The best student bars and clubs in Southampton

So you’ll be studying in Southampton - congrats! Since your first course of action will be making mates and hitting the town, here are Southampton’s best student bars and clubs.

Skiddle Staff

Last updated: 11th Sep 2024

The uni experience is all about going out and (responsibly) getting on it at every opportunity. We can pretend it’s about learning and gaining life experience, but everyone just wants to go out to some cool bars with their new mates. Probably because everyone who’s been to uni says it’s the best bit. And that’s especially true around freshers’.

So here are the best Southampton student clubs and bars so you can show off your Southampton nightlife knowledge before ending the night at the Tariq Manzils to soak up all the booze!

Southampton student bars

The Stag’s

What-s-On-at-SUSU

Photo: What's On at SUSU / Instagram.com

Where: Building 40 University Road in Southampton SO17 1BJ

Since we’re going over the best Southampton student bars, we might as well start with one that’s a proper student bar. The Stag's is on the Uni of Southampton’s Highfield Campus, making it the perfect place to meet new mates. As a student bar, you can rely on the drinks to be as cheap as chips. And warm up your voice before you head down because it's mad for karaoke on Thursdays. Unfortunately, it isn’t open on weekends, but the madness of Thursdays makes up for it. Happy hour is Monday to Thursday, 4pm until 7pm!

SUSU also has event space Below Deck, a cafe bar The Bridge, restaurant The Plant Pot, and multi-purpose room The Cube.

Find tickets for Southampton University events

Orange Rooms

Orange-Rooms

Photo: Orange Rooms / Facebook.com

Where: 1-2 Vernon Walk in Southampton SO15 2EJ

Now drinks at Orange Rooms aren't the cheapest, but they do two cocktails for £12, £3 beers, and £2.50 singles every day until 11pm. And the bar's just too cool not to check out once or twice. With a 70s cocktail lounge theme, Orange Rooms is cool, retro, and, if you like, perfect for Instagram.

The Hobbit Pub

Photo: The Hobbit Pub / Facebook.com

Where: 134 Bevois Valley Rd in Southampton SO14 0JZ

Named after, and themed around, J. R. R. Tolkien's book, The Hobbit has the biggest beer garden in the city centre. The Hobbit is a firm favourite of many, especially students because it’s pretty easy on the wallet.

The Hobbit hosts regular quizzes (topics have included Disney, Doctor Who, anime, and general knowledge) and free live music. Boasting pint cocktails (you read that right), slushies in the summer, and mocktails plus the ultimate drunk foods - pizza and garlic bread - it’s just ace. Further, they host events with past examples including bottomless brunches, emo club nights, raves, drag, live pro wrestling, a rum festival, and freshers events.

Find tickets for events at The Hobbit Pub

The Scholars Arms

the-scholars-arms

Photo: Scholars Arms / Instagram.com

Where: 166 Above Bar St in Southampton SO14 7DU

The Scholars Arms is favoured by sports fans, especially Southampton F.C. fans. Over in Cultural Quarter, the sports bar, with its live TV and games like shuffleboard and pool, is considered Southampton’s best. Scholars also offers late entertainment on weekends, karaoke, and DJs.

The Alex

The-Alex-Southampton

Photo: The Alex / Instagram.com

Where: 6 Bellevue Rd in Southampton SO15 2AY

A beer garden with fairy lights and greenery, smash burgers, and lots of history - that's just a bit of what The Alex has to offer. This budget-friendly pub is one of Southampton’s oldest taverns, having been around since the 1800s, and is certainly one of the best Southampton student bars.

Recently renamed The Alex from The Alexandra, the self-proclaimed “sexy burger pub” has loads of thrills on offer including quiz night Tuesdays (win yourself £50 in bar vouchers), half-price burgers every Wednesday, open mics with two-for-one on cocktails on Thursdays, and free live music on Saturdays. You’ll also find a pool table, board games, and classic video games.

Stein Garten

Stein-Garten-Southampton

Photo: Stein Garten Southampton / Facebook.com

Where: 46-47 High St in Southampton SO14 2NS

Friends, cold steins, and oompah bands collide at Stein Garten, a Bavarian-themed bar with authentic German food and beer. Working hard to ensure an authentic and fun experience, the bar has Krombacher, Erdinger, Franziskaner, and their own beer and cider on tap. But don't worry, they've got wine, cocktails, and loads more beer and spirits.

Happy hour runs from 5pm until 7pm every day but Saturday, but more importantly, the venue does a Dog Challenge. Winners of the Dog Challenge will eat a yard-long sausage and be put on the winners’ board, secure a t-shirt, and a stein glass or certificate of completion to take home.

Revolution

Photo: Revolution Bars / Facebook.com

Where: 28a Bedford Pl in Southampton SO15 2DB

Revolution is another killer Southampton student bar with lovely drink deals.

Open from noon until late every night, Revolution is a student's dream with happy hour running from 3pm until 9pm (every day except Saturday), gifting you two-for-one cocktails, £3.50 wine, and £3.50 pints. Revolution also has a killer bottomless brunch for some mad daytime antics.

In the summer, head up to their open-air rooftop bar with comfy booths, fairy lights, and a TV. And, if you pick up work in a bar or restaurant, you can head over for Industry Sundays (with a payslip for proof) for 50% off food and drink all day and all night.

Southampton student clubs

Jesters Nightclub

Jesters-Nightclub

Photo: Jesters Nightclub / Facebook.com

Where: 114-118 Bevois Valley Road in Southampton SO14 0JZ

So sh*t that it’s great, Jesters is often donned “one of the UK’s worst nightclubs”. That might sound off-putting but all that tells you is that you’ll have a night or two you definitely won’t forget. It’s certainly an eventful club.

Get over there, order yourself a Jesticle (their signature cocktail with mystery ingredients), and dance to the Baywatch theme tune. You’ll understand once you’ve done it.

They go mad with happy hours including an all-night-long happy hour on Monday with pints and shots for £1. Then there’s pints for £2.50 on Wednesdays, and Fridays with £3 cocktails and £2 bombs. Give it a go, it’s a Southampton student rite of passage! Tip: don’t wear your favourite trainers.

Sobar

Photo: The Sobar Southampton / Facebook.com

Where: 98-102 Bevois Valley in Southampton SO14 0JZ

In the heart of student territory with big screens, comfy sofas, and drink deals, Sobar is considered by many students to be the best of all Southampton student clubs. Part club, part bar, Sobar attracts students for a few reasons including SO:Crazy. On Tuesdays, SO:Crazy brings £1 doubles. Yep, a quid for a double.

When they aren’t helping you get leathered for just a few pounds, Sobar hosts some incredible artists -including some you definitely recognise - from across DnB, house, UKG, rap, and more, often (but not always) in the Sobar Garden.

Find tickets for events at Sobar

The Edge

The-Edge-Nightclub-Southampton

Photo: The Edge Nightclub, Southampton / Facebook.com

Where: Compton Walk in Southampton SO14 0BH

With over 28 years of experience serving Southampton’s LGBTQ+ residents and allies, The Edge is the city's biggest, most popular LGBTQ+ club. But if that didn't convince you, they have regular nights with solid drink deals.

For example, we’ve got POPGASM every Thursday with two for £5 alcopops and £4 doubles, while Wednesdays offer karaoke and £1.50 drinks, Fridays are Bingo, Cabaret and Cocktails, and Saturdays are for The Big One with so many drink deals we’d be here all day if we listed them. Just know Saturdays have deals on cocktails, beer, and shots.

Switch

Photo: Switch Southampton / Facebook.com

Where: 127 Above Bar Street in Southampton SO14 7FN

Perhaps best known for house and techno parties, despite there also being plenty of DnB, UKG, and hip-hop, Switch hosts some huge DJs, making it one of the best Southampton student clubs. Bringing confetti, lasers, and good vibes to the city, Switch has seen performances from Josh Baker, Murphys Law, Turno, Oppidan, SOSA, Tion Wayne, Hannah Wants, BBCC, and more. Also regularly welcoming Bongo's Bingo for boozy bingo with dance-offs and mad prizes, it’s a solid venue and one you should keep an eye on.

Find tickets for events at Switch

Popworld

Photo: POPworld Southampton / Facebook.com

Where: 17 Lower Banister St in Southampton SO15 2EH

Self-described as "cheese with style", Popworld is known for drinks deals, nostalgic decor, and cheesy tunes. But the main star of the Popworld show is the super cheap drinks. Their Bounce Sundays offer £2.50 WKDs and Smirnoff Ices, £2.50 on Corona and Desperados, £2.50 bombs, and £3.50 spirit mixers. Rubix lands in the club on Fridays, offering remixes of Popworld music (you'll understand when you get there), chart, and dance anthems with two bombs for a fiver, four sambuca or tequila for £9, and four Sourz shots for £6. We’ll leave you to discover the rest.

Find tickets for events at Popworld

So, are you ready to spend the next few years in these amazing Southampton student bars and clubs? You’d be silly if you weren’t. And since you’re off to uni, you've basically signed an oath to say that's exactly what you'll be doing, anyway.

From pizza parties to mad DnB raves, click or tap here to find your dream Southampton freshers event.

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.