When you come to university, ‘going out’ is a huge part of the culture. It’s not for everyone – there may be any number of reasons why pubbing and clubbing isn’t for you. But if you do want to sample the local student nightlife here in Gloucester, we’ve rounded up some of the best (and budget-friendliest) bars not too far from our Blackfriars accommodation.
Café René
Located just a 15 minute walk from Blackfriars, this is one of the best places to head to for a student night out. A lovely pub on Regent Street, Café René has regular live music and a 2am closing time on the weekends making it perfect for something a bit different if you’re not looking for a club but don’t want to be home before midnight… Part of the city’s Licensed Victuallers Association, the pub takes customer safety seriously and adopts a really welcoming environment.
ATIK
In less than 10 minutes on foot from our Blackfriars residence, you can find yourself at ATIK on Eastgate Street. Fridays are their After Dark nights, with some of the UK’s best DJs playing across the club’s three rooms. There is a strict dress policy, so be sure to dress up smart – but the drinks are only £2.50, so you can definitely visit ATIK on a student budget! You can boogie until 4am, too, and you’ve got the rest of the weekend to sleep it off before lectures resume on Monday morning…
And if you fancy a midweek night out, as many students do, then ATIK hosts a weekly themed event on Wednesday nights with £1 entry and drinks from just £1.50!
Fever
Another popular nightclub in the city, Fever is just over a ten minute walk from Blackfriars – located again on Eastgate Street, the heart of Gloucester’s nightlife scene. With a whole array of deals on drinks and shots, the club is open at weekends only with a 3.30am kick out time; entry is free and the club has two rooms with two different DJs playing various tunes from a range of genres across the weekend. This is easily one of the top spots for student nightlife in Gloucester.
Butler’s Venue Bar
This award-winning bar, also in the Eastgate Quarter, is around a 10 minute walk from our Blackfriars Residence. It is one of the most famous bars in Gloucester, and perfect for students thanks to its ongoing promotions and cheap drink offers. You’re talking about pints from £2.50, and two-for-one cocktails – or you can splash out and book their famous VIP section for a special occasion. This is a nice idea if you’re looking to chip in together for your party animal flatmate’s birthday, for example. Open Tuesday through Saturday, this is a great choice for student nightlife in Gloucester.
You’ll find plenty of traditional pubs around Gloucester too, such as the Tall Ship on Southgate Street (15 minutes from Blackfriars) and the Pelican Inn, which is around a 20 minute walk away. These are generally affordable and of course, quieter than clubs and bars if this is what you’re after. There are also two Wetherspoons pubs, both around 15 minutes away, so you can’t go wrong for a really cheap night out here in Gloucester!
