Skanky, dark, and low-ceilinged; The Wire is not somewhere you want to go if you suffer from claustrophobia. Certain types will be mystifyingly magnetised to its dinginess and think the brick walls – which seem to ooze sweat due to poor ventilation – are trendily reminiscent of that basement rave cave you and your mates always wanted when you lived in that crap terrace in Hyde Park. Access to this portal to the murky underworld is via a steep and narrow set of stairs before you have to fight your way through freshers to get to the bar, which – and it must be said – is surprisingly well-stocked and staffed, with drinks only slightly pricier than your average student boozer. Those who don’t want to dance can bagsy a cosy alcove set into the wall and pose moodily while sipping away.
Concerns about Wire’s more aesthetic issues aside, it’s host to some of the city’s longest-running nights, and the indie disco Fuzzy Logic and the pop and contemporary beats of Straight Up have provided welcome deviations from the dubstep/jungle/house soup of many of the city’s other clubs for years. The venue proudly brings in high profile and big-on-the-scene underground DJs, and has hosted sets by the likes of Alt J, Metronomy, The Horrors and Erol Alkan over the years.