Around the UK in 80 Venues: Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

Location: Masonic Place, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, NG1 5JT

Website: http://www.rescuerooms.com/

Capacity: 480 (plus 100 in the Red Room)

Come to see: Anton Lockwood, promotions director for the DHP Group says: "[It's a] great venue hosting the most exciting bands around in an intimate setting - so good that bands like Razorlight, Bloc Party, Babyshambles and many more chose it to try out their new albums. A fantastic bar with different DJs in the week promising a good time and the stars who've just played Rescue Rooms and Rock City hanging for a beer." The venue tends to fill the gaps between the Radio 1 bands that'll play the Arena or Rock City, and the emerging and obscure who are billeted at the Bodega (formerly the Social). Think the Zane Lowe/6 Music playlists. Independence dominates the Nottingham scene -- the city is far enough removed from the major cities to create its own fads, with a large enough population that exciting bands like Late of the Pier, Lords, and I Was a Cub Scout (RIP) can emerge. The big student population gives them an added boost, meaning the Rescue Rooms regularly sells out, particularly when a low key/secret /intimate gig happens.

The atmosphere: Nottingham's hipster scene can often be seen laid up in the attached bar, or occupying the tables outside the venue, but tend to steer clear of actually attending any gigs. The venue itself is high ceilinged, and (unusually) much narrower than it is long. On the official website the venue describes itself as 'relaxed'. For sold-out gigs it all gets pretty sweaty and intimate. Fortunately, the balcony allows the elderly and infirm to get a bit of breathing space. Wherever you stand, you'll still be able to take advantage of Rescue Rooms' great soundsystem. The venue attracts a good mix of locals, but tends to be dominated by the kids from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent. They help keep the city vibrant, whatever the locals say.

You saw them here first: Jamie T played a rammed out gig in late 2006, while Brits winner Ellie Goulding is soon to return (after a gig last autumn) with her electropop thing. Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors both visited before their recent albums saw them win armfuls of plaudits.

Claim to fame: The Rescue Rooms opened in February 2003 on the site of a former sports bar, and took its name from an Echo and the Bunnymen song. The Libertines playing the first big gig at the new venue. Reviewing the gig for efestivals.co.uk, Luke Seagrave said, "Elbows, heads, legs and every other body part were flying past us in the mayhem - and that's how it stayed throughout the entire set. This was a fast-paced, no time to catch your breath type of gig." And Pete Doherty turned up and everything...

You should also know: On (most) Saturdays Rescue Rooms, and the neighbouring club Stealth, open up the connecting doors between the two, for the sensibly-named behemoth 'Stealth vs Rescued.' It's the only real option on a Saturday unless you like trance, cheese or hip hop. Other regular nights include 'MC Hammered', the 'Rescue Rooms Pub Quiz,' and upstairs in the more intimate 100-capacity Red Room, 'My Milkman Has AIDS.'

Booking now: These New Puritans, The Futureheads, Mark Lanegan, Turin Brakes, New Young Pony Club, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Does It Offend You Yeah? and Band Of Skulls.