The Open Guide to Cambridge

Club just off Corn Exchange Street by the back entrance to Lion Yard. Main club nights seem to be Renacimento (international student party), Secret Discotheque (student night), TheGetDown (hip hop to RnB), Instinct DJC (hip hop, RnB, Soul, Funk) and Suburbanite (?). In addition they often have small bands playing - October 2007 sees the Rumble Strips and previous bands have included The Crimea, Bromheads Jacket and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly. The bands are crammed into a really quite tiny space, immediately adjacent to the dance floor, which means you're really up close and personal with the band, although it can seem very dead if the crowd isn't big enough. The Soul Tree has also played host to several after-show parties for gigs at the Corn Exchange next door.

The main dance area has quite a crisp clean modern decor, with plenty of space around the actual dance floor to chill out and have a chat with friends. The DJ booth has a rather nice wall of glass bricks which is lit from behind with rainbow lights. The rather sleek bar serves a fairly continental selection of lagers and bottled beers, along with quite an extensive shelf of spirits. It's not the cheapest venue in town but does usually have something on promotion - and getting served can be a bit slow when it's busy. Upstairs is a balcony floor with a second bar and comfortable cube-shaped leather stools. And the top floor is the Penthouse and has a separate sound system and dance area, although this is seldom used. It is however available for private hire, allowing you to have a party for your friends and bring your own DJ. Downstairs and separate from the rest of the club venue is a bar which is open during the day, and has fairly nice food, mostly in the form of quality burgers.

If they had a really good indie night more often they'd be almost perfect and I doubt I'd go anywhere else.