Ring Road Ibadan Is Now New Hub Of Night Clubs As Several Hangouts & Lounge Spring Up
The Entertainment business in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, has tremendously improved in recent time. It keeps growing and getting better by the day. In fact, gone are the days where one would find it difficult getting a place to hangout or relax. The sector has been opened up, giving chances for new players while the established ones are striving to be better to meet up with the new trends and what have you.
And this is not pertaining to the night club business alone, it cuts across hotel, bar, lounge, restaurants etc. The improvement has even, one way or the other, had positive effect on music industry of the state and the capital in particular; both performing acts (Hip hop, Fuji, Juju and highlife) as well as other stakeholders in the industry have since repackaged and now making good money and at the same time competing favourably with their counterparts across the country.
Though this boom had been predicted years back by some entertainment gurus about Ibadan, being the bedrock of the sector back in the olden days.
But not many would have expected the total turnaround, at least not this soon, giving the way Ibadan was deserted by many as far as entertainment is concerned. Some, before now, viewed Ibadan as a kind of dry zone for ambitious persons in the showbiz industry.
Thank God the story has changed and many people, even from Lagos, now want to stage one show or the other in Ibadan.
A branch of the entertainment sector that is however benefiting immensely from the boom are Night Club, Bar/Lounge businesses and one area that attention has shifted to in Ibadan is MKO Way (formerly Ring Road).
Before now, one had to go to Dugbe, Bodija, Ikolaba GRA to hangout.
All the stress is being eased off and anything one could be looking for in terms of what Night Club, Bar and Lounge should offer can be found on Ring Road which has now assumed the social capital of Ibadan.
People on Ring Road used to go out en masse to socialize and the wise businessmen have tapped into the opportunity by bringing all the enjoyment to them.
Right from Challenge roundabout up to 110-Ago Tailor Junction you can conveniently count more than 26 hangouts, both local and standard ones.
Taking it from Challenge axis, one would not but remember the old Umbrella Cafe (now Q Lounge) right inside MRS filling station (old Total). It has been taken over by a new management and still serves as chilling point not only for the transporters who dominate the area, but for travellers as well as other people.
Then come few metres away down the street, at Bolumole Junction you find Amaka Joint. It is a place even some notable people hangout, especially to have taste of their ‘Fish pepper soup, Isi Ewu and Nkwobi.
After that is the popular Echoes Night Club/Lounge. It is said to be presently under new management too. Every day has always been like Xmas in this place since its inception, though not without low and pick periods. In fact at a point, Echoes was adjudged to be the hottest club in Ibadan in terms of structure and perhaps some professional touches being put in place.
Right beside it, there is Rubicon Bar/Lounge located at oval space of a not too good looking building. Even with the fact that the environment is not that posh, it is still amazing the kind of crowd you find in the area. Apart from what the bar can offer, the side attraction here perhaps are the draft game and Ofada rice with assorted meat always available from that 5pm till very late in the evenings. Iya Nla is located at the adjacent place of Echoes and Rubicon, right by the road side and it has been there for many years now.
What people enjoy here is the local aphrodisiac (popularly known as paraga). To some, Iya Nla works like magic while some even order it from abroad. Again, while some that can’t afford expensive drinks at most of these night clubs come to Iya Nla first before a night out on clubbing days, some come for a kind of man power fortification to enhance their sexual performance.
To compliment this also, there is roasted meat, peppered snail, Ponmo, Eko and Efo etc for consumption of customers.
Then at the opposite side of Ajeigbe Bus/Stop is Infinity Night Club owned by Saheed Fowosere (Omo Gafo). Infinity is another bubbling club on that axis.
About 3 buildings away from Infinity you also have Club Raurel, which is about 1000 metres from Bubbles Plus Night Club and Lounge.
Almost the same space within Club Laurel and Bubbles Lounge you see Club Ebevande at the opposite side of the road.
We also have Mauve 21 executive Night Club/Lounge at the Adeoyo Junction while Glory Resort Centre is not far from the place at all. Glory Resort Centre is located right beside Bayse One Shopping Complex on the same Adeoyo Junction.
Not forgetting Ogun/Osun Recreation Centre, a very discreet hangout for the real big boys. It is located around Oni & Sons area.
The likes of Apollo’s Lounge/Bar, located inside the Palms Shopping Mall, Ring Road; Clique 69 at Mobil area as well as many others are there on the same Ring Road. So whenever you are in Ibadan and want to give yourself areal treat, you know where to be. You game?
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