ALiVE Recordings label boss Tom Budden in the building! Stepping up for the latest edition of Select Cuts, the Southampton DJ and producer lays an immaculate sixty minute exclusive tape. What’s more, he taken the time out from his busy schedule to run us through his favourite hangouts in his home town. You can check out his brand new EP on High Tide Recordings 🙂

1. The Orange Rooms

One of the longest running bars in Southampton, they recently had their 16th birthday and I’ve been going there for most of those 16 years. It’s a cool bar that has a really good selection of drinks, cocktails etc. They serve food in the day so its a mellow place to get some lunch. By night it works for all kinds of music and has some smaller rooms that we’ve used for a lot of parties over the years.

2. Mettricks

Definitely the best place for coffee around here with three branches across town. They know their stuff when it comes to tea & coffee and serve up a mean brunch too (mmm pancakes). The lunch menu isn’t bad either! It doubles up as a bar in the evening serving wine and local real ales. They’ll occasionally do music events with local bands and musicians.

3. The New Forest

Ok, this isn’t in Southampton, but as far as hangouts go, we’re really lucky to have this National Park on our doorstep. Great for long walks and cycling. Theres a ton of country pubs to spend an afternoon with a few beers and good food. The Royal Oak in Fritham is probably my favourite.

4. 7 Bone Burger Co.

I’m generally pretty healthy when it comes to food but every now and again I’ll go ‘all out’ and treat myself.. this is the best place to go for a burger (or ‘dirty sexy burgers’ as they like to call them!).

5. Junk & Switch

I couldn’t pick between them, but these are the only two clubs in Southampton worth going to when it comes to house and techno (apart from High Tide of course, but they do Boat, Garden parties and Pop-Up parties. so not really a hangout as such.) Junk have been bringing guys like Skream, Eats Everything and loads of underground talent for years. Switch is bigger and offers a wider selection, they even had Sven Vath recently, which is pretty incredible for Southampton.

Follow: Tom Budden