Dude Ranch

If you’re looking to revisit the sounds of the early 2000s and late 90s, the legendary club night Dude Ranch is making its return to one of Brighton’s most reliable grassroots venues. This event is set to take over The Hope & Ruin on Saturday, January 31, 2026, offering a deep dive into the nostalgia of Emo, Pop Punk, Ska Punk, and Nu Metal.

The Hope & Ruin, located at 11 Queens Road, is a fitting spot for this kind of throwback event, known for supporting independent music and maintaining a unique local atmosphere. For those unfamiliar with the venue, it’s worth noting that the entire bar menu is plant-based, complementing the vegan fast food available from Beelzebab, which operates right out of a caravan inside the pub. It’s a spot that keeps things local and straightforward, even being dog-friendly during regular hours, though perhaps less so when the moshpit classics start playing.

Dude Ranch promises a playlist packed with hits designed for intense partying. You can expect to hear tracks from the heavy hitters that defined the era, including My Chemical Romance, Blink-182, Paramore, and Fall Out Boy on the Emo/Pop Punk side, alongside the heavier sounds of Nu Metal from bands like Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, System of a Down, and Slipknot. They also mix in Ska Punk classics from groups like Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake, ensuring a broad range of music from the genres that dominated alternative radio two decades ago.

For those planning to attend, the night kicks off at 9:00 PM and runs until 2:00 AM the following morning. The best part for a Saturday night out is the access: entry to Dude Ranch is completely FREE. However, since this is a club night focused on adult nostalgia, it operates under a strict 18+ policy, so make sure to have your ID ready. It’s a straightforward, no-frills night dedicated entirely to reliving those high school and college anthems.