Solus

Obviously very popular with the students, Solus gets incredibly busy on some night and queues are more than likely. The range of themed nights guarantees a revolving door of student interest (variety being the spice of student life).
For a union, the guest list of DJ’s is impressive and it’s known as one of the best unions in the UK. This word of mouth thing really pays off because people will talk.
The limits are obvious as most of the music is chart/​club/​dance so those looking for something else will have to brave the sweaty lands of Metros. The cheap drinks keep flowing and there always seem to be people dressed up as smurfs or cavemen.
I’m not sure I understand students any more. Did I used to do that? Still, it looks like everyone has a lot of fun and the atmosphere is usually pretty good. That’s definitely something that can be said for students; they’re out to have a good time.

I am going to be really biased on this one afraid, having been a Cardiff University student for the past 3 years, naturally I love it and have experienced all the club nights on offer.
This year we see the club nights are pretty much the same as last year, with Monday being Fun Factory, Wednesday being The lash, Friday being Boombox and Saturday being Comeplay. Comeplay is the only one of these nights which is not strictly for students and you will find a mix of people here on this night and music for all.
Fun factory and Boombox offer similar music, very indie orientated, mixed in with some dance classics. Boombox can offer a nifty DJ however, giving you more beats to shake your thang to. The lash is strictly pop and dance classics, mainly attended by sports socials dressed up as pirates and frogs — you get my drift.
Prices as expected are cheap, the décor is well… dark as expected and the floors will be swimming with this kind of black, boozey liquid that is attracted to your clothing. Despite this, you will always find me here, I don’t care that I’m not a student anymore, I will find a way!

‘Solus’ (Welsh for ‘nightclub’) is the Students’ Union in-​house nightclub, hugely popular on just about every night of the week.
Each nights has its own theme and musical slant, from Monday’s ‘Fun Factory’ alternative night to the more mainstream and very drunken Wednesdays known as ‘The Lash’, which attract lots of pint-​swilling rugby players and other university sports clubs and teams. At the weekends, Boom Box takes over on Fridays with indie, dance music and pop while Saturday nights focus on chart music with ‘Comeplay’.
It’s a big club with a capacity of up to 2,200 — and on some nights they even link up the (usually separate) Taf bar and the Solus nightclub to create a superclub with a capacity of 4,000, making it the biggest club in the city!
While at some universities the Students’ Union loses out in popularity to more sophisticated clubs in town, Cardiff’s Solus club has huge appeal for its students. It’s a big club with well-​marketed nights throughout the week; it’s fantastic for socialising and meeting fellow students; and the bars serve up reasonably priced drinks.

Solus is Cardiff University’s nightclub. It’s a slightly awkward one to review because there are different styles of music and different crowds of people on various nights.
Monday: Fun Factory — probably one of the lowest turnouts every week to this night (though that’s not to say that it’s empty, by any stretch of the imagination). The music here is — slightly — alternative. If bands play, it’s often on a Monday night, before Fun Factory itself kicks in. The smaller crowd means that the bars are easily accessible and I always have a great night.
Wednesday: The Lash is the new night here, after SInBin died a quite painful death towards the end of last year. It is always RAMMED with sports teams so make sure you’re prepared for that. Also, the mix of alcohol and drunk men means you have to be quite on your guard if you’re female and… no, just female. The music is mainstream.
Friday: Boombox is somehow a let down. I don’t know whether it’s just because you expect a big night but it somehow is never quite as much fun as…
Saturday: Come Play — THE biggest night at the union. Definitely don’t go if you aren’t feeling up for it because you will be pushed and shoved and probably have a drink spilled on you. Nonetheless, I always have a good time and would recommend it. If you decide to go, though, get tickets in advance because it always sells out.
Prices — are roughly around £3.50 for a cardiff student and £4 for a non-​student, though fun factory is free.

Solus bar is my favourite of the Cardiff University Student Union venues because of it’s great quirky layout. At the centre there’s a slightly lower level dance area (or room for a very large mosh pit at gigs). On the main level there are semi circular seating areas which are great to cram into. And pretty much wherever you are you’re going to have a good view of the stage (or the dancefloor depending on who you want to watch).
The student union has built up a great reputation for hosting club nights and booking well respected bands and the ticket prices offer excellent value for money. The bar is well stocked and the pricing is very competitive.

The memory I have taken with me from Solus is my grazed knee from the steps outside this dodgy looking venue, but students these days will go in anywhere that has cheap drinks and a rock ‘n’ roll night! Great atmosphere and some of the best nights of your student like could be had at Solus! So grab a drink, find your friends, and dance to some of the good old chart music