Newcastle has a reputation in the UK as being one of the best cities for partying. It could claim the title of party capital of the North and it has the bars, venues and student areas to back it up. There are three universities in and around the city which makes the city centre a place of constant activity.
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Newcastle Freshers week
So, you’ve just landed in Newcastle and you’re wondering what to do. New places are always daunting at first but before you know it you’ll have the whole of Newcastle mapped out in your head. Whether you’re after cheap things to do, free things to do, cheap places to eat, or anything else a student would desire. Don’t fear, as Skiddle is here to give you a few key tips on all of this, as well as some of the best clubs and gigs to go to during Freshers Week.
There are plenty of buzzing student areas, bars and clubs, gigs, raves, and club nights that leave you spoilt for choice in Newcastle. You’ll never find yourself stuck or sat twiddling your thumbs because, in the Toon’, there’s always something to do.
The best student nights in Newcastle
Student Monday nights in Newcastle are one of the biggest nights in the whole city student-wise, and in our opinion, you can look no further than the epic Digital Mondays, one of the longest-running student nights in the city, and comes packed with four rooms of the finest dancefloor anthems across all genres!
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Twosday Tuesday at Holy Hobo should have you covered on all bases for Tuesdays. The bar and club have 2-4-1 on all their drinks all night come the second night of the week, so your student loan can stretch far here. Plus, with it being located in the prime student territory of Jesmond, you can easily walk back to your gaff once the birds start singing in the morning. Who doesn't love cheap drinks?
When Wednesday comes around, your best option is Playground Wednesdays at Tup Tup Palace, it’s the Toons longest-running weekly student night (running since 2001) and the weekly sports society night out. Also dubbed Newcastle's “rowdiest night out”, the club night takes over Tup Tup every Wednesday with classic disco, R&B and house tracks – plus plenty of floor-fillers too
Up next, the only place you need to be on a Thursday night is Skint at The Points. As it says on the tin, it's the perfect night for those of you whose student loan isn’t at the healthiest point. With £1 Tickets, £1 Sourz shots, and £2.75 Doubles all night, plus a whole load of banging tunes, it's a right of passage for any student resident to the Toon.
Taking over the second room at Digital on a Friday night is the legendary Feral Fridays, a club night that has been active for well over a decade, seeing generations of students get far too drunk within its walls. The drinks are cheap, the music is top, and it’s a night that every Newcastle student has to experience at least once.
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When the weekend comes around, the world is your oyster. As it's when the normies come out too, you’ll struggle to find exclusive student nights and prices, but that doesn't mean you can't have a top time. Clubs like Soho have great value Trebs (A delicacy in the Toon), If you’re a Geordie Shore fan then you’ll have to check out Bijoux, the club in which it was filmed. Powerhouse is a Newcastle staple and is open until 5am for you night owls.
But, we’d just recommend using the weekend to test out all the offerings and finding the places you like the best, there's so much on offer in Newcastle, you’ve just got to seek out your scene!
The best areas to go out in Newcastle
Bigg Market
Bigg Market is the area that has put Newcastle on the map as one of the best party cities in the UK. Every weekend thousands of people flock here to the various pubs and bars which have an incredible reputation. The Old George is Newcastle’s oldest pub (dating back to 1582!) and there’s also Idols City Vaults to look out for, try to survive a pub crawl down here.
The Diamond Strip
The Diamond Strip is a bustling hub of bars that can make for quite an intense night. Along here you’ll find Revolution, Madame Koo, Perdu and Tup Tup Palace. All great bars with a thriving atmosphere to be heard through every door. It’s definitely a fun place to be.
Quayside
This is one of the most scenic parts of Newcastle where you can find the Gateshead Millenium Bridge. You can stroll around this area going from bar to bar and taking in the sights. There’s the Quayside Bar at one end and the excellent Pitcher and Piano at the other.
The best student clubs in Newcastle
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Newcastle’s Cosmic Ballroom can be found right in the heart of the city. It prides itself on being frequented by the most talented DJs and producers, putting on all kinds of nights from trance to techno and house.
They are putting on fresh nights all the time and it may just be the place where you find your next favourite DJ.
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Founded in 2005, Digital was hailed as ‘The Fabric of the North” and has gone on to host some of the biggest names in dance music. Think the like of Carl Cox, Jamie Jones, Fatboy Slim, David Guetta and more.
With a capacity of 1200, this is a large club that has been given numerous awards for best Soundsystem and best club. It’s a Newcastle favourite and it’ll keep pulling in those huge names.
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TheCUT is a space in Newcastle that is quite eclectic. It specialises in indie nights, but you can also often find techno, house and other DJs making their way down to put on a show. It’s one of the most interesting clubs in Newcastle, with familiar faces scattered across the walls.
They have some regular nights on every week including an indie night on Thursdays and they have more exciting nights coming soon.
Located only 100 yards from Grey Street, Hoochie Coochie is in an ideal location for a night out in Newcastle. They have a particular emphasis on funk and soul in this club and it’s a place that wants people to get up and dance for as long as they can.
One of the best vibes that you will find in the city, it has an incredibly friendly atmosphere, and they are always switching up the music so no two visits are ever the same.
A student go-to before hitting the Toon, Holy Hobo is a bar that you'll be frequenting a lot over your time at Uni in Newcastle. Whilst it is a good spot to spend the night in, especially on its 2-4-1 Tuesdays where everything, you read that right yes, EVERYTHING on the drinks menu is 2-4-1. Many end up sticking about on a Tuesday, but on other nights, its great location and cheap drinks make it the perfect pres spot. One of the best Newcastle student bars, and one that's very kind to your bank account.
Flares
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You aren't a student in Newcastle if you haven't been to Flares. The retro 70s club oozes pure pop cheese and is oh so student. This is mainly down to its incredible drink prices for a city centre bar, having free entry of student nights, and also just being a neon-soaked heaven for anyone who wants to let their hair down and scream along to some cringe tunes. Leave your ego at the door, and stop pretending you're cooler than everyone else, get on down to Flares and indulge in the cheese!
Greys Club is an absolute treasure among Newcastle student clubs. With its four floors that compensate for every taste and epic student nights that include; Swingers on a Thursday, which brings disco to Greys Club in their legendary ballroom disco and iconic fairy-lit terrace, all for just £5 entry; Block Party on a Friday which provides house and disco on the terrace, party anthems in the club, drum and bass in the den and techno in the brand-new balcony bar, all again for just £5.
Whatever your vibe, you can guarantee to find it at Greys Club, plus with pretty good prices on drinks and deals on student nights, it's a sure-fire place to take your newfound pals to dance the night away.
The best live music venues in Newcastle
The 02 Academy in Newcastle builds on the solid foundations of other venues under the 02 brand across the country. This is the place to go and see your recognisable names with a capacity of up to 2000.
There’s always something happening down at the 02 Academy so whether it’s a band you’re looking for or a massive night from an iconic DJ you’re in luck.
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The Cluny is quite an iconic venue in Newcastle. A 300-cap space that has seen the likes of The Vaccines, Arctic Monkeys, Duffy and even Solange play shows here. The Cluny is also known for its fantastic bar too which will be perfect for drinks before and after a show.
It’s a venue that is so important to Newcastle's independent music scene and they even took over the building next door in 2009 and opened a second venue called Cluny 2 which is even more intimate.
Think Tank was initially started as a temporary venture. A place to see local Newcastle artists take to the stage and for upcoming touring bands to have a space to perform. It found a permanent home at Digital.
It has hosted some of the best contemporary indie acts when they were starting out such as Wolf Alice and Royal Blood. Now it exists as a platform that still champions those just starting out and a more intimate space for those bigger names.
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In 2016, an old building that had been influential part of the industrial evolution was transformed into one of Newcastle’s most unique venue spaces. It now hosts some of the most exciting events in the city from exhibitions to food and drink festivals and most importantly some massive gigs.
It’s a place to see ambitious events from innovators who want to make a completely transformative live experience.
Fresher’s FAQ’s
When does Freshers in Newcastle start?
Freshers Week 2023 in Newcastle is between Monday 17th to Friday 22nd of September.
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 Newcastle upon Tyne
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 Newcastle upon Tyne.
nightlife
Newcastle has a reputation in the UK as being one of the best cities for partying. It could claim the title of party capital of the North and it has the bars, venues and student areas to back it up. There are three universities in and around the city which makes the city centre a place of constant a…
