Lost Horizon Arts Centre & Bar — Attraction in Bristol

Bristol’s The Lost Horizon proved to be the perfect setting for a night of slutty metal, with a lineup that packed the kind of punch you’d expect from bands ranging from promising up-and-comers to seasoned headliners. However, the venue itself came with a few quirks worth noting before we get to the music.

First impressions? A bit of a mixed bag. The Lost Horizon was easy to find, conveniently close to Cabot Circus car park, and generally accessible. The lighting deserves a special mention—sharp, atmospheric, and perfectly in tune with the music on offer. Add in some scented smoke for that immersive touch, and you’ve got a venue that knows how to set a scene. The sound quality was solid throughout, with every breakdown and riff clear as can be, admittedly we were close to the stage so the sound was poor in comparison to those closer to the sound desk. Toilets were surprisingly clean (for a metal gig), though the heating seemed to be reserved solely for that space, leaving the rest of the venue distinctly chilly. The young crowd brought an emotional kind of energy and to my surprise, a lot more females than I expected, but let’s address the elephant in the room: a blonde barkeep with the demeanour of a brick wall. Come on, we’re all here for a good time, don’t be a dickhead. Still, the rapid set changeovers kept the night flowing, and the overall vibe of the place leaned more toward the positive than...

It has an interesting range of music, selected by promoters (I believe). I last saw Nigerian afrobeat from Chile (Newen Afrobeat). It's a former warehouse for a car parts distributor, so don't expect a sprung dance floor, and it has a shabby unwelcoming exterior - but it's the music that counts. You've got to be near the stage for a good view, as they often have lights beaming outwards towards the audience (and a smoke machine) and at the rear of the venue that guarantees that your view is blurry. There's a small raised area at the back, which offers a better viewpoint of the stage (rather than the back of people’s heads), but with the same visual quality. I'm not too keen on the beer, but I don't chug it like I used to, so one does me. They will usually have an external caterer - the Jamaican food has always been prompt and delicious. Last time they had Tex-Mex, and my order took way too long and was disappointing. Still, it's all about the music for me, and if I like the band, I...

Not sure about security here. Asked to empty bottle of water before entry, my friend did so and as the water splashed on the floor a drop splashed toward security and landed on his black trainers. Security guard had a meltdown, accused us of pouring it at him and refused us entry. In my opinion it was a a massive power trip for him as he looked a little bored when we arrived (not off our heads by the way, like many in the club). I spoke to another guard who agreed it was a little ridiculous but said they would stand by the security guard who made the allegation as they didn't see the incident. I asked to speak to venue/event manager. Who was polite and could understand the frustration but refused to help in any way as security are there maintain the safety of the event, and they respected their decision. Half of our friends had gone in ahead of us so it was a shame to end the night this way. Due to my only experience of the venue being this, I will not...