Formerly the world famous Zap club, Digital has lots of competition from rival clubs due to its location in the arches directly on the seafront but its solid sound system ensures that Digital stands out from the crowd.

The Venue
Digital Brighton (they own one in Newcastle too) occupies a prime seafront location in the arches and is spread over a roomy two floors that’s been made to feel even more spacious thanks to the stripped back, industrial warehouse styling. Let’s put it this way, nobody is going to care if you spill your drink or dance till sweat is pouring off you in this environment although certain nights do go all out and dress the club up – as you’d expect at the Pussycat Club it’s feathers, frou frou and full-on fabulousness. However, when it comes down to it, Digital is just a cracking place for connoisseurs of house, electro, dance and techno to rave until the early hours courtesy of one of Brighton’s best sound systems.

From the minute you set foot through the door (excitement enough after waiting in the seemingly never-ending queue that this club attracts) and are waiting to pay in reception you can feel the vibrations of the bass. Follow them down a corridor and prepare for a scene of dance floor carnage to unfold in front of you presided over by a DJ box that’s the focal point of the room. Behind the DJ box, LCD lights pulsate in time to the beats as the lighting and sound engineers work their magic to carefully orchestrate your night out at every step and it’s clear that on the dance floor at Digital the DJs really are treated as deities – it’s rare to see so much worshipping going on in a Brighton club.

The main bar’s located directly off the dance floor so you don’t need to miss a beat whilst you grab a beer but if you do fancy a breather there’s a side room too with its own small bar which is more homely – there are even mirrors to check on how your non-stop dancing is taking its toll. Upstairs, there’s a small bar set into the curve of the arches that’s often booked out for private hire but acts as an overspill with a slightly funkier music policy on busy nights.

The People
Digital attracts everyone and anyone who wants to have a good time and is a firm fixture with the city’s hardcore clubbing fraternity. The heavy presence of security ensures that there’s rarely trouble and that anyone who does try and cause it is dealt with quickly which results in an excellent party atmosphere for everyone out to have fun. Most importantly, the bar staff are extremely fast and efficient which is just want you need when everyone is fighting to get to the bar and you’re desperate to join your mates again on the dance floor.

The Music
The music at Digital varies depending on what night it is but it’s always a quality affair. Tuesdays are dedicated to students, Thursdays and Saturdays are more dance and house orientated with the club attracting some of the world’s best DJs including 2manydjs, Eric Prydz, Midfield General, Layo and Bushwacka and Layo. Meanwhile, Fridays offer a good blend of indie and rock with live bands performing sometimes before the club night kicks in – perfect for unwinding after a long week and gearing up for a weekend of debauchery.

The Drink
The bars at Digital are designed for speed rather than comfort which means that no draft beers are sold at any of the bars – a fact that you’ll be grateful for when you get served in double quick time and don’t end up wearing your pint on the dance floor after a session of enthusiastic shape throwing. However, there are plenty of bottled beers, alcopops and spirits alongside a small selection of wine and Champagne. If you want to kick-start the party though you’re better off opting for shots such as Agwa which is an acquired taste but certainly does the job.

The drinks range from stupidly cheap to full club prices depending on the night but there are plenty of offers throughout the week. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Digital serve a single house spirit and mixer for just £1.50 (doubles are £3), shots of flavoured schnapps are a mere £1 and bottles of Carlsberg just £1.50. As the week moves on, prices rise accordingly. On Thursdays and Fridays you’ll pay £3 for a single house spirit and mixer and £4 for a double, £1.50 for a shot of flavoured schnapps and £1.90 for a bottle of Carlsberg. On Saturdays it’s full priced drinks all the way so expect to pay £3.70 for a single house spirit and mixer and £3.30 for bottles that include Stella Artois, Peroni, Corona, Smirnoff Ice and Bulmers. To keep the bar moving quickly they currently don’t serve cocktails although that may be set to change in the future.

The Last Word
Digital has got the basics right – a great layout, stonking sound system and fast moving bars all add up to ensure that it attracts one of the finest crowds in the city and retains its crown as one of the best clubs in Brighton.

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