Leeds is the place to be when you’re looking for a cracking night out. With loads of unis in the area - Uni of, Beckett, Trinity, and Arts Uni, to name a few - and a serious clubbing scene, you’ll discover some of the best nights out in the country. There’s also a huge live music scene with loads of unreal venues, perfect for making lifelong pals.
The city centre is always bustling with a special kind of energy and we’re going to help you make the most of that vibe during your studies.
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The best student nights in Leeds
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From the 11th of September 2023, Pryzm will be the home of Pandamonium every Monday. For this one, you can look forward to drinks from £1, party anthems, giveaways, and mad decor to keep you entertained from 10 pm - 4 am.
Tuesdays are good for Space Tuesdays at... The Space. Not really a surprising venue given the name. Here, they spin house, disco, and dance tunes with 90p tequila and sambuca, double vodka mixers for £1.45 before midnight or £2.90 after, bottles of wine for £8, and selected bottles for £1.75.
Wednesdays at Pryzm is for Antics. Antics has six rooms - live performers playing house and anthems alongside the DJ in the main room, hip-hop and R&B in the Curve room, and disco in, surprise, the Disco Room. And, of course, there are drink deals.
On Thursdays, head to The Space for Skint Thursdays. Kicking until 5 am with R&B, hip-hop, and party tunes, Skint is known for wild drinks deals, and you can get in for free and have free drinks on your birthday.
Fruity Fridays is Leeds’ longest-running student club night and you can find it at Leeds University Union. Every Friday, its three rooms, each with a totally different vibe, are taken over by students drinking £2 vodka mixers and shots
Leeds Freshers week
So here you are in a new city! It’s daunting but don’t worry because everyone else is in the same boat. There’s an exciting opportunity to go out and explore the local area, to learn where the best places are and to meet new people. Luckily, you’ve got us to help you with this new experience and those first few vital weeks at Freshers.
Here you’ll find a guide to Leeds and the best areas for students, including the venues, gigs, bars and clubs that give you the best experiences that the city provides.
Call Lane
Call lane is a must-go area if you’re in the centre of Leeds, with a plethora of great bars lining the whole street including Oporto, Cuckoo and Call Lane Social. It’s a place where you can go with your mates and probably make some new ones too.
Headingley
Headingley is the top student area for Leeds, and it has pretty much everything that you could want in the vicinity, great bars, plenty of pubs and places to eat out. It will no doubt be the epicentre of many a headache but it’s worth it for the number of different nights put you can have here.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is a fantastic area to live in especially with such a beautiful amount of green space just there in front of your doorstep. Local highlights include Hyde Park Book Club and Brudenell Social Club, as great for a night out as they are as venue spaces.
Live Music
Brudenell is not only one of the most important venues in Leeds but one of the most important in the entire country. A key part of the UK’s gig circuit, all the best indie bands, rock bands, alternative performers and more are probably going to pass through at some point.
The venue has two separate performance areas and a lounge area in-between where you can sit down and relax, waiting in excitement for the gig to start. It’s a place that always has an inviting atmosphere and it’s a clear favourite for touring bands which is no surprise at all.
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One of the best things about Leeds’ The Wardrobe is its multifunctionality, being able to operate as a stage for comedy, gigs and huge club nights. The shape of the venue means that it is the perfect space to create a mosh pit.
There have been many nights here that have welcomed some brilliant bands to Leeds and that will continue for a long time.
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Hyde Park Book Club can feel as though it can be overlooked sometimes but it is situated perfectly in one of Leeds’ best student areas. This small capacity venue brings over indie artists from all over the place to give more intimate performances.
They also act as an amazing café too so if you’re looking for a place to find some great food too then Hyde Park Book Club has you sorted.
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Belgrave Music Hall is one of those places where you walk in, and you feel a great atmosphere instantly. A brilliant playlist is on, and layout of the bar is conversational. When you walk into the venue area, you’re never quite sure what to expect.
Belgrave has one of the most eclectic calendars in Leeds, inviting in artists of all genres to take to the stage. It also has a rooftop terrace which is absolutely perfect for pre-drinks.
The best student clubs in Leeds
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Mint Warehouse is probably a name that you already know. Its reputation precedes itself as it is one of the best clubs in the country.
Located right in the heart of the city by the train station, it had a huge refurb in 2020 that took it to even greater heights with a mesmerising LED ceiling and some of the greatest club nights and biggest names in electronic performing there. It also has an outdoor area for summer raves!
Belgrave Music Hall is one of those places where you walk in and feel a great atmosphere instantly. A brilliant playlist is on, and the layout of the bar is conversational. When you walk into the venue area, you’re never quite sure what to expect.
Belgrave has one of the most eclectic calendars in Leeds, inviting in artists of all genres to take to the stage. It also has a rooftop terrace which is absolutely perfect for pre-drinks.
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The Warehouse is one of Leeds’ oldest clubs and even precedes historic venues such as The Hacienda. It was instrumental in the uptake of clubbing culture in the North of England.
With such historical importance, it has welcomed some legendary names through its doors and still does to this day. It’ll endure for many more years as an iconic venue within the city. Expect bands, DJs/producers, wild parties, and joyous club nights.
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If you aren’t too big a fan of thumping electronic tunes or you just want to relive your emo phase, The Key Club is a belting little club in Leeds with stunning drink prices and plays genres including punk, pop punk, rock, metal, and indie.
With emo and pop punk Tuesdays, indie Thursdays, and guilty pleasure Saturdays (Britney, Bieber, Avril - you get it), you're sorted.
Opening up in 2001, HiFi Club quickly became a much-loved clubbing venue.
Embracing all the best electronic genres as well as bashment, soca, soul, funk, hip-hop, R&B, and pop (including 80s nights), it’s built up a stunning reputation that won it multiple awards for being the best nightclub in the city.
With some regular club nights that keep people coming back for more, HiFi Club always has something going on.
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Distrikt only has a capacity of 200 but that’s exactly what makes it so great. A haven for underground electronic artists, Distrikt can feel like a hidden gem for those who want to see the future heroes of the scene before they blow up.
They have a few regular DJs putting events on and it makes Distrikt a place where you can go and sample the local scene.
While you’re here, why not check out our other Leeds guides? When you’re skint and bored, cheap things to do and free things to do in the city will be a godsend.
Freshers FAQ’s
When is Leeds freshers' week?
Freshers' week usually starts mid-September, extending into early October. It depends on each uni - you can find details on your uni's website. But the most common dates for it are Monday 18th - Friday 22nd September 2023.
Click or tap here to find freshers events
Do I need to provide ID at events?
Yes, as a requirement of law, all bars, pubs, clubs, and venues will require some form of valid ID which proves you are at least 18 years of age. Accepted forms of ID include a driver's license or passport.
More about Leeds
Irrespective of whether you're a first time visitor to the city, a frequently returning guest or a lifelong inhabitant, our guides are essential reading for anyone looking to make the most of their time in Leeds.
nightlife
Leeds is the place to be when you’re looking for a cracking night out. With loads of unis in the area - Uni of, Beckett, Trinity, and Arts Uni, to name a few - and a serious clubbing scene, you’ll discover some of the best nights out in the country. There’s also a huge live music s…
