The best student bars and clubs in Nottingham
Familiarise yourself with the best Nottingham student bars and clubs to ensure every night out during uni is absolutely killer.
Last updated: 19th Sep 2024
Originally published: 12th Aug 2022
Nottingham is a place of dreams for so few, but don’t worry if you’re going to university there as there is still hope (and time to transfer…)
But in all seriousness, Nottingham slander aside, it doesn’t change the fact that Nottingham has some of the best student bars and clubs in the Midlands. Rounding up students who like to party like it’s their bread and butter, you’ll find yourself waiting just that little bit longer to get into a 9-5.
So gander through the variety of live music venues, heavy music venues and everything in between; and score yourself some extra brownie points with your flatmates!
Nottingham student clubs
Photo: Rescue Rooms / Facebook.com
Where: Masonic Place, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham NG1 5JT
If you're looking for a bar with a bit of everything, Rescue Rooms is the place to be. From open mic nights on Mondays, indie disco on Tuesdays and karaoke on Wednesdays. Plus with happy hour every day including Mondays, you can indulge in some £3 pints and house spirits from 4 pm - 8 pm.
Easily we can consider this one of the best student clubs in Nottingham.
Photo: The Nottingham Secret Garden / Facebook.com
Where: 17, 3/4 Trinity Walk, Nottingham NG1 2AN
This fully covered and heated outdoor space is a cocktail bar in the day and a club in the evening with house including the soulful and disco varieties, DnB, tech house, and minimal.
Surrounded by wooden fences, you’re away from the madness of the city centre with lots of greenery and, when the sun comes out, its beer garden area is a real sun-trap. Open every day until 2 am, you can enjoy its summery vibes until late before you remember that essay due in first thing tomorrow morning.
Find events at Nottingham Secret Garden
Photo: UNIT 13 / Facebook.com
Where: Burton St, Nottingham NG1 4BT
There are two rooms in Unit 13. The first can hold 800 ravers and features LED screens and a Funktion-One sound system, the second is more intimate, with a capacity of 200 with an LED wall. The venue regularly hosts some of the biggest names in electronic music including Mozey, Shy FX, and Sammy Virji. Because of this, it's a hot spot as one of the best student clubs in Nottingham.
Photo: ROCK CITY / Facebook.com
Where: 8 Talbot St, Nottingham NG1 5GG
It's called Rocky City for a reason and if you're in Nottingham you can't miss out on rocking your socks off here. Coming in as a strong contender when it comes to Nottingham student nightlife, Rock City brings the perfect elements of live music and club nights to their venue.
Having welcomed Cirque Du Soul, DnB Allstars, and Crucast, and have Tuned Thursdays with three rooms of music, 2,000 other partiers. There are also six bars, so you have more time to hit the floor and sing some hip hop, RnB, indie, and chart tunes. And that’s why many students believe it’s a must-visit.
Photo: The Level Nottingham / Facebook.com
Where: The Students’ Union Building, Shakespeare St, Nottingham NG1 4GH
Having hosted some of the biggest names in music including Renne Rapp, Lewis Capaldi, Stone Roses, Nirvana, and Radiohead, this state-of-the-art venue hosts club nights and live music events with bands and huge DJs like Paul Van Dyk.
You can check out more intimate performances in The Loft room or bigger shows and club nights in the main venue with a balcony.
The Level is an immense Nottingham student club and holds some real memories for many students, so if you want to create a couple of your own bring your student card and witness an airway of greatness.
Photo: Tunnel Nightclub Nottingham / Facebook.com
Where: 28 St James's St, Nottingham NG1 6FG
House, techno, tech house, UKG, and DnB are common at Tunnel Club, a popular Nottingham student club spread across two floors. Some events here have free tickets if you’re early too, which is obviously more than welcome during a time when money’s tight but good times are calling.
Photo: Stealth / Facebook.com
Where: Masonic Pl, Goldsmith St, Nottingham NG1 5JT
Stealth is once again ready to blow minds with the fantastic DJs and artists they book. Made for electronic dance music, Stealth is the go-to Nottingham student club for dancing until your feet hurt.
With its Funktion One sound system, you'll feel each note deep in your bones. And with lasers shooting all over the place, your ascent into clubbing heaven will be instant.
Photo: Billy Bootleggers Nottingham / Facebook.com
Where: 13-15 Weekday Cross, Nottingham NG1 2GB
Formerly known as Percy Picklebackers, Billy’s is an “Americanish” dive bar and live music venue with a small capacity and loads of bourbon and cocktails. It adds a spin on Nottingham student clubs, especially with their new and improved take on live music where they welcome local talent to perform and bring you some quality musical entertainment.
Find events at Billy Bootleggers Bar
Photo: The Brickworks / Facebook.com
Where: Newark St, Sneinton, Nottingham NG2 4PP
This intimate, underground warehouse club is known for blasting house, techno, and drum and bass bangers.
Alongside the in-house events they run, The Brickworks has welcomed some stellar names including Mella Dee, Y U QT, Andy C, and Bou, and will certainly continue to do so.
Ocean
Photo: trentevents.co.uk
Where: Greyfriar Gate, Nottingham NG1 7EF
One of the biggest Nottingham student clubs, Ocean is actually the only club in the city exclusively for students. Often referred to as The Big O, it’s known for being wild, busy, and playing lots of throwback tunes.
To secure tickets for club nights at Ocean, you have to go through the Nottingham Trent Students Union. If you’re a Nottingham Trent student, chances are you’ll end up here a fair few times.
Nottingham student bars
Photo: The Bodega / Facebook.com
Where: 23 Pelham Street, Nottingham NG1 2ED
Bodega has some cracking club nights, such as Itchy Feet, The Pop Confessional, Liar's Club, Sounddism, a night for noughties belters. But if you've had enough of screaming over music, Bodega also has two of Nottingham’s best beer gardens for chatting.
Nights out don’t have to be insanely loud and mad, and Bodega is solid proof of that, especially with their live music as they stand as the forefront of the Midlands music scene over the past two decades. With multiple awards under their belt, The Bodega is the perfect all-rounder.
Photo: Das Kino / Facebook.com
Where: Das Kino, 22 Fletcher Gate, Nottingham NG1 2FZ
Das Kino is another of the most popular Nottingham student bars. Part of why it’s so popular is the super student-friendly prices.
See how many wings you can munch on Sundays - it’s all you can eat for just £9.95. The bar also offers pizza and ping pong with DJs playing every weekend and live music, too. Das Kino, in a gorgeous Grade II listed building, also hosts brunches and other events.
Photo: The Hockley Arts Club / Facebook.com
Where: 20a Carlton St, Nottingham NG1 1NN
If you’ve been looking for somewhere to blow that student loan, get down to Hockley Arts Club. Instagrammable with beautiful cocktails, the decor is crazy pretty, from the bannisters to the chairs, the walls to the lighting and literally everything else - it’s gorgeous!
Apart from Nottingham's best bars and venues, and winning an award for 'Best Small Bar', you can guarantee a night of complete and utter sophistication.
Photo: Nottingham Bierkeller / Facebook.com
Where: 15-17 Friar Ln, Nottingham NG1 6DA
This Bavarian-themed bar serves up steins and actively encourages you to dance on the tables.
There are a few different areas in the complex including the Lodge, an area for calmly sipping drinks, Shooters for bar games, Biergarten for enjoying your bev in the sun (if it ever comes back out), and obviously the main area for table dancing before heading out to a club.
Shooters also has a huge projector screen and TVs for those big games, showing up to three live events at a time.
Andddd, breathe. As you can see, Nottingham has a lot of student bars and clubs that will have you nights out feeling like your student loan could last forever! With venues hitting the mark no matter what you're looking for, Notts has got something different in every corner.
And when you get a little stuck and think you've completed it all, Skiddle will be with you every step of the way, with our nightlife guide and cheap things to do in the city alongside the best events.
Start your first year with a bang at a massive bang. Click or tap here to find the biggest, wildest freshers parties.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
Header: Rescue Rooms / Facebook.com