Nightlife in Bhopal- Hindustan Times Feature

Viraja Ramanujam

Drinking, traditionally not part of Indian culture has become the soul of socializing and partying in recent times. People look forward to having a good time in pubs and discs on Friday and Saturday nights. Dancing in dim light, to the reverberating music mixed by the DJ and flowing booze and snacks till the wee hours of the morning is the most desired mode to cool off after a hectic week and get rejuvenated for the next.

Though Bhopal may not be the sparkling conurbation that gleams in the hours of darkness, the club and pub culture is steadily picking up. Being a comparatively quiet and peace-loving city, pubs, bars and discs are few and far between. Even the ones that exist close down latest by midnight. However, some high end hotels in the city house bars and nightclubs that remain open well past midnight. Whereas the young enthusiastic crowd of Bhopal can be seen partying and blazing up the dance floor, the not-so-young crowd prefers lolling on a low couch sipping premium liquor.

People are still not so open to this metro culture percolating into the city. Nightclubs mainly see tourists and groups who have shifted in from places like Delhi and Mumbai. “The nightlife culture is new and people of Bhopal don’t know how to behave in such an atmosphere. Many of them bring their children along post 7 pm and this creates a problem for us as we would be flouting the rules by allowing children in the pub. Most of them don’t understand our strict entry policy,” says Sahiba, owner of Ten Downing Street.

When asked about the 11 pm curfew, Deepak Soni of ‘Wild Ginger Pub & Bar’ says, “The police interfere beyond that time. We have license only till 11 pm and loud music creates a nuisance at night.”

The government is supportive of this shift in trend. “Running a nightclub is a process and if you adhere to the rules, it is not a difficult deal,” says Sahiba.

Nightclubs and Bars in the City

·        Ten Downing Street- DB Mall

·        Wild Ginger Pub & Bar- Vardhaman Mall, 10 no. market

·        The Ripples Bar- Lake View Ashok

·        Willing Don Bar- Noor-us-Sabah Palace

·        Shergar The Heritage Bar- Jehan Numa Palace

·        Tattenham Corner The Lounge Bar- Jehan Numa Palace

·        Crystal Room Bar- The Residency

·        Jhankar Discotheque- Amer Palace

Ten Downing Street Entry Policy

Couple entry- Rs. 600 cover charge

Stag entry- Rs. 1000 cover charge

Timing: 12:30 pm to 11 pm

The DJ plays live music as per the theme every night

Wild Ginger Pub & Bar

Live music by DJ Avinash Shinde in the party every Saturday night, with complementary drinks for everybody

Timing: Saturday 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm