Wire

I must say, unless I completely missed the trick, I have just failed to see the attraction in Wire. I came here on a night out, having had a few in the bars of Leeds before, and I didn’t really have any expectations. For a start I didn’t realise that this was where we were actually headed, so I went down the dingy depths — the entrance stairs give off a distinct ‘caving’ vibe — with a clean slate of expectation.
The fee was £5, which I’ve no beef with, since that is pretty much the usual fee for a club night out in Leeds. But as I descended those stairs I had a bit of a sinking feeling. We entered and it must have been some kind of serious club/​house night. I like some dance music, I really do, but this was just a bit beyond what I could handle listening to — beats on repeat type thing.
Beyond the music the place was filled with clubbers who had the vacant all-​night look about them, powering through no matter what and determined to dance. I’m guessing that if you’re into the scene then it would be a dream come true — underground (literally) late night club, dance till you drop dance music, all the vodka red bulls you can handle if you need the extra energy hit.
For my tastes, I bore it until 3am and then drew the line. We. Are. Going. Home. Now, thankyouplease. Just not my taurine-​tastic cup of tea.

Managing to nicely straddle the gap between late-​night bar and full on club, the Wire bills itself as an ‘indie, rock and alternative dance’ venue, but although indie nights like Fuzzy Logic remain popular, for many Leeds-​dwellers this basement club is all about the loud, loud music. Dingy in a good way, the room itself is all low-​slung ceilings and archways, with intimate seating tucked into every nook and cranny, while the dance floor is a smoke and strobes orgy of epic proportions — epileptics and those with poor sight beware. The bar serves your usual selection of beers, ciders and spirits, with some of the better continental lagers thrown in for good measure, and occasionally offers drinks deals which make the whole experience a little easier on the pocket. With an average door charge of around the £5 mark and opening hours stretching to 4am and beyond, it’s a good bet if you want to dance all night in the middle of the week, and it’s fast becoming a Mecca for Leeds’ dubstep scene, with regular nights from Ruffage and a new night by Cut and Paste on the first Monday of the month.

If your a lover of clubbing but fed up of the chart hits that oceana and gatecrasher pump out, Leeds nightclub Wire (formally thinktank) could be ideal for you.
Wire pride themselves on bringing crowds alternative, indie and fresh electro tunes from up and coming dj’s. the music is always pumping and a great contrast from the mainstream clubbing scene.
The venue is a converted basement, with small candlelit corners creating a Mine like theme. Such décor complements the underground vibe Wire creates convincingly.
Wire collaborate with big electro and drum and bass names regularly. It is worth looking at the website for up and coming events if this sounds like your cup of tea!

Wire is a brilliant club. Underground, just the right amount of dinginess, not exactly spacious, a good amount of sweaty. Still think it sounds brilliant? Just me? No? Good. I’ll carry on then.
Back in the day, I saw The Cribs play here. If you’ve been, you’ll realise why I hold this memory particularly dear to my heart. The Cribs play Doncaster Dome in December. A dome. A big dome. Not quite as big as the Millennium ‘un down south, but still; a sizeable dome. Wire is tiny. Like I said, it’s sweaty, dark and dingy. Perfect, if you ask me, for a good old fashioned boogie.
My smoking pals were a bit perturbed when they had to pay for a wristband, which gave them access to the outside smoking area, recently. But I mean, as a non-​smoker, a weary one tired of his friends heading outside every half hour, it tickled me a little. Does that make me a rubbish friend? Hope not.
Go to Wire on a weekend. If you still go following what I’ve said about sweat and darkness, then you’ll be surrounded by like minded folks. It’s a good night out — just don’t go two nights on the trot. Variety is the spice of life, remember.
Currently undergoing a refurb, I can’t wait to experience the new Wire… coming soon.