Republic Nightclub Winnipeg Exclusive Review
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Update (October 6 2010):
Please Note: This Review Was Done April 17 2009. Republic Is Now 18+ Every Night.
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To Book You Birthday Or VIP Online At Republic Nightclub, Click HERE.
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Club Overview:
The latest addition to the Winnipeg Nightlife scene is Republic Nightclub located in the heart of the Exchange District at 291 Bannatyne (the old Exchange Event Centre). Republic is the latest offering to Winnipeg Nightlife by local entrepreneur Stephen Hua. Stephen is the owner of Soundwave Entertainment which has brought Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Cosmic Gate, Flo Rida, Z-Trip, Klaas, MSTRKFT and many more big name music acts to Winnipeg. With this kind of backing power behind it, Republic has gained a considerable amount of hype (much more so then other Winnipeg Nightclub openings).
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Republic is open to the public Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The club must commended for its top notch resident DJ line up which is without a doubt the strongest Winnipeg has to offer. The following is a breakdown of what Republic offers on each night of the week (taken from their website):
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WEDNESDAYS
with resident DJ FIN-S and THA COACH
Music : Hip Hop – House – Mashups
Age : 18+
Admission : $5 – FREE for students and hospitality!
Doors : 8pm
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THURSDAYS
with resident DJ HOLLYWOOD HYPE
Music : House – Electro – Funk – Mashups
Age : 18+
Admission : Free before 11pm, $5 after
Doors : 9pm
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FRIDAYS
with resident DJ D LO and DIGGS
Music : Hip Hop – R & B – House
Age : 21+
Admission : $5 before 1030pm, $10 after
Doors : 9pm
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SATURDAYS
with resident DJs DOW JONES
Music : House – Retro – Rock – Hip Hop
Age : 25+
Admission : $5 before 1030pm, $10 after
Doors : 9pm
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The 2 nights that draw most of the attention are EQ Thursdays and 25+ Saturdays. EQ Thursdays are finally bringing a strong option for those who want to do some serious partying on a Thursday night in Winnipeg. Thursdays feature House and Electro music mixed by DJ Hollywood Hype who also is a resident at Stereo Nightclub. Hollywood is a great DJ and this is sure to become one of the bars top nights. 25+ Saturdays mark the first 25+ bar night in Winnipeg. The concept has taken off in many other larger cities and only time will tell if it will take off in Winnipeg. In the mean time it is sure to provide mature customers a place where they can enjoy an evening with others within their age bracket.
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Review:
I attended Republic Nightclub on Thursday, April 9th for their “Rockin’ Republic” event (the Thursday before Good Friday which is apparently the busiest bar night of the year). Cover for the evening was $10 which is significantly more than their typical Thursday night. Looking at Republic’s website all of the cover charges seem reasonable (Saturday and Sunday include free coat check which is a nice bonus) and I can understand charging extra for cover on a night such as this.
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First and foremost the club must be congratulated on taking such a strong stand on security for its patrons. This is an issue that comes up whenever a new nightclub opens in Winnipeg especially when it is located downtown. There was plenty of security staff at the club and they all seemed to be doing their job well. The line (despite being very long) moved extremely fast and efficiently. The door staff was polite and helpful and security could even be seen surveying the crowd from a second level balcony overlooking the club. Republic has also taken some new and interesting security measures which include serving beer in cans rather than bottles (as bottles can more easily be used as a weapon) and banning clothing that depicts violence (such as Ed Hardy, Christian Audigier, Smet, Tap Out, Affliction).
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The club itself is very nicely finished and is definitely one of the top in Winnipeg in terms of attractiveness. There are 2 large rooms to the club which contain a total of 3 full service bars. There is a large stage in the main room overlooking a large dance floor. The sound system in the club is great and does not sound hollow or shaky one bit. Republic even went to the work to add there logo on all the table tops in the club to add that extra element of class. The side room featured what appeared to be a more temporary DJ booth overlooking a smaller dance floor and a number of seating booths. In the second room as well beside the bar there is a wall which looks like at one point was a large wine display case which now sits empty. It would be cool to see the club do something with this wall space.
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On the Thursday I attended the crowd seemed to be very diverse. There seemed to be all ages from 18 right up to 30 and even older represented in the club. The club also seemed very ethnically diverse. Everyone in the club seemed to be there to have a good time and I did not witness any fights or violent behaviour the whole night. It really seems like Republic would have something to offer anyone who is looking for a night out whether it be out of control dancing or a few drinks with friends in a booth.
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Overall I had a great night at Republic and would strongly recommend all of those looking for a good time to check it out. The only thing I think Republic could improve on is its bar organization. I bought a beer from each of the three bars in the club and am pretty sure I was told 3 different prices. The difference in price was minimal and I gave $5 each time regardless to cover the tip but this is still an issue. I also attempted to start a credit card tab with one of the bartenders and was shocked when the bartender said they could not do that. Hopefully this is something they are looking to implement in the future as the bar is still very new.
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This small detail does not even come close to overshadowing the upsides of Republic and I am sure that it will become a major player in the Winnipeg Nightlife Scene. A congratulations is definitely in order for all those behind Republic Nightclub.
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Please visit Republics website HERE for more details.
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I was thoroughly not impressed with this nightclub, the security at the door were very professional, but the security inside, were quite frankly so arrogant, and so unprofessional, they could have passed for gustapo!
Made for an very quick, unpleasant evening!
EEC was 10 times better and fun!!!!!!!! Whats with the line outside if theres barely people inside. Is it just to make it look more pretencios like TYC and Sterio. I think we have enough Canada Inn bars in this city. EEC was one of the only good bars where people whent to have fun and dance there ass of. Not just to act cool and pick up sluts.
Nah I’m just a big tool who doesnt know what im talking abuot. I luv slutssss….
This is the worst club I’ve been to in Winnipeg! Do you keep people outside to make it seem like anyone is inside – because as soon as you get through the arrogant staff at the front the club is empty! Not to mention there was some trashy girl dancing on stage in her underwear… are we serious? This club was ridiculous. A group of 5 of my girlfriends and I paid $10 bucks to walk in, look at the three people in the bar, saw the trashy girl and walked out. We asked for a refund which we were refused – now I get how they stay open, get people in the door and even if they only stay for thirty seconds keep their money.
We will forsure never go back – absolutely retarded experience. We walked to Whiskey’s, went through VIP and drank and danced all night – that was a bad customer service choice by Republic. Had they given us a refund we would have tried again on a different night – glad they saved $50 to never have us spend $100 each on drinks on weekends.
This bar sucks!!! We will never go back again. We just went for a friends birthday party.
WTF is with the 10 dollars charge? Does not include coat check. Coat check 2 dollars extra….if you can even find the coat check.
For two drinks we spent 9 dollars. If you have to go there get drunk at home first!!!!
It smells like a farm in the main area and barf. Its disgusting and humid and sweaty, they need circulation fans…it stinks. The washrooms are disgusting and dirty too.
WTF is with the line up, its winter and F-ing cold. We had to wait in line in the F-ing cold and pay 10 dollars to get into the stinky bar. I d rather go to the zoo….in assinaboine.
The only part that was fresh the house music area.
I will never go back and neither should you.
This bar was so totally rank!! it smelled like shit and everyone was ugly and stupid!! not to mention waste of money! DONT GO
THIS BAR IS A WASTE OF MONEY. First we (four friends and myself) waited in line for 20 minutes. When we got in, the venue was about half filled or less. The area by the bar smells like vomit and shit. The bathrooms were over-flowing, and the ones that were functional smelled horrible. The bartenders fill up your shot glasses about half way when they’re mixing your drinks, and they try to do it when you’re not looking. I had this happen to me, and asked for a new drink with an actual shot, but they refused. The girls who work the door are arrogant and rude. Security outside I found to be pleasant, but security inside treated everyone like they were nothing.
DO NOT GO! WORST CLUB IN WINNIPEG..!!
this bar fucking sucks!
Leave it to some stupid gook to open up another shithole in winnipeg … clothing that depicts violence … are u kidding me?? ok i’ll wear my lacoste shirt maybe that way i’ll apear less threatening. Sorry dude … i’ll gladly pay $8 for a drink in a real city like Vancouver but in Winnipeg no thanks I’d rather put gas in the snowmobile for that money … and hello it’s winter and your club is empty!!! let us in you arrogant pricks
I was looking for a place to go for drink tonight, Wednesday but after i read all the above negative comments this doesn’t seem to be a good place. What kind of nightclub is this…… that nobody had a good experience? $10 is not a big deal to some people but poor customer service definitely a big deal
holy shit i was going to go to this club this wesenday after the stereos cancert but fu@$k it now your rigth $10 dollars isn’t bad but i still wouldn’t go and shit in a smelly bar i would rather spend 50 and get what i came too the bar for…wow im disspointed now f#$ck
DO NOT EVER GO TO THIS BAR.
THEY FILL YOUR CUP WITH ICE, NO ALCOHOL.
IT TAKES FOREVER TO GET IN!
V.I.P IS BULL SHIT!
$10 COVER DOES NOT INCLUDE COAT CHECK!
THE GO-GO DANCERS ARE UGLY!
SECURITY ARE ASSHOLES!
THE SMOKING AREA IS IN A BACK ALLEY WITH LIGHTS THAT TURN OFF EVERY TWO SECONDS!!
THE BATHROOMS ARE GROSS, WITH WATER AND GARBAGE AND PUKE ALL OVER THE GROUND, NEVER GETTING CLEANED UP!!
THE FLOORS ARE STICKY!
IT STINKS LIKE PUKE IN AREAS!
I GOT CHARGED 4.50 FOR ONE DRINK AND 6.25 BY ANOTHER BARTENDER, FOR THE SAME DRINK!!!!
they DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT put enough alcohol in the glass. i started ordering drinks without ice.. cheap fucks!
I’VE BEEN HERE THREE TIMES NOW AND WILL NEVER GO BACK!!
MYSTIQUE IS TEN TIMES BETTER.
FUCK YOU REPUBLIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have to disagree with all that has been written above.
my friends and i have been going there for ages and have no plans to stop.
everyone is entitled to their opinions but i think the smart thing to do is independently investigate and then judge for yourself.
the fact is, if republic was near as awful as these people have made it to be, it wouldn’t be the busiest nightclub in winnipeg.
well im 18, and i’ve gotten in on both the 21+ and 25+ days, so that was nice…but it’s too crowded, and the people above are right, it does smell! I never noticed the alcohol being cut to short amounts, but all my drinks had way too much ice!! there was hardly anything in there, so i had to start ordering my drinks with no ice. The floor is pretty sticky which was gross, and the bathrooms were over-flowing on saturday when i was there too. The smoking area is in a back alley which is fucking scary cause there are no lights.. I’m not going to go back again, GO TO MYSTIQUE! it’s so much fun there!!!
Dow Jones on saturday is sick!! best music on a saturday in the city hands down. GOOD TIMES!!
Cody pettigrew, stephen hua…. You guys are fucking sexy. Let’s fuck now. Only reason I go to the club.
From :Emma
To :Angry
Republic is the best and the busiest club in winnipeg, uniting people from various countries in the world,your senceless words means nothing to republic, because their actions sounds louder than your words.LONG LIVE REPUBLIC!!!
Please, that place is all asian. “uniting people from various countries” lol, wtf is that? it’s a fucking club, not folklorama. i’ve never seen more asians in my life. and that’s not me being racist, i’m dating an asian, i’m just saying that the place is almost 80% asian…but also 80% vomit smelling money hungry tacky.
it’s expensive, and it smells bad… but dont worry, at least you’ll get “united” hahahaha.
I have gone to this bar a few times now and have been to pretty much every bar out there so can fairly explain this. Republic is a bar where you go with a group of friends not to meet people there like a lot of others out there. Republic does short the alcohol amount and is overpriced for their market. Long behold it is open still and remains strong so obviously some people like going there. I will say not to racial profile at all that everytime I have gone there the greater 90% of the people there were asian and very few other ethnicities. As for the wait line… I am not sure never had to wait longer then 5 minutes at the bar… if you show up after midnight… thats kinda your own fault I usually show around 11 and its pretty good to get in. There always will be people who hate this bar, but there are other bars that I dislike as well in this city, just have an open mind anytime you go to a new bar and bring friends! I would rate the bar a 6/10 though
This bar sucks!!
First,10 bucks for entrance is reallly expensive!!!and now they dont even include coat check.I remember my first time the coat check girl force me to pay her tips,otherwise she will just stand there,staring at me!!!holy shit!
Second,what?VIP entrance closed at 11?thats my fds who waiting outside told me….
Third,yea…ice more than alcohol….and they only have cans…no bottles…so expensive….!!!
Fourth,and its the most important point,the security is really reallly rude!and that is the main reason why I am not going back there ever ever,.!!!Maybe no one here willl believe me…but…I was not drunk and they forced me to leave…not even hear my explanation,they just pushed me out in the fu8king winter!!!minus 25 sth like that I guess…not even let me get my jacket first!holy crab!dont go there~
you are not the only nightclub in downtown!!
This club was used as a set for the movie ‘Faces in the Crowd’; back in May, 2010. I was one of the many extras involved in that sequence of filming.
On the final evening of the night-club scene filming, the club resumed business hours and re-opened to its regular patronage. I can tell you right now I will never be among them. Asian guys dressed in gang-like garb? These were not my people!
What was interesting is the same night the club resumed its regular hours, the few patrons who showed up were eyeing us because we were all dressed very sharp for the filming.
Guess they weren’t accustomed to seeing such classy-looking people in their favourite gang-sty.
Hello! To all who think that republic is an asian filled club, its true, but whats wrong with that? Winnipeg has immigration that dates back to the 70′s and 80′s. This is because of modern day slavery, companies like Tanjay migrated Asian workers to work in the factories.
So thank us for boosting your economy and serving you coffee in the morning =D
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