At a time when few club initiatives survive their first year this veteran independent nocturnal gathering has thrived in Sheffield Uni's Raynor Lounge long enough to celebrate its 10th birthday on Saturday February 3.
That means DJ/promoters Chris Stride and partner Gill Graham have a few specials littering their fortnightly fixtures, which have blossomed via a playlist that favours classic and current leftfield indie, punk-pop and the best of the indiepop underground over more mainstream indie beats.
"Offbeat is always the first to air up-and-coming bands and is proud to support local talent," says Chris who has received regular plaudits from the likes of national radio taste-maker Steve Lamacq.
The last couple of years have seen Offbeat triumph in a BBC Radio 6 poll to find the UK's 'ultimate indie disco' and strengthen when the venue was extended and refurbished.
"We've had loads of fun in the past decade and so have our incredibly loyal crowd. A big thank you to them and to all of the media and promotions people who continue to give us publicity and support," says Chris, which is nice.
Since proclaimed by some as "a Mecca for indie kids who are bored of the same routine", the club first came to Sheffield in January 1997 when Dr Chris, a statistics lecturer at the University, and partner Gill grew tired of hearing the same old indie songs every time they went for a night out – "The Stone Roses, Oasis, endless Madchester, Britpop and retro anthems".
So, staged roughly every fortnight in an intimate venue tucked away at the bottom of the students' union building, Offbeat has sold out – "capacity-wise, not musically" – almost every night since and drawn numerous pats on the back for its friendly atmosphere and adventurous musical policy.
A typical night spans songs from the Smiths and the Fall to Arcade Fire, Le Tigre and the Shins to Sonic Youth, Rilo Kiley, the Organ and Wedding Present, Hefner and the Field Mice via Sleater Kinney, Ballboy, Buzzcocks and Tilly And The Wall, with Orange Juice, Joy Division, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Kenickie and Half Man Half Biscuit thrown in for good measure.
"However the true spirit of the night is perhaps better encapsulated by the weird and wonderful musical juxtapositions of, say, Crass and Joanna Newsom or Big Black and Belle and Sebastian," says Chris.
He cannot believe they've chalked up double figures.
"It seems a very long time. Some of our current Offbeaters will have been eight when we first started, which is rather frightening."
Back next Friday after the holiday break, a Pulp special follows the birthday do (free birthday cake, badges and stickers, free fanzine for the first 50 in, plus a quiz with the chance to win a very limited edition indiepopoly board game) on February 19, as does a Pixies special on March 16: 9pm-1am; £3 on the door. No advance tickets.