Bristol is filled with great date places where you can fan the flames of romance and sweep your special someone off his or her feet.

Browns on Queen's Road is one such venue and features al fresco dining. You can have a rollicking good time here with your date or, if you are so inclined, you may choose to check out this place for a potential partner. Their wine list is impressive and features over 30 fine selections as well as a number of specialty beers.

For an extra special date, try out the super-stylish Byzantium on Portwall Lane. Its Casbah restaurant offers many culinary delights while the bar area is an excellent place to relax and chill out. The crowd is always well dressed and the mood is exhilarating.

Theatre lovers will enjoy Cast on St Augustine’s Parade, the Bristol Hippodrome's incorporated bar. Theatre actors and actresses love to hang out here  (as do directors and producers)and rub elbows with the ordinary folk.

If you're single and looking, why not try speed dating so you can have a broad range of options, since you only have to spend five minutes with each "date" and get to meet dozens of people in an hour or two. The Pitcher and Piano on Canons Road is such a place. The environment is warm and friendly and so are the people. Who knows? This may be where you discover the man or woman of your dreams.

For the older singles who are still looking, there are two excellent venues that are tailor-made for you: the Bristol Active Social Club and the Bristol and Bath IVC. In addition, Bristol has many supper clubs and rotary clubs that you might want to give a whirl.

For a fun date in a venue of class and elegance, Babushka on Whiteladies Road is the place to visit. The venue offers several games that couples can enjoy together such as arcade machines and table football. There are deep and comfortable sofas in the bar area where you can snuggle and whisper in each other's ears. The menu lists several bar snacks and a many fine delights.

For those certified party animals looking for a place that mirrors their mood, Bristol's many bars may be just what the doctor ordered. There's always a bar to satisfy what you crave for, whether you want to party in casual jeans or designer wear.

Several chic and modern bars and restaurants line Clifton and Southville and there are also a few traditional establishments around. For students and the younger crowd, head to Baldwin Street and Broad Street right in the heart of Bristol's city centre to hangout with your generation.

Nowadays, one of the hottest clubs in the city is 139 North Street. Yes, that's the name of the club and not just its address. A brainchild of club mogul Andy McCarthy, this club has won two of the region's prestigious "Venue of the Year" awards. It succeeds other famous Bristol clubs such as The Farm and Cadbury House. At 139 North Street, resident DJs always have the place jumping with their hot tunes. It’s an excellent venue for getting your fill of pizza and beer.

Meanwhile, if you enjoy a venue with a sizzling hot DJ, check out Arc on Broad Street where many of Bristol's rising young DJs can be found. Arc has a well-founded reputation for its imaginative use of electronic arts. The music here is always lively and sometimes surprising. It’s anyone’s guess what type of music or performance will take to the decks.

Bar Humbug on Whiteladies Road is a drinking place that serves exceptional cuisine, such as genuine and original Moroccan delights. Their extensive wine list features dozens of cocktails and many fine wines and other spirits.

For a double date or a night on the town with the gang, Henry Africa’s Hot House on Whiteladies Road does not disappoint. This is the place for hard partying in style. Their wine list is huge and their food delectable. Henry's has been around for over 15 years and is credited by many as one major reason why Whiteladies Road has become one of the city's premier party venues.

The gay community can also have a rollicking good time in Bristol, especially since there are many establishments that cater to their particular lifestyle. One of the most famous of these venues is The Elephant on St. Nicholas Street, the city's oldest gay pub. Meanwhile, for more serious partying, the venue of choice is The Queen’s Shilling on Frogmore Street, the city's unofficial centre of the gay scene that's open seven nights a week. The dance floor is always crowded and the music, mostly popular chart and pop classics, is always hot. A little further down of Frogmore Street is another popular gay hangout called Vibes and it's a huge venue with two bars and a big dance floor.