint — so lets start with that. Cheap coke. Simple and not very much of a problem, especially when it has a double something or other in it. The trouble is when your are just gasping for it by itself and it tastes a bit ‘bleugh’.
Anyway, my one complaint over, I can get on with how good this place is. Firstly, Cab-​Vol is underground — in the vaults of Edinburgh meaning the sound system in here rocks. Its amazing. Secondly the music they play varies night to night, so one time you might be listening to drum ‘n’ bass, and the next night somethng far more indie. Pretty cool, and although some nights may not be everybodies cup of tea, I love all of it. There are also some live music evenings, which are usually followed by an after party — which I thoroughly recommend. Thirdly, the layout of the club — it doesnt sound like something great, but one room can have the atmosphere of a quiet pub lounge while next door (albeit through 3 foot of heavy stone wall) there is a rave going on with the volume turned up to 11.
Drinks are cheap (so the nasty coke isnt too bad…) and generally Cab-​Vol is consistantly one of the best nights out in the city.

This is an underground club with a great mainstream music sound system and some of the most fun nights out in Edinburgh. At the beginning every month they have a 60s night which is grand, but Tuesdays and Thursdays they have electro and drum and bass with no entrance fee!
As a music venue, I can say I have been very pleased, I came here a couple of weeks ago to see the ever so lovely Angus and Julia Stone, and I was impressed with the effort put into the show. It was only in one room, and packed, but somehow the underground atmosphere just brought so much to the show. The bar tenders were lovely and even the door men are not as aggressive (as seen in other well-​established clubs).
Why do people always get cramped in the back at gigs? There was plenty of space at the front where the stage was, and luckily the stage was higher up so everyone could see. The sound was superb as well, and even when Julia Stone was confused with her amp, the sound man was superb and efficient.
The only think I can really hold against this place as far as gigs are concerned is that after the concert the lights are crudely turned on and cleaning starts immediately whilst we are all still there, in order to be ready for the next event.

Cab Vol is great if you’re into less mainstream music than you’ll hear in a ‘normal’ club. And if you don’t mind sweat dripping off the low ceilings onto you at least once a minute, or drinking out of plastic cups.
I have to honest, it’s not my thing. I’ve been dragged along on a handful of occasions by friends, and each time I go i’m determined that this will be the time I have a great night there and leave at 3am completely converted. It’s been four years, and it hasn’t happened yet.
That has a lot to do with the people that go though, as opposed to the club itself. On tuesdays this place pulls in a lot of «rahs» from Edinburgh Uni, thinking that wearing weird coloured skinny jeans suddenly makes them alternative. It doesn’t, and their huge back-​combed blonde hair dos look even more ridiculous than normal.

I am not a huge fan of Cabaret Voltaire– or Cab Vol as we locals call it.
Its a very popular club with the trendy, indie, scene crew in Edinburgh. But its just not my type of place. I can appreciate why others may enjoy it, but not me. Firstly its very cramped inside and there is not a lot of seating. Yes I like to have a seat, so shoot me. I’m generally not intoxicated enough to be throwing myself around the dance floor like everybody else. The drinks are fairly cheap which is a plus side, but it does mean that attendees are usually pretty drunk so there is that kind of atmosphere in the club. The music is commonly indie/​electro/​drum and base which I personally don’t enjoy. But if that is what you like, then you will probably like Cab Vol.
I have been to see a few bands play here and it does make for an intimate gig which can be quite good. However the night club side of it is just not for me.

Cabaret Voltaire is easily my favourite club in Edinburgh. It offers different club nights each day of the week with resident DJs and special guests, in the past these have included big names like Annie Mac, Steve Aoki, Krafty Kuts, Justice and Plump DJs. The music is mostly electronic (d’n’b /​house /​electro /​techno), however there are sometimes gigs on earlier in the evening before the club nights start and these tend to feature up and coming indie bands, I saw Florence and The Machine & Little Boots here before they hit the big time.
The club is situated in some vaults underneath South Bridge, and when you’re inside it really does feel like you’re in the bowels of the city. Admittedly the place does get pretty crowded and sweaty, but that’s an intrinsic feature of its underground charm. This is not the place to go if you just want to pose and observe the world from a seat, dancing is obligatory!
There is no dress code and you could feel equally comfortable here in a pretty dress or your scummiest jeans. Drinks are relatively cheap, prices do vary depending on what night of the week you’re there though.
If you’re into music or the club scene, Cab Vol is definitely somewhere you should visit.

I came here by myself on a Wednesday evening. I was planning on going across the street to see a movie at The Odeon, but there was really nothing playing that captured my fancy… My host was going on a date with her boyfriend and the friend I’d made while in Edinburgh left town earlier in the day, so I had absolutely nothing to do after dinner — why not explore, take a chance, try something new.
What an awesome nightclub — It’s in caves — stone-​vaulted ceilings! Music was really great, there were a couple of dance-​floors, the sound system was really good, and there were really affordable drink specials (I always ask)… I arrived early and saw some live acts, but I was so transfixed and transported by my surroundings that I stayed very late into the evening and stumbled home a sweaty smiling glorious drunken mess… A fantastic experience all-​around — Cabaret Voltaire will be in my dreams.

Solider Nachtclub an der Cowgate. Der Dienstag ist ganz cool, freier Eintritt und Drum’n’Bass. Und am Donnerstag ist Indie, zur Hälfte lief aber auch Elektro. Kann man sich mal geben, aber ich hab schon besseres mitgemacht