Night Moves

Rumours at Flat 0/1

It’s approaching midnight and the streets branching off of Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main drag, are deserted. A biting wind is blowing thick snowflakes in my face, my extremities are going blue, and my cheeks are turning an alarming shade of crimson. It feels like we’re traipsing up Paisley High Street on a wintry weeknight, not the Icelandic capital’s busiest thoroughfare.

We dive into the packed Kaffibarinn, one of the city’s most popular bars. An old house just off the main street, it’s full of hip locals (of which there are many) and in-the-know tourists. The pub’s traditional wooden fixtures and staircase give it the feel of a cosy old front room. Mikkeller and Friends, a short walk away, is similarly homely: all dark oak and low ceilings, it has 20 of the Danish brewery Mikkeller’s craft beers on tap and a warm, convivial atmosphere that makes you wonder why anyone bothers with sterile modern bars at all.

If they didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to move in Flat 0/1. Pleasant vibes seem to ooze from the retro wallpaper when the party is in full flow here. It’s now a Bath Street mainstay after several successful years on the scene, having gone from a themed curio to a serious venue hosting well-respected techno, house and indie nights. On weekends, get there early to discover local and international indie bands, before the lights go down and the real stuff starts around 11pm. After that, all bets are off and you could be punching the air to crunching European beats, slinging some moves to elastic disco, or crowdsurfing to noughties nu-metal, depending on what night it is.

Night Moves

Rumours at Flat 0/1

Q: What do you look forward to most about Spring?

1. Chris Young, 26, East Kilbride, It’s not snowing.

Nicola Mason, 25, It’s always winter in Glasgow.

2. Ian Cruise, 30, East Kilbride

Favourite Club? ABC

Favourite Bar? Nice N Sleazy

Favourite DJ? DJ Muppet from The Cathouse

Favourite Band? Biffy Clyro

First Club? The Garage

What You Drinking? Brewdog’s Punk IPA

Describe your Dancing? Awkward, frantic and poppy.

3. Craig Donald, 20, Aberdeen, It’s almost Easter

Stephen Napier, 29, Peterhead, The hype for summer

4. Isla Davidson, 21, Glendarule, All the beautiful colours that appear

John McGuire, 21, Nairn, It’s perfect spicy BBQ meat season

5. Clonith Smidt, 21, West End, The leaping lambs

6. Glen Peterson, 18, Stonehaven, The turkeys coming out of hibernation

7. Simon Barrett, 21, City Centre, The fashions changing