Rewind a few years and clubbing in Phuket was in a dire state. There was nothing but pop and cheesy techno, along with clubs playing local rock and country music. Times have changed, and visitors to Phuket now have a far superior choice of clubs to select from, and nowhere does it better than Club Lime in Patong.
What Phuket was missing for a long time was a venue championing the finer sounds of dance music. It was possible to hear zany chipmunk techno music, but for something with a little more soul, you had to look to Bangkok or else outside of Thailand. There are currently a small group of DJs in Phuket who have been steadily helping to build a vibrant clubbing scene in Phuket.
Club Lime first opened its doors a couple of years ago. The club had style and was a far cry from the typical beer bars and cheesy discos that Phuket is famous for. Club Lime was more like the type of venue you could find in England or America. It had the drinks prices to match, but it was difficult to complain because of the music policy.
From the beginning, the people behind Club Lime made a point to book serious DJs with a passion for the music they were playing. DJs such as Eddy and D[r]eadmongey rose to fame at Club Lime, playing everything from house to techno. But Club Lime didn’t stop there. Every week it was possible to hear breaks, electro and even drum n bass.
What has helped cement Club Lime’s reputation has been the string of quality DJs booked to play from overseas. These include everyone from Barry Ashworth and Jo Mills to Kraft Kuts and Inland Knights. These were DJs that might previously have played Koh Samui, but nobody was interested in bringing them Phuket.
The only problem that Club Lime has come across has been attracting a steady crowd of people on quieter nights. On the weekends the club has almost always been full, but during the week, except for the occasional group of tourists, numbers are usually no more than 20 or so.
The same, however, can be said of many clubs in Bangkok. It takes a big night to get people to make the effort. Club Lime is still one of Phuket’s most enjoyable night spots and one only hopes that it continues to be so.
