GET OUT MORE...VENUE REVIEW

02-10-2006

It's the latest concept in after hoursentertainment; a club that promises you "the world in one night" called Oceana. There's a stringof 'em around the country, and Birminghamgetsoneon November 10 in Hurst Street. Edward Cameron checked out this weekend's opening night in Wolverhampton...

My last visit to Wolverhampton's Atlantis was more than a year ago. I had just paid three quid for a watered-down lager and as I turned from the bar I witnessed a man being set upon on the dance floor by three thugs, one of whom smashed a pint glass into his head and twisted the palm of his hand, forcing the shards into his scalp.

A mate's brother sat outside on another night, a little the worse for wear, and watched as a man who had earlier been refused entry return and shoot a bouncer.

The place was a dive. Thursday nights saw pound-a-drink vouchers and even more bad behaviour, a circular dance floor that crunched under foot with shattered plastic and glass. I vowed never to return.

Closed down for months and a multi-million pound refurbishment, the reborn Oceana promised a rebirth for Wovlerhampton's nightlife.

The punters were desperate for it. By 10pm on Friday the queue was around the corner and only those with the pre-bought queue jumping tickets stood a chance of getting in.

The beer was pricey but it was real - the first sign that the spectre of Atlantis was being exorcised.

The decor is classy - numerous bars clad in different styles. You can enjoy a pint in the Parisian boudoir under a print of a naked woman or you can sit under the moose's head in the alpine suite.

The upstairs 70s disco still plays the cheesy classics, posing a serious threat to the hegemony of the Civic's Cheeky Monkey, while the Reykjavik ice-room is undoubtedly cool and played a mix of RnB and dance.

Packed to the rafters with Wolverhampton's revellers it was difficult to enjoy the opening night properly because every accidental nudge earned you the usual shove and a look which reduced you to the same level as a pitbull's excrement. The place may have been regenerated but the people shaking their things were the same.

The ten supposed Hollyoaks stars barely made an appearance. Customers crowded around the VIP room, a glorified zoo, for a glimpse only for the curtains to be closed. I hope they weren't paid too much.

It's a brilliant venue with plenty of choice. While the drinks are pricey, once the initial mass curiosity dies down I've no doubt that Oceana will prove to be exactly what manager Chris Bardsley ambitiously claimed it would - exactly what Wolverhampton has been waiting for.