The Sanctuary

I’ve had mixed feelings on this place ever since my first visit — it really is a hit and miss venue. On various club nights I’ve experienced huge toilet queues only to find flooded toilets, tills breaking down at the bar causing havoc and various fights with door staff (not me personally, I might add!) However, on other occasions I’ve had a fab time. The place has been bursting at the seams and this just adds to a great night out!
The venue itself is lacking a bit of TLC, which is a same because it seems like it could be something really special if someone took the time to do it up! It’s a huge building split over several floors, so expect to lose your mates if your get too drunk!
It’s about a ten minute walk from the city centre, but buses and taxi’s stop by all night so transport is never really a problem.
Drinks are cheap and cheerful here — expect a watered down pint rather than a glass of Chardonnay!

I’ve been going to this venue on and off since 1991 when it was known as THE INSTITUTE. Back then it was one of the best venues in the midlands.
But sadly now, due to bad management it is a shadow of its former self. Problems include: Rude aggressive door staff, rude bar staff, expensive warm drinks, crap sound system (especially in the smaller rooms) flooded toilets (after about 3am you need wellies, no joke!) and other issue’s due to lack of maintenance.
I’m sure many people have a great night, but you can have a great night anywhere with plenty of drink, drugs and decent music! I think it’s a bit ignorant to say that THE SANCTUARY is a great venue. I’m sure now the QUE CLUB has re-​opened many promoters will host their nights there, and this will lead to the current owners/​management doing something about the many problems the venue has.
Hopefully one day the place will be restored back to its former glory…
Below is some footage from pandemonium way back in 93, featuring Grooverider & MC Lenni… Enjoy!
Video link:

I’d beg to differ with the previous review, as if you know what to expect at the Sanctuary, you can have a real good night out.
Ok it is a bit worse for wear nowadays, and arguably in desperate need of a refurb, but its one of the more traditional nights out in the clubbing world of Birmingham. Honestly you won’t find a club like it, it’s like the haunted house! There are many floors, many rooms, catering for all different tastes of music.
A more rocker clientelle come here, no dress code (within reason), and very cheap drinks (£1 shots etc), with lots of promos. Therefore its unsurprising that it attracts a lot of students, but it can be a great night out, and a cheap one at that!

The Sanctuary must be one of the biggest clubs in the city. Not only the biggest, but one of the most interesting. A former church, there are so many levels, nooks and crannies in this place it can sometimes feel more like a maze than a night club. And incredible building, with multiple rooms and staircases, try and designate a meeting spot if you lose your mates.
Because of the magic of the venue, many many artists from all walks of life use The Sanctuary. Aside from the special events such as the Drop Beats not Bombs collective, most music will be dancetastic. Hard house, trance, techno/​happy hardcore. You have to dance, and you have to dance hard. If you’re not in fluoro or fluoro face paints you might stand out!
Expect to be in here til the sun comes up.

The custard factory is one of the best clubs I’ve been too. It’s so big, it’s unreal. There must be around 5 floors of action here, and you can’t really fail to have a good time. We went with a big gang, and ended up getting home after it was light, via some bar that was still open in the city centre. Life-​changing. Sort of.
**UPDATE — I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the custard factory I was talking about at all, but actually The Sanctuary. So I moved it.