Hotels for Ocean Colour Scene

A December Saturday night with a band whose songs have long since become singalong staples for the crowd that grew up with them. Expect terrace-tinted guitar pop played to a room full of people who know every word, with the atmosphere leaning more celebration than club gig. A winter date like this tends to draw a slightly older, settled crowd out for a proper night rather than a casual one, so pre-drinks and a big singalong finish are part of the deal. Coats on for the walk out afterwards.

An indoor arena within Birmingham's sprawling NEC complex, bp pulse LIVE hosts concerts, comedy and live events beside the exhibition halls on the city's eastern edge. The setting is a self-contained events campus, with on-site hotels, restaurants and lakeside walks rather than a traditional high street.

Birmingham International station and the nearby airport make arrivals straightforward, with fast trains into the centre. Booking a room on or near the complex lets you walk to the show and avoid the post-event car-park crawl.