Southampton's best nightlife venues according to TripAdvisor

Five top spots have been lauded as the best venues on TripAdvisor, with some garnering thousands of reviews.

The Dark Arts Bar and Elusion Escape Rooms currently sits first in the "nightlife" category, with over 1,700 five star reviews.

User Emijona called the experience at Dark Arts "spellbinding fun", praising the atmosphere and quality of cocktails.

One of the potion cocktails at Dark Arts Bar and Elusion Escape Rooms. (Image: Newsquest) Emijona said: "The themed puzzles were so much fun, cauldrons and cloaks galore, and the hosts were so friendly. Should out to Pick, Drew and the bar gremlin for making it such a fun and personal experience."

Listed second is 1st Base, which has the UK's first interactive baseball batting cage with ball tracking technology.

A big group enjoying themselves at the American-themed 1st Base. (Image: 1st Base) Real balls are pitched at customers, who then have their strikes tracked by the same sensors used in the MLB.

User redfraggle said on TripAdvisor: "Really enjoyed our time here today with our two teens.

"The host was brilliant and charming and friendly; explained everything really well and was a lovely relaxed atmosphere."

Crib comes in third on TripAdvisor's "nightlife" category and is a cocktail bar themed as a manor house.

Cocktails at Crib. The venue has shuffleboard tables and two-for-£10 cocktails, which user Danny C praised in particular, saying there is no other cocktail bar "like this".

Danny C said: "I would recommend coming to this place 100% the bar stuff are amazing. The club itself is unique."

Bring and Mix on Upper Bannister Street ranked highly on TripAdvisor, with multiple reviewers calling the cocktail bar a "hidden gem".

A cocktail from Bring and Mix. (Image: Tripadvisor) The venue claims to have Southampton's most unique cocktails which are created tableside by "mixologists".

User Hopkin0012 said: "Incredible experience, would recommend to all for a unique night out. Fantastic bartenders who came up with unusual concoctions we’d never tried before."

Band The Sherlocks playing The 1865. Next on the list is music venue The 1865, which boasts a stage and dance floor and hosts a variety of live bands, DJ sets and comedy nights.

User Alex G had nothing but praise for the staff working during his gig, calling them "absolutely amazing".

Alex G said: "Staff were absolutely amazing last night, accessibility was top notch and the venue was great , ended up needing to be in the balcony and staff sorted this quickly and were super nice the whole time , turned what could have been a real shame into a great night."