10 min readIf you're lucky enough to have chosen Bristol as your university city, you've got plenty of choice for going out, whether it's for live music, comedy, magic and of course the city's world-class club scene.
We've rounded up the need-to-know club nights and venues around the city. Let us know what you think over on Instagram and TikTok and include #VisitBristol in your Bristol adventures.
Image: Lakota
Clubs
Lakota
One of Bristol's most famous and longstanding clubs, Lakota has welcomed many famous faces over the years including Carl Cox, Eats Everything, Congo Natty, Gentlemen’s Dub Club, My Nu Leng, Calibre, Stormzy and more. You'll find a range of music across the four rooms as well as the Lakota Gardens courtyard, from disco to dubstep, as well as the UK's largest psytrance night, TRiBE of FRoG.
Trinity
An established part of Bristol nightlife for over 40 years, Trinity hosts a range of live music and community events as well as regular sound clashes and club nights.
Image: Trinity
The Prospect Building
The team behind some of Europe’s most celebrated festivals run warehouse space in St. Philips, Bristol. The venue hosts everything from all-day parties and raves to jazz, country music and more.
Image - The Prospect Building
Basement 45
Cocktails and DJs until the early hours, what more could you want? The subterranean Basement 45 is best known as a drum and bass club, but the decks are regularly handed over to DJs playing anything from garage to techno.
Image - Basement 45
Motion
Rated #33 in the Top 100 Clubs in the World by DJ Mag in 2024, the events at Motion carry a slightly higher price tag than some others here, but with good reason. This is an unmissable venue in the city, from world-famous club nights to mega day parties.
Image - Motion
DOCUMENT
Tucked away in St Jude's near Cabot Circus, DOCUMENT is from the team behind MOTION and Marble Factory. Expect special music, rave and club nights and courtyard sessions.
Image - DOCUMENT
Thekla
One of the most iconic and best-loved venues in the city, it doesn’t get much more Bristol than a club on a boat! Thekla hosts gigs throughout the week before continuing into the early hours with a selection of popular club nights, including long-running indie and alternative night Pressure on Thursdays and the weekly Pop Confessional on Saturdays.
Image: Thekla credit David Jeffery Hughes and Thekla
PRYZM
A popular nightclub on the Harbourside, boasting three themed dance arenas, VIP booths and a pre-club cocktail bar.
OMG
OMG describes itself as one of the city's 'most euphoric gay venues' and is the largest in Bristol's LGBTQ+ scene. It hosts weekly student nights, pop parties and themed events.
Image: OMG Bristol
Death Disco
From Bristol hospitality heavyweights Hyde & Co, Death Disco is the intimate underground nightclub you didn’t know you needed. Expect live DJs from 10pm, drinks deals and good vibes all round.
Image - Deather Disco, credit Duchess Media
Queenshilling
Another of the most loved LGBT+ venues in Bristol, Queenshilling hosts everything from karaoke and drag nights through to DJs and themed parties. Head there on Fridays or Saturdays for Nightclub Vibes.
The Fleece
Music venue The Fleece is known for putting on weekly club nights as well as gigs, including every Saturday's Propaganda event with rock, pop punk and indie bangers where you can expect an audio-visual experience, featuring a mind-blowing mix from Arctic Monkeys to The 1975, Paramore to The Killers, Bring Me The Horizon to Sam Fender, Avril Lavigne to Wet Leg and much more.
Image - Propaganda at The Fleece
The Triangle
The Clifton Triangle is home to a collective of cheap and cheerful late-night bars and clubs, whether you opt for the groovy club nights at Daisy's, cheesy hits at Lizard Lounge, or tiki lounge vibes and cocktails at Lola Lo.
There are also several cocktail bars nearby which you can visit beforehand to get in the party spirit, including Hyde and Co, The Woods, Goldbrick House, Be At One and Browns.
Image: Hyde and Co.
Bars, speakeasies and Pubs
The Old Market Assembly
A relaxed bar and restaurant with an adjoining theatre in the daytime, The Old Market Assembly has become a cornerstone of the alternative LGBTQ+ scene in Bristol, and hosts regular live music gigs, themed parties and cabaret nights.
Image: The Old Market Assembly
Bambalan
Bambalan is one of Bristol's best-loved drinking, dining and music destinations, boasting one of the best roof terraces in town with views across the city. The menu consists of Mediterranean small plates, sourdough pizzas which can be enjoyed along the cocktail menu, draught beers, wines and much more. You can also listen to music from some of Bristol's best DJs on the terrace every weekend!
Image - Bambalan
The Lanes
More than just a bowling alley, this bar also hosts gigs and regular club nights, from the pop punk parties at Fat Lip to Motown night Motorcity, as well as hip hop and R&B special California Love.
The Canteen
Stokes Croft institution The Canteen is a chilled bar-restaurant in the day, before turning into a lively gig venue at night, with queues stretching down the street. If you’re looking for something of a warm-up before hitting the nearby clubs, this is the place to be, or nearby you'll also find The Bell with its DJs and buzzing beer garden.
Image - The Canteen
Mr Wolf’s
A late-night Bristol favourite, depending on the night you could find an acoustic open mic night, jam night or DJs playing into the early hours.
No.51 Stokes Croft
A sister bar to Mr Wolf’s on Stokes Croft, No.51 hosts day parties in their beer garden in summer as well as resident DJs playing into the early hours every week.
The Love Inn
Run by the team behind dance festival Love Saves The Day, this is one of the busiest venues on Stokes Croft – and with good reason. During the day it’s a chilled bar offering good cocktails and food from award-winning local burger legend, Danny's Burgers, before going on to host some of the city’s best DJs in the evening, playing everything from dub and electronica through to ska and soul.
Cosies
This small bar in St Pauls turns into a lively club for lovers of reggae, funk and dub from 10pm, with entry usually around a fiver.
The Black Swan
A pub in Easton which turns into one of the biggest rave venues in the city at weekends, hosting breakcore, dubstep, electronica and more.
Corn Street and the Old City is a great spot for cocktail bars and pubs, namely Brozen which does nitrogen frozen cocktails – we’re talking, passion on ice, gin and tonic sorbet and lots more creative flavour combos!
Just a short walk away located right near the Unite Students Harbourside accommodation, King Street is a popular favourite for a pint (especially in summer). King Street Brewhouse do 10% off drinks for students too.
Other great areas for a drink include Park Street and Park Row (home to the infamous Goldbrick House and Gin and Juice, plus Zero Degrees nearby). Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft are great spots for getting outside the uni bubble. Head out for drinks and music at the Galli (a short walk away from Redland/ Cotham) or cocktails at Café Cuba by The Bear Pit.
Image - Deems Experiment at The Gallimaufry credit James Koch
Social activities
Looking to try something a little bit bonkers with a mate, date or your next club social?
Your university experience wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the weird and wacky Wake The Tiger! Created by the founders of Boom Town, Wake The Tiger is the world’s very first Amazement ® Park. Visit After Hours (between 7-9pm) for the adult-only sessions (yes that includes you students, you are adults now!). Keep an eye out for Wake The Tiger special evening events throughout the year, which combine live DJs, music and performances in the a night of mayhem and mischief.
Image - Wake The Tiger
Whilst most of the time, you’re told not to smuggle alcohol into clubs and bars… at Alcotraz that’s the aim of the game! Smuggle your spirits past the warden and serve your time with a supply of personalised cocktails. This is perfect for a group of mates.
Image - Alcotraz
From drinks and darts, mini golf, bowling and more Bristol is home to lots of great activity bars. Check out our things to do at night blog for more inspiration.
If you’re a sports fan, Allstars right opposite the Wills Memorial building is a popular spot to watch a game and play a game of pool, snooker and more.
Image - AllStars
Places that are open late for dinner
If you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat after a night out, Taka Taka, The Grecian and Jason Donervan are long-standing student favourites. Let Visit Bristol know over on Instagram if we missed any of your top munchy spots.
Night Safety
Bristol Rules is a night time safety awareness campaign, produced by Bristol Nights, which aims to remind everyone heading out for the evening of how to have a great night out and feel safe.
Designed in partnership with the city’s universities, colleges and venues there are six key messages, which we encourage students to follow:
- Out together, home together. Check in with your friends. If they look like they’re struggling, it’s time to act. Make sure you all get home safe, share your location and look after one another.
- Call it out. Inappropriate behaviour, especially when it comes from your mates, needs to be called out. Be an active bystander; make sure your friends know what they’re doing isn’t OK.
- Don’t be a creep. Put yourself in their shoes. They don't want you to tell them they're fit. If someone tells you they're not interested, they're not playing hard to get. And remember everyone's allowed to change their mind. If your words or actions are making someone feel uncomfortable or threatened – it's not ok. Touching, grabbing or groping someone without their consent is a criminal offence.
- Respect differences. Our differences are what makes Bristol such a brilliant place. So regardless of how someone dresses, how they speak, what they look like, who they date or how they dance, leave them to it.
- Keep away from the edge. Don't be tempted to sit by the harbourside at night. Be extra careful near the water and keep away from the edge. Cold water shock and getting out are even harder when you are intoxicated.
- Take it easy. Understanding the effects and risks of alcohol and other drugs is important. Read up; pace yourself; and remember it's OK to say no. The best nights are the ones you can remember.
Additional information and resources are available on the Bristol Nights website:
It’s Not OK - Sexual harassment
Harm reduction and Drug Safety
Read more:
Bristol for students
Top 10 music venues
Gigs and concerts
Events Calendar
And here are a few more useful nightlife and event listing websites in Bristol...
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