Thompsons Garage

so good; the mid week vibes are unreal, so chilled and slightly mental at the same time

Zane Lowe was playing a DJ set at Thompsons. While trying to get tickets, I asked a passer by where Thompsons was and he replied «It’s down there, but don’t bother it’s sh… engus anyway.» And it seems that lots of other people think this too.
Maybe it was Zane Lowe and his set; I don’t know if it maybe brought in a slightly different crowd, but I had a great night. The drinks were pretty cheap and there is a great little rooftop smoking area. I danced like a retarded monkey ’til the wee hours and left feeling drunk but happy. Getting a taxi home was quick and easy, since Thompson’s is next to City Hall and the centre of things.
I didn’t see any trouble, but I don’t think I’d go out my way to go to Thompson’s on a regular night. It was cramped and a little pongy, but I was all over Zane Lowe (his music people, just his music) like a big dirty rash, so much that I didn’t care.

Hmm…
To be polite, it is a public house… that erm… may not welcome everyone as much as say a church would.
To be truthful, it is an expensive, potentially dangerous mix of frightening atmosphere, a lot of alcohol and some loud music. People come here as the «will we go out or go home… sure we’ll head to Thompsons» part of the night.
And sadly that happened to me the whole once. And I remember it, because I found every word I said watched by about 5 people who all looked like they had seen Die Hard one too many times.
Some people love this place, so perhaps it works better the more you come to it, because the people who I’m sure were watching me were also having a really good time. Maybe they were regulars and they knew they how to enjoy themselves. I will read the manual before the next time I go because to me it just seemed like a cocktail of alcohol and intimidation which is not within the Church’s teaching.
Perhaps these people don’t go to church. Maybe Thompsons is their church. In which case… Wait I’m getting into a theoretical argument with myself.
It is fine in the same way punching blind kittens is fine. Not for me but some people somewhere do like it.

Thompson’s is a banging hot-​spot. Good music til the wee hours of the morning, but I like a drink with my music and, sadly, the antiquated laws in Belfast make this an impossibility here.
The drink isn’t cheap, and if you get there anytime approaching 1a.m., you’re likely yo be queueing at the door for a bit and then at the bar, especially at the weekends.
That being said, if you’re someone who enjoys that sort of music and has no problem dancing til 3 a.m. with no alcohol, then this is the spot for you. Always a great atmosphere here, and once you’ve been once or twice you’ll probably find yourself making this part of your routine — out for a few drinks somewhere, then round to Thompson’s at 11:30 p.m. or so to ensure getting in before the crowds and in time to get a few drinks before the bar shuts at 1a.m.

Thompson’s is a quite nice place as a club venue. It’s simple and not confusing or set up in any kind of strange way. That means that if you get good music, the right music for you, there are no complications or anything to prevent you from enjoying it very much.
I know Thompsons, the Belfast club, used to be much ‘cooler’ than it is these days, but there seems to be still good nights there. It’s not the cool, quite underground club it once was there are nights when it is an old stlye disco knees-​up place, so watch out if that’s not what you want.
I can’t fault the venue much except that there could be more seats, so arrive early if you want to sit down somewhere. Drinks aren’t too expensive, the entry price is generally a good price, and it’s pleasant enough place. It’s not a large club, which usually suits me better if the music is to my taste.
I can’t give much more indications about Thompsons as I’ve hardly been there, but keep meaning to go back.
Though, I should say a bit more about old style disco knees-​ups (fine, I guess, if that’s what you like, I just wouldn’t have associated that with Thompsons years ago). I went on a Monday or Tuesday night (can’t remember which) after the summer ’08 Bjork concert in The Waterfront Hall. The club was advertised as just a general, random selection, no theme like ‘house’ or ‘soul’ etc. I went in early when there was no one else there yet, and the D.J. was playing astonishingly amazing old rarely heard house music instrumental classics — kind of ambient tinged house. I was really pleased to go then, and I really appreciated that. But it wasn’t long before the very young, new House of Fraser staff arrived for a staff outing. The night quickly became the trashiest caricature disco I’ve ever been to — the music was ‘High School Musical’, then ‘Dancing Queen’. I think the D.J. even played ‘Let’s do The Time-​Warp’ and disco hits like it, maybe even ‘Agadoo’ (I can’t remember). And that was it, all night. The large House of Fraser party made the club nearly full and they were all going absolutely wild for this. They went nuts for this music all night.
Hmmm, not what I was looking for. More Mecca that you’d ever find. Still you can find ‘house’ nights and so on, I haven’t been to any for a long while, but I hope to find a good night.

when this plae first opened about 5 or 6 years ago, it really brought the hip hop scene to life in belfast, but since then they have let themselves slip. a lot of people i know use to go hear all night but now that they havent kept up the same standards most times we just go here after the other clubs have closed because it is open later. although they do not have a late night drinking license which is a bit rubbish, i think the bar closes completely at 2am but the club and music stay on. there is a good mix of people in here and it is a bit trenby on saturday nights, well not so much now but a couple of years ago.

Thomspons is good to go to after the other bars shut. Otherwise its simply boring. It can also get overcrowded, though there is a nice crowd. Definitely worth a visit, but only after a few drinks.

Thompsons is an institution! They do different generes depending on the night. It’s quite a small club, but late night and usually full of interesting people. It can be hard to find if you don’t know it’s there as it’s down a side street.
Worth a visit, but check out the website to see what’s on