NIGHT OF THE WEEK: 

The Christmas pre-club experience at The Dome

 Dress Code: Smart, sharp and stylish.

Music: Ambient background.

CLUBBING at Christmas is all about having a rip-roaring good time, with all the trimmings. So, what better way to start off an evening than by immersing yourself in the ultimate festive atmosphere? Cue Edinburgh’s best pre-club Christmas venue, The Dome.

Now famed the world over for its lavish Christmas decorations, The Dome is an unmissable winter wonderland at this time of year. Iconic stone columns, decorated by twinkling fairy lights, set it apart from anything else at the east end of George Street and make it impossible to pass by.

Inside, the twin staircases and grand chandelier in the magnificent hall set the tone for what lies in store.
However, for all the theatricality on display, the main talking point of The Dome at Christmas is always the colossal centre piece of the inspired decoration - a dazzlingly beautiful Christmas tree, which dominates the main bar. It glows brightly in contrast to the warm surrounding ambience, looking every bit majestic as you’d expect.

Time now to spoil yourself. Champers anyone? Once in the mood to party, check out the wine list, it’s exceptionally good. The sauvignon blanc is an ideal tipple after the Champagne. The Tempranillo, crisp, rose, and refreshing. For serious red lovers, it has to be the Chateauneauf-du-Pape. That said, you could just as easily work your way through the house selection, as the bar is set high from the off.

If you want to set yourself up for the evening ahead, book a table in advance for one of The Dome’s two dinning experiences. The Grill Room is a lavish and 1930’s affair, the quieter Club Room more modern. Well presented, the food excels. Try the salmon, beef, or sirloin steak - unrivalled, it’s hung for 28 days and cooked to perfection.The Dome also boasts friendly, attentive waiting staff who easily make you feel like the most important person in the room. A perfect place then to spend the evening before a night in one of George Street’s clubs, and perfectly situated for the Opal Lounge, Po Na Na, and Lulu. 

Give it a try, you’ll not be disappointed.

The Dome, George Street, 10am-1am, 0131-624 8624

Words: GRANT PATERSON

CLUB NIGHT OF THE WEEK: EDDIE HALLIWELL @ CITY 

Dress code: Glam for the girls, clubby and trendy for the boys.
Music: Trance, techno, electro & house.
DJs: Eddie Halliwell, Claudia Cazacu, Jason Cortez and Stephen Kirkwood.

It’s so hot that the air is thick with moisture and a cloud of mist forms around the DJ box. Lasers try to penetrate through but still you can’t see him. You know he’s there because the  shouts now become deafening. They hail his name like a legion honouring their god, the lord of the dance is here… Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!


Eddie Halliwell is back, headlining City tomorrow night and he’s sharper than ever. Halliwell’s technical ability is so well respected that the Japanese boffins over at Pioneer drafted him in to help design the revolutionary CDJ 2000 digital turntable. Combining cutting-edge technology with his traditional vinyl skills, his sets are so energy driven that they should carry a health warning. Halliwell uses scratching, looping, remixing and re-sampling all done on the fly. With what seems like a psychic ability to read the crowd, he fires out big tune after big tune with relentless success. Three hours of non-stop dancing is on the agenda, so I recommend dancing trainers.


Halliwell’s style has earned him residencies at the biggest parties in the world, selling out clubs in every continent and DJing prime time radio slots. The result has been countless top DJ poll positions in every relevant clubbing publication that use letters to form words, praised by his peers and with the likes of Paul Van Dyk as his fan base. Halliwell will be joined by Romanian pin up girl, DJ Claudia Cazacu, who intends to fire up the party with her own blend of pumping tunes to get you hot under the collar. Edinburgh lads Jason Cortez and Stephen Kirkwood will be warming up for them, so expect something special.


City is the biggest club in Edinburgh and perfect for a massive party, so get yourself down to see one of the world’s biggest DJ superstars.


Eddie Halliwell, tomorrow night, City, Market St, £15 (plus b fee)/£25 VIP, 0131-226-9560

CLUB NIGHT OF THE WEEK: SOUL KITCKEN @ MEDINA

DRESS CODE: Glam, casual, comfy and cool

MUSIC: Funk, Funk, soul, hip-hop, R n' B and disco

DJs: Dale Lush and Isla Blige

If you are hungry for something fresh, then look no further. Soul Kitchen launches tonight with a generous portion of soul food. DJ duo Dale Lush and Isla Blige have promised to serve up a Michelin star disco platter of old, new and future classics. 

Soul kitchen will be a reunion of sorts as the DJs return to one of their favourite venues, Medina. If you haven't been before Medina is a cosy basement club, catering for those who prefer the warmly-lit ambience of lounge clubbing with a great atmosphere. 

Dale tells us it's that "social element" that will be a prime ingredient in the Soul Kitchen recipe. Dale. resident at Le Monde and GHQ, ran a Sunday night there aptly called Booty. Running for six years, it became a bit of a clubbing institution around town. It was the DJs blend of club classics that set the night apart. Dale had regulars reminiscing the halcyon days of clubbing and the night quickly became more of a social gathering rather than a glam night out. 

Now he wants to create that same vibe while introducing Isla's soulful selection to the mix, she toyed "this is one trip to the kitchen that your hips will thank you for..." 

Blige, also a Medina DJ, played soul-drenched soundtrack at Get Funk'd on Friday nights. Her style is just like her - fun and funky. Other residents include Lulu, Newsrooms and The Voodoo Rooms. 

Expect the kitchen to get very hot with a main course of slow roasting soul, freshly picked funk, a healthy helping oh hip-hop and some devilish disco cuts. Unlike Ramsay's Hell Kitchen, Soul Kitchen looks a much more heavenly prospect, enjoy.

Soul Kitchen, tonight, Medina,Lothian Street, 10pm - 3am, £5/£4

Words and Picture:

GRANT PATERSON

NIGHT OF THE WEEK - CONFUSION IS SEX - HALLOWEEN BALL AT THE BONGO CLUB

DRESS CODE: Insane asylum patient or scary zombie

MUSIC: Electro, techno, punk, indie and rock 'n' roll.

DJS: The Glitch, Anarkid and The Dirty Red Diamond DJs.

At this time of year it's normal to dress up, adopt a different character and play a part for Halloween. For regulars at Confusion Is Sex (CIS), however, dressing up is the norm and tonight, the Insane Asylum Halloween Ball in no exception - after all, this monthly night is where the weird becomes normal.

What started out as an art project by Gamma Ray Dali has since evolved into kitsch club night challenging perception of clubbing and boasting a multi-sensory show featuring a variety of different artists. From live acts to sexy pole dancers, burlesque performers to David Lynch-inspired art installations and video projections, CIS is the pinnacle of the avant garde clubbing experience.

On the bill at the Bongo Club tonight are three burlesque acts. First is The Chassy VanKlass in Caterpillar To Butterfly. Next, Lilli Vyne's Snow White from her slumbers only to transform her into an outrageous party queen. finally, Teniah Twisted puts the gore into another fairy tale in Blood And Red Riding Hood. Also appearing will be The Mad Scientist performing Thriller, with The Zombie Girls and Freaky Brides, joined by MC Billy Jean Dance.

Residents Glitch and Red Diamond DJs promise an equally strong sense of style with a diverse music selection ranging from trashy techno to sleazy electro and indie and rock. New DJ Anarkid will also be joining the line up. Edinburgh boy Ross Addy, to give him his Sunday best name, will be playing out the best in twisted techno and dirty electro.

A truly diverse club night, then, CIS is sexy and fun. Imagine being inside a carnival of the seductively strange, where masks are adored and the freaky come out to play. What better place to spend Halloween, so get dresses up and have a great time.


Confusion Is Sex, Bongo Club, Holyrood Road, tonight 11pm-3am, £6 or £5 (dressed up), 0131-558 7604 


Words: Grant Paterson

NIGHT OF THE WEEK: 
HEAVY GOSSIP @ CABARET VOLTAIRE

DRESS CODE: Casual, clubby and trendy.

MUSIC: House and Electro

DJS: Craig Smith (6th Borough Project), Nick Yuill, Adam Le Chic and guest artist, Aeroplane.

There will be no idle chatter bouncing off the walls of the subterranean twin-roomed dance club Cabaret Voltaire tomorrow night. No point. The heavy sound of house grooves are guaranteed to drown everything else out, courtesy of Craig Smith, Nick Yuill and their very special guests, Belgium-based electro artist Aeroplane.

The night marks the reinvention of Aeroplane. The two-man group who split earlier this year and now has Vito De Luca taking the reins after Stephen Fasano has left to explore other projects. 

With a raft of lush grooves on their Eskimo imprint, including some seriously cool remix work for the likes of Grace Jones, Lindstrom and Sebastien Teller, it's going to be a very special night. 

Always uplifting and funky, expect the Heavy Gossip soundtrack for the weekend to include a premier selection of old and nu disco, psyche pop, classic house, polished and Balearic cuts. 

Smith has been paramount in the quality control, keeping the music policy firmly focused on quality music. 

Working with all the major players in the industry, he remains at the forefront of house music, playing out a completely original selection of sounds.

If you're in the mood for a seriously good party and one which reads as a night to remember, with music you might not otherwise get the chance of hearing, then book your tickets for Heavy Gossip. It's going to be a house journey that spreads its wings wide with the inclusion of an electro aeroplane.

Heavy Gossip, Cabaret Voltaire, Blair Street, 11pm - 3am, £10, 0131-220-6176

Words and picture Grant Paterson

NIGHT OF THE WEEK: ELEMENTS @ THE LANE

Dress code: Just bring your dancing trainers and good vibes

Music: Trance and techno

DJs: Trance Room Stu Patchitt, Ross Thomson, John Newall, Kiwi, Ally Brown, Tommy Mulligan, Matt Mackie. Techno Room: Paul Millar, Danny Linton, Debbie Grant, Lee Mutch, Jamie Stenhouse, David Boyle, Ian Dickson, Sean Whelan.

ONE of the last true underground venues in Edinburgh, The Lane plays host to many nights aimed squarely at providing the best the underground music the scene has to offer.

Tonight you’ll hear exactly that at Elements. Billed as the only trance night featuring a full Scottish DJ roster made up entirely of local boys and one little lady playing pumping tunes, Elements finds the west end club split into two rooms - one trance, the other techno, so there’s plenty of choice as far as having a banging night out is concerned and, as it’s on a Friday, a whole weekend to recover.

Elements boasts the Scottish premier league of fresh new talent on the decks, all fired up and ready to rip the lid off the club. Tonight’s bill is a line up that doesn’t take any prisoners so if all you are looking for is a place to dance around your handbags girls, then this is a no no. Dirty, sexy grooves and an explosive party is what to expect as headliner Stu Patchitt is joined by an army of trance cadets, most notably John Newall, who tore the Ministry Of Sound apart in London a month ago. Now he is ready to do the same on his home turf.

Paul Millar’s squad in the other room are armed to the teeth with thumping techno strikers, notably Jamie Stenhouse, who lives, breaths and eats techno. Expect something special from this lad. He’s a wee half pinter who punches well above his weight as Koen Groenveld discovered when Stenhouse warmed up for him in Glasgow’s Arches nightclub recently. New girl Debbie Grant, who is popping up all around the country at the moment, will playing a electro charge techno with finesse. Looking for a night out tonight? 

You could do worse than brave the Elements.

Elements @ The Lane, Queensferry Street Lane, 10.30pm-3am, £5 b4 11.30 / £6 after.

Night of the week: Bar 99

DRESS CODE: Casual, smart to trendy and chic.
MUSIC: Eclectic selection of jazz, northern soul, house and funk.
DJs: Ricky, Isla Blige and many more.


If Bar 99 on Hanover Street is easy to find, it's equally easy to get lost once inside, thanks mainly to the black paint job. The black decor was a tradition of Edinburgh pubs long before the concept bar reared it's pretty, yet at times soulless head back in the early-90's.


Any while 99 may well be a concept bar, it's one with a difference. Soulful and atmospheric, it displays the decadence of Georgian Edinburgh with finesse.
Hard wooden panelling, vintage upholstered chairs and comfy sofas make for a laid-back lounging experience, there's not the faintest flicker of neon or glimmering chrome to spoil the effect.


The decor makes use of the original features, pillars and cornices are painted white and gold to provide a contrast to the black walls and expensive patterned wall paper. A smart, brooding place to hangout with the 'in' crowd, the  bar staff are friendly, efficient and make a mean cocktail.


DJ Ricky, meanwhile, plays out a vintage selection of tunes on a Friday night, kicking off with funk and soul before working his way up to house music. A regular DJ at the Southport Weekender, Ricky is one of the best you'll hear around town - certainly one of the most soulful.
Bar 99 gets busy late on, but with such a cool factor you could find it becomes your local boozer and pre-club gathering place.


Bar 99, Hanover Street, Noon - 1am, 0131-225-8200


Words and Picture: Grant Paterson