Arc was never a bad club – lots of little corners to get lost in – but could lack a focus point when a little empty. Whoever saw the potential for this redesign needs a real pat on the back though. With a great team in place – mostly the Audio old guard – Life is already firing on most of its cylinders. A great lighting concept that includes being in a Battlestar Galactica (70s edition) runway, a massive mirrorball, windows that look out over the sea and an outside bar – really, what’s not to like? Sensibly the new bosses have kept Saturday nights as Hold Up, one of the busiest and best indie nights in Brighton. But what to match it up with? Fridays at Arc have been through a lot of guises since Candy left but seemingly taking a left out of Arc/Life’s successful Saturday night, things have been kept about the music rather than name DJs. Daft Life is a “sons of Daft Punk” electro house fest that stays on the quirkier end of 4/4. So you get Boy 8-Bit rather than David Guetta, and Dave Parr and Willerby DJing instead of some flash in the pan. The choice of residents over guests – particularly with that quality – should mean that night will gain its own personality. Already people were ready to be teased with brand new obscurities they didn’t know – and when the odd old favourite was dropped they went crazy. At four or five quid the price isn’t daft either.

DAFT LIFE, Fridays

PHOTO BY JAMES KENDALL