I never thought that I would be stood waiting to go into a nightclub. I was truly embracing the typical student nightlife in Cheltenham with my friends from Uni.
Let's rewind back to my gap year in the very isolated, COVID-ridden 2020. I was a lonely person who spent most of my time with myself, and never went out with any friends. I liked to be a solitary individual. After arriving at university the next year I had changed completely. I'd metamorphosed into quite a sociable individual. I surprised myself and my family with my newfound enjoyment of spending time with others. I met an amazing group of friends who made me feel happier than ever. I excitedly head out one or two nights a week for some good times, at pubs and bars.
And now the real test was upon me - the nightclub. Our choice of venue? The 'extravagant' hub of student nightlife in Cheltenham, Moo Moo's Clubrooms. Or 'Moo's' as most of us call it. I stood outside with my three other friends in the cold dark air, in the line of young people waiting to go in. Behind us were stood some girls, about ten of them, dressed as nuns. I didn't really pay much attention to that but to some nerves building up inside of me. My friend Chloe who had been to nightclubs before assured us it would be fine. My friends Andy and Sharmaine were both nightclub newbies too.
We had our IDs checked by the bouncers at the entrance doors. Andy gave the bouncer his ID and nervously laughed as the guard spent a prolonged amount of time looking at it, his eyes drifting from the licence to Andy as though something didn't add up. I think he was trying to mess with him a bit. Which wasn't great for my nerves. Luckily he was let in, and so was I.
Upon entering the club, pushing open the black cushioned doors, my senses were overwhelmed. The music was so loud it seemed to touch the edges of my brain. It was rather crowded and in the centre, on the dance floor, dark shapes of people were dancing and drinking to the drivel that was being played over the speakers. Disco lights and strobes swayed up and down the walls. Security stood all around above the crowds, observing like lifeguards at a swimming pool. Behind the dance floor was the main staircase, and on either sides of the room were seats around tables.
We spent the early stages of the night in these seating areas, as we didn't dance much until later. Conversation was very difficult and I quickly figured that nightclubs aren't a place for chatting. On this first night at the club especially, I was worried about spiking and all the other horror stories I'd heard in the media, some of which took place at Moo Moo's. On Gloucestershire Live there was an article about a young woman spiked by injection there. This girl was left "unable to walk or talk" so had to be carried home from the club. She'd had injections through her trousers.
Concerned about someone putting something in my drink, I didn't buy any from the bar. Looking back that was pretty stupid, as I could have covered a bottle with my thumb or something, but shows the extent to which crimes like spiking can trouble young women like myself.
Later on in the night, we moved upstairs, to a smaller room which had garish looking Marvel characters painted on the walls. We all had a good time up here. In between trying to vibe with the mainstream pop music I'd never choose to listen to, and housekeeping by picking up the glass bottles which ended up under our feet, we kept to our own group and had some laughs. We even met a couple of classmates from our course in the club.
I left at about 1.30am from what I remember, I'd had enough of the club and decided to go home. What an experience it had been. My ears were ringing walking away, but I had a sense of achievement - I'd done something out of my comfort zone and tried something completely new. I ventured into that club two more times after that, until the novelty began to wear off. Then we ventured back into the cosy bars where me and my group feel we belong.
To learn more about spiking: https://www.talktofrank.com/news/spiking
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