Come join the Renaissance (Renaissance @ Media)

Member Name: jeff2000

Product:	Renaissance @ Media
Date:	02/05/01 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely club, great music

Disadvantages: Small dancefloor, pricey

Renaissance, the birthplace of progressive trance is situated in the Media club, which they incidently own, they also run a monthly night at the cross in London and have moved around the midlands for 9 years now before settling on this spectacular club as their home. I have made the not too short trip down from Leeds on 3 occassions and have not been dissapointed once.
The club itself is situated in Nottingham city centre, not far from many lively pre club bars where I would advise you to get the drinks in as once you are inside the club the drinks prices are unbelievable, £3.20 for a bottle or £2.50 for a shot, which is not cheap in anyone's book. That moan aside I'll now descibe the club. Every time I have gone there has been a small que, but as it moved quite fast we were soon into the club. Once you get in you go up some stairs to the cloakroom and toilet area, you then go up another staircase that brings you out on to the middle tier overlooking the dancefloor and dj box. When you first enter here you realise the massive size of the club (capacity 1300), and as it's a converted theatre the main room has got 4 different levels, the top looking out over the whole club. The whole club is decorated very smartly and has small tv screens all over the place so you can keep up to date with who's playing. The lowest level is the dancefloor, which is equipped with a pumping soundsystem and a stage at the back for those who like to strut their stuff in public. This is overlooked by the dj box and has a fantastic lighting rig and visual screens. On each tier there is a bar but not much seating, but this does not seem to be a problem as the crowd has come to dance, not sit down. As well as the main room media also has a second room playing funky house, a restaurant, a playstation room, VIP room and a chillout room where they serve food. Each of these rooms is accessed from the main staircase but with all these rooms it can get a bit confusing as to whe
re you are! There are also bars in these rooms and a bit of seating in each.
Anyway, back to the main room, the dj's change every week, with Carl Cox, Dave Seaman and Danny Howells being the residents. They are often vistited by such big names as John Digweed, Sister Bliss and Sasha. The music played is strictly progressive house and trance, so if you're not into the music then you can expect not to recognise any of the tracks.
Overall I think Renaissance is great and the club fab, but with the pricey entrance (£10) and very expensive drinks then if you are not into the music then you may feel that you've been had, but if you love all things progressive then get yourself down to Media between 9 and 3 on a Saturday and I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Summary: