The Best Clubs in Leeds
With clubs being back open, we thought we'd shout out some of the best venues in the thriving party city of Leeds.
Last updated: 16th Jun 2023
Originally published: 30th Jul 2021
Leeds is one of the most active clubbing cities in the North of England. With a thriving underground music scene that has given rise to a host of brilliant venues. Ranging from huge stages with the biggest names to more intimate venues that showcase the next wave of DJs coming through.
With so many iconic venues and festivals, people flock to Leeds every year for the best live music and the wildest parties that you'll find in the whole of the UK. With all this in mind, we decided to pay tribute to the best clubs in Leeds right now. Secure your tickets for many of these clubs’ fantastic events by clicking or tapping the venue name or image.
Photo: Mint Warehouse / Facebook.com
Capacity: 750
Location: Aquatite House, Water Ln, Holbeck in Leeds LS11 9UD
Mint Warehouse is one of the most recognisable names in the Leeds club circuit. Located conveniently close to the train station, the venue had a huge refurb in 2020 that included the installation of a huge LED ceiling. It’s absolutely mesmerising. The club feels intimate with a relatively small capacity compared to some other club giants but it still has a killer sound system and often sees the biggest names in electronic music stopping by to blast tunes until the AM. Oh, there’s also a lovely outdoor terrace for summer day parties!
Photo: Hifi Club Leeds / Facebook.com
Capacity: 350
Location: 2 Central Rd in Leeds LS1 6DE
One of the best Leeds clubs that also doubles up as a live music venue, HiFi Club has won Best Nightclub and Best Live Music Venue three times at the Leeds Bar & Club Awards.
Originally opening in 2001, the venue has become one of the city’s most adored venues, known for showcasing a variety of genres. The basement club hosts lots of long-running club nights, with many starting when the venue first opened! Genre wise, you can expect a bit of everything including hip-hop, soul, reggae, disco, funk, R&B, and more.
Photo: The Warehouse / Facebook.com
Capacity: up to 1,000
Location: 19-21 Somers Street in Leeds LS1 2RG
If you’re after the bigger Leeds nightclubs, The Warehouse is always a great choice. It's one of the clubs that helped bring clubbing culture to the north, preceding even The Hacienda in Manchester.
One of the oldest clubs in Leeds (opening in 1979), the venue has been renovated with a state-of-the-art sound system and new, immersive lighting, lasers, and CO2 jets. Still kicking today, with many ravers loving it, we don’t think The Warehouse will be going anywhere any time soon. The venue focuses mostly on house and techno and has chillout areas for when you need a break.
Photo: Distrikt Bar Leeds / Facebook.com
Capacity: 200
Location: 7 Duncan St in Leeds LS1 6DQ
Swinging its doors open to welcome ravers in 2009, it wasn't long before Distrikt was known as a haven for underground electronic artists in Leeds. Feeling like a bit of a hidden gem with its intimate 200 capacity in a basement venue, it’s at Distrikt you feel like you’re in on a cool secret. Combining the carefree vibe of a club and the elegance of a speakeasy, get down here if you haven't already!
Photo: The Old Red Bus Station / Facebook.com
Capacity: 400
Location: 104 Vicar Ln in Leeds LS2 7NL
The Old Red Bus Station is one of the newer venues in Leeds, first opening its door in 2016. Set up in a converted bus station, this certainly ticks the box for a unique location. This is a venue that offers small gigs and the club nights here have an undeniably buzzing atmosphere. With a cantina that serves the best vegan food too you can't really go wrong.
Photo: Beaver Works / Facebook.com
Capacity: 600-2000
Location: 36 Whitehouse St, Hunslet in Leeds LS10 1AD
Definitely one of the best clubs in Leeds, Beaver Works is a huge industrial space used for some of the biggest raves in the city. Open since 1997, it’s always been the place for crazy parties, loud celebrations and a shared love of dance. It’s not uncommon for their parties to feature circus performers and fairground rides when making use of its outdoor arena. Beaver Works smashes that party atmosphere and brings you some top names from dance music in the process. And their Halloween parties are some of the greatest.
Photo: The Wardrobe / Facebook.com
Capacity: 460
Location: 6 St Peter's Square in Leeds LS9 8AH
When The Wardrobe isn't being used to showcase the next great indie band or to host a night of comedy it changes into the perfect space for night owls and ravers. Frequently inviting DJs over to Leeds, The Wardrobe has a reputation as an eclectic venue and as a result, a whole myriad of sound flows through the dancefloor.
Photo: Wire / Facebook.com
Capacity: 300
Location: 2-8 Call Lane in Leeds LS1 6DN
With a full Funktion One sound system and a capacity of just 300, Wire is where you go to feel the music shake your bones. Wire is all about championing the best electronic music in a friendly, intimate environment. The club has welcomed many impressive guests on its decks. Just a ten-minute walk from Leeds City Centre, this haven for those who love sweaty, cosy raves is super easy to get to.
Photo: Canvas Yard / Instagram.com
Capacity: 5,000
Location: Trent St, Holbeck in Leeds LS11 9SP
A brand new addition to the scene, Canvas Yard opened in spring 2023. The venue has already hosted huge Defected and Hacienda events, so we can’t wait to see what else they’ve got coming up. Huge and open-air, Canvas Yard also has a food village and chill-out areas. It’s basically like a mini festival.
Photo: Sheaf St / Facebook.com
Capacity: 350
Location: 3 Sheaf St in Leeds LS10 1HD
Café, bar, events space, and chill-out location Sheaf St offers an eclectic array of events, fresh, locally-sourced scran, and parties. Head here to chill with a pint after a tough day at work or to get grooving to some incredible DJ sets. They’ve got some smashing events booked this year, so go have a look!
Photo: The Key Club / Facebook.com
Capacity: 300
Location: 66 Merrion Street in Leeds LS2 8LW
Prefer moshing to two-stepping? The Key Club is the best club in Leeds for fans of heavier tunes. They do occasionally offer pop, electronic, hip-hop, and R&B events, but Key Club has regular club nights for pop punk and emo, indie, alt, and rock/guilty pleasures. Owned by Slam Dunk, club nights here are top-tier. Especially the regular Black Parade 00s emo and nu-metal night. And drinks are pretty cheap!
Photo: Wharf Chambers / Facebook.com
Capacity: 175
Location: 23-25 Wharf Street in Leeds LS2 7EQ
Open Wednesday to Sunday until 11 pm, Wharf Chambers is a multi-use venue providing a space for art, music, film, discussion, politics, and more. Events here vary with poetry readings, open deck events, and live performances spanning multiple genres (even classical). Tickets are very reasonably priced, with some being free. It’s all about the community here.
Photo: The Space Nightclub, Leeds / Facebook.com
Capacity: 650
Location: The Space - Hurst Yard (off Duncan St) in Leeds, LS1 6NJ
Popular with the student crowd, The Space is the best of all Leeds nightclubs if you’re looking for cheesy tunes and cheap drinks. It's got Skint Thursdays for the cheapest drinks, Paradiso Fridays with disco house vibes with pink decor, and Underground Saturdays with local DJs spinning house, tech, disco, and dance. Open until 5 am on Saturdays, head here for a long one!
Photo: The Lab Leeds / Instagram.com
Capacity: Unknown but on the larger side
Location: First Floor, 6 Grand Arcade in Leeds LS1 6PG
Known for great, welcoming vibes, good drinks at decent prices, and DJs that know how to keep the party going, The Lab is one of the best clubs in Leeds for a lovely night out. Common genres at Lab include bashment, amapiano, garage, bassline, dancehall, afrobeats, and R&B. The Lab also has MUNCH in its calendar, the club's first women-only event!
Photo: Canal Club Leeds / Facebook.com
Capacity: 100
Location: 1 Little Neville Street in Leeds LS1 4ED
A bit of a calmer one, Canal Club is an all-day drinking spot with gorgeous cocktails, craft beer, cider, and spirits, and a sharing menu inspired by global cuisine. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are a bit livelier, with local DJs and a percussionist joining in on Saturdays. Located in the city centre, with space in the sun, Canal Club is a great shout for the start of your night before moving to another if you fancy a late party.
Photo: O2 Academy Leeds / Facebook.com
Capacity: 2300
Location: 55 Cookridge Street in Leeds LS2 3AW
For bigger club nights right in the heart of Leeds city centre, the O2 Academy is the place to go. While the O2 brings plenty of live performers from artists of various genres and comedy, the venue also doubles up as a club. They’ve brought in some of the biggest DJ names from across the world to pack out the dancefloor at this huge venue. Set in a Grade II listed building, this intimidating gothic building is hard to miss.
A huge party city, Leeds has countless incredible clubs ready for you and your mates to discover on a mad one, no matter what vibe or genre you’re into.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
Header: Mint Warehouse / Facebook.com