8 min readNo matter what time it is, there is always something to do in Bristol. Nightlife in Bristol is legendary whether you are a party-goer or want a more cultural night out. Here are some of our top picks for things you can do in Bristol at night.
Activity bars to play and socialise
Not one for chilling? Bristol has lots of activity bars and night time sports activities to keep you keep you busy, from bowling to darts.
For a range of activities, Roxy Lanes has eight full-size bowling lanes, a batting cage for baseball and tennis, shuffle boards, full-size pool tables, beer pong, ice-free curling, duckpin bowling and arcade games, as well as a karaoke booth!
Par 59 on Millennium Square is open every day, and home to a nine-hole mini golf course as well as their own independent kitchen and bar - join them for their 'Supper Club' every Friday from 5pm onwards for an evening of South East Asian style dishes and bottomless drinks.
Image: Roxy Lanes
Try your hand at social darts, cocktails and sharing plates at Flight Club on Corn Street.
Image: Flight Club
Put on your orange jumpsuits at Alcotraz Bristol, meet some quirky characters and enjoy cocktails made from spirits you've smuggled into your jail cell!
Image - Alcotraz Bristol
Prefer watching sport? Located at the top of Park Street, right by University of Bristol Allstars Sports Bar have three large projected HD screens, and screen Sky Sport, BT Sport and Eurosport channels – perfect for watching rugby, football or cricket. Plus, you can also play, pool, snooker 8 ball, poker, or even test your strength on the boxing machine, play darts and table football. As well as the classic amusement machines.
Bristol Nightlife
Bristol's nightlife scene is legendary, and there's no shortage of bars, clubs, and music venues to keep the party going until the early hours. If you want to go out out – Bristol is home to an incredible music scene – from huge warehouse style clubs and event spaces such as Lakota and Lost Horizon, to underground venues such as Basement 45, to venues in decommissioned Churches – such as Trinity Centre.
Explore what’s on in Bristol, from drum and bass nights, to 70s, 80s 90s, and 00s music and more.
Image: Basement 45
Be entertained with Comedy & Magic shows
Bristol's nightlife isn't just about music, food, and dancing; it also offers a generous dose of laughter and wonder through its comedy and magic scene. Prepare to be entertained by world-class comedians and magicians most nights of the week.
Smoke & Mirrors on Denmark Street is perfect for a night of entertainment from one of the House Magician Comedy & Magic Shows, whilst enjoying a selection of wines, spirits, craft lagers and ales on tap. It’s also a great place to go if you’re heading to The Bristol Hippodrome or O2 arena and looking for a bargain – just show your ticket at the bar for 10% off.
Well-known and up rising stars alike are often performing at Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Redgrave Theatre and Bristol Hippodrome.
The Wardrobe Theatre in Old Market Assembly host a programme filled with comedy, family, music, spoken word and theatre.
Image: Smoke and Mirrors
A night of culture at the theatre
From world-famous, cutting edge plays, Bristol’s theatre scene not to be missed.
The Bristol Hippodrome stages West End and Broadway shows, Bristol Old Vic is Britain’s oldest working theatre and has a diverse programme – make sure to pop to the Kitchen + Bar during your visit too for delicious food and drink. Tobacco Factory Theatre in Bedminster has an awesome programme of theatre, puppetry, comedy, children + music events plus a great café and bar.
Give acting and improv a go yourself at Bristol Improv Theatre drop-in sessions, or book a space at one of their improv shows.
Take an evening tour
As the sun goes down, Bristol's historic streets take on a different charm. Explore the city's intriguing past on an evening tour.
Learn about grave robbers, body snatchers and the missing millions from Britain’s biggest robbery on Show of Strength’s Blood and Butchery tour which run every Thursday from 6pm, or join Show of Strength for the Brave the Blood, Blackbeard and Buccaneers tours. Find out more about Blackbeard – the world’s most infamous pirate. The tour runs every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 6pm.
You can also enjoy an exciting blend of haunted tales, theatre, Medieval macabre and crowd participation with Bristol Ghost Tours whilst you explore the old Medieval area of the city, crammed with haunted locations.
Alternatively, take a self-guided street art tour to admire the city's vibrant graffiti and murals, which come to life under the city's streetlights.
Experiences: Bristol After Dark
Want to try something different for a night time experience?
Wake the Tiger, the word’s first Amazement Park® (created by the founders of Boomtown Festival) host after hours experiences – where you can step through the portal into the alternate world of Meridia after dark. Tickets include a drink from the bar, as well as evening entry. If you fancy a bite to eat whilst you’re there, The Guidhall Café Bar sells an awesome range of veggie and vegan food too.
Yuup host a load of experiences on their platform – from Buskers Banquet an indie food & live music in iconic Bristol venues thorough the city.
Take a trip to the dark side at Murder Mystery Night: A Gothic Horror experience, or, if you scream at the TV during I’m a Celebrity blind-folded challenges, you’ll probably enjoy Dining in the Dark: Blindfolded Dinner Experience. This is the less creepy version with good food, not bugs.
If you’re more of a creative, you can join Jess Knights Creative art clubs, and BYOB Pottery & Prosecco Night.
Image: Wake The Tiger, credit Andre Pattenden
Enlightening and educational nights in Bristol
While Bristol's nightlife is known for its lively entertainment and cultural offerings, it also caters to those seeking intellectual stimulation and a chance to expand their knowledge after dark. If you're interested in thought-provoking discussions, engaging lectures, and educational talks, Bristol has you covered.
Learn about Bristol Zoo Project conservation projects at special evening events with Bristol Zoological Society zookeepers, where you’ll be surrounded by the animals and nature.
Image: Bristol Zoo Project
Food... glorious food! (& drink)
Whether you fancy a posh meal out, street food, or just fancy a drink there are plenty of food and drink experiences on offer in the evenings in Bristol.
From KASK’s great big wine and cheese tasting event, to Pour Decisions – a chill wine tasting event where you’ll start off with one glass of wine, then for subsequent glasses KASK will offer you contrasting options – each glass costs a fiver, and you can choose how many glasses you want. You can also book on to a range of evening wine tastings and dinners with Bristol Local Wine School.
Down the road on North Street, Spirited host workshops too – from Whisky vs Mezcal tastings, to Cognac nights.
Mix your night up at one of Bristol’s cocktail bars - Brozen by St Nicholas Market host frozen cocktail tasting experiences where you start of your night with a G&T then you can learn find out more about Brozen’s flavour creations and liquid nitrogen-frozen cocktails.
Image: Brozen Bar
Want to learn more skills and cook outside of your usual meal plan? You can join Cooking It! on Chandos Road for a variety of cooking classes and workshops, where you can learn how to make Chinese delicacies such as dim sum, Mexican street food, classic French Cuisine and more.
Like music? You can enjoy the sounds of Bristol’s best DJs on Bambalan’s terrace whilst also enjoying Mediterranean small plates as well as wood fired sourdough pizza and a top-quality drinks menu to top it all off.
Make a night of it with an overnight stay
After spending time out, doing activities you’ll need to place to crash. Explore places to stay in Bristol here.
Image: Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, credit Jose Coello
Explore more evening activities
Bristol's nightlife is a vibrant tapestry of entertainment, culture, and excitement that truly comes alive after dark. Whether you're dancing the night away at one of the city's legendary clubs, exploring its historic streets on an evening tour, indulging in culinary delights at its diverse eateries, or laughing and marveling at the talents of comedians and magicians, Bristol has something to offer every night owl.
So, the next time you find yourself in this dynamic city as the sun sets, make the most of your evenings by immersing yourself in Bristol's diverse and thrilling nightlife.
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