This is the third gay dance club, (or fourth if you count Boots, which you don't), to open in Birmingham. It was launched in 2001, directly opposite The Nightingale, and was an immediate sensation slashing attendances at the other clubs, especially the 'gale, for about six months, until the 'gale fought back with a mega thousand pound refurbishment. As a result the Nightingale became the pre-eminent gay club in Birmingham a spot it has now earnt through hard work rather than by default through no competition.

Some months after the gale's re-launch, in October 2002, DV8 was sold to Mandy and Wayne, for a sum reported to be in excess of £600,000, and they have invested in some further improvements, including a more attention-grabbing exterior, a lounge refurb, and the new terrace.

DV8 tends to have a similar music policy to the 'gale, with two dance rooms and good chill-out space, recently expanded for the summer by the addition of a pleasant terrace. The emphasis is on pop/funky/trancey music and a fun atmosphere, and some outside promoters' events are due to start later in the year, including John Hamilton's tremendously popular northern event Poptastic, which has been running in Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.

The place has a nice feel to it when busy, and the main room, which has a large dancefloor has high ceilings giving it a generally airy feel. There's nothing cramped, underground or seedy about this place. Somewhere to strut your stuff to that disco beat. Yeah!

A bit smaller than the 'gale (though most places would be), it has the largest dancefloor of all the gay clubs, and is extremely popular on Thursdays , when they have a cheap drinks promotion, which is beginning to rival Subway City's in popularity, Sundays and Saturdays, though on the latter the place empties at 3pm for a massed exodus to Kudos.

The Battle of The Gay Clubs continues: Seconds out... Round Three!