Saint Luke's NYE Party

Saint Luke's is hosting its annual Hogmanay party on Thursday 31 December, and it's one of the few spots in the city that lets you settle in for the whole night. The venue is Saint Luke's and the Winged Ox, over at 17 Bain Street in the East End, and the evening follows a familiar pattern: it kicks off with live music from the house band, and once they've finished, the DJs take over to keep things going well into the wee hours. If you're looking for a single place to see the year out without having to navigate a few different venues across town, this is a straightforward way to do it.

It's worth knowing what kind of place Saint Luke's is if you haven't spent much time there. It's a multipurpose music and arts venue with a trendy bar and restaurant, live entertainment, and function facilities. It's hosted a fair few high-profile acts over the years — names like Beth Orton, Margaret Glaspy, Graham Gouldman, Teenage Fanclub, Hugh Cornwell, and Tony Christie have all played here. That gives you a rough idea of the room: it's built for live music, and it's used to hosting proper gigs rather than just background noise.

The Hogmanay party is the venue's annual tradition, and the format stays the same year on year. The house band handles the early part of the night, and the DJs take over from there, so you get a live start that transitions into a dancefloor for the rest of the evening. It's a long night, and the DJs are there to see you through to the other side of midnight and beyond.

So, if you're sorting your New Year's Eve plans, keep Saint Luke's and the Winged Ox at 17 Bain Street in the East End on your list for Thursday 31 December. It's a single venue for the whole night, starting with the house band and continuing with DJs into the early hours.