The best student bars and clubs in Lancaster

Lancaster freshers’ week is here! At least it is for Uni of Cumbria students. But Lancs Uni freshers is just around the corner!  

Seeing as you’ll be living in Lancaster for a good few years, it’s vital you get to grips with the best nightlife spots. We all know the best part of uni is grabbing a bunch of your new mates and going out to enjoy some music and cheap drinks and share some laughs. 

So, to help you figure out the best venues for you and your crew, here are the best Lancaster student clubs and bars below so you have a solid game plan for the next group outing. 

 

Lancaster student bars

 

Kanteena 

Photo: Kanteena / Facebook.com 

Where: Brewery Ln in Lancaster LA1 1QL

Boasting street food, gigs, DJs, beer, and more, Kanteena, a repurposed warehouse, is one of Lancaster’s favourite venues. Kanteena is a bit of everything, making it a bar, a club, a great place to eat, and more.

Found in the Canal Quarter not far from Lancaster Bus Station, Kanteena can hold up to 700 people who flock to enjoy live music from big-name DJs and tribute acts. Also welcoming other events like markets, festivals, street food, and more, all while serving up beers and ales from national breweries, it’s no surprise Lancastrians love it so much.   

 

Find tickets for events at Kanteena 

 

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Ye Olde John O'Gaunt

Photo: Ye Olde John O'Gaunt / Facebook.com 

Where: 53 Market St in Lancaster LA1 1JG

This rustic pub that dates back to 1871 is big on live music, a welcoming and comfy atmosphere, real ales, and speciality ciders. As one of the city’s oldest pubs, its history provides a certain something that makes it feel more special. And we all love a little beer garden! 

Donning itself as “the home of live music”, it has acoustic acts gracing its stage every night, plus other free music events including Sunday open mics and the Monday night open mic jam sessions. 

 

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The Crafty Scholar

Photo: The Crafty Scholar, Lancaster / Facebook.com 

Where: 33-37 Church St in Lancaster LA1 1LP

Big on student deals, live sports, and karaoke, most students will stop by The Crafty Scholar at some point. It’s just inevitable. 

The Scholar is open daily - staying open until 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays - and often shows live sports like rugby, footie, boxing, and cricket. But The Scholar also likes the occasional party (including midweek sessions) covering house, techno, DnB, and party tunes accompanied by two-for-one cocktails, £2.50 pints, and eight for £12 shots. Their Skint Wednesdays are a fave of students, which sees the bar slash drinks prices and bring in a DJ until 2 am. 

Get over there, order a cocktail pitcher, embarrass yourself on karaoke, and then laugh about it with your mates the next day. 

 

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The Bobbin 

Photo: The Bobbin / Facebook.com 

Where: 36 Cable St in Lancaster LA1 1HH

Booking many metal, punk, and rock acts but also occasional reggae, electronic, and more, The Bobbin attracts a lot of the alternative crowd, but also lots of others who just love the bar and its atmosphere. When there isn’t any music on, the mostly Victorian pub has a jukebox, pool table, and screens to keep you entertained. 

Literally a two-minute walk from Lancaster Bus Station, it’s pretty easy to get home from here, even if you’re leathered. Committed to great music, great beer, and great people, give it a go!   

 

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The Pendle Witch

Photo: The Pendle Witch / Instagram.com 

Where: 90-92 Penny St in Lancaster LA1 1XN

We love a traditional pub. And it seems Lancaster does too. This one’s got a cosy vibe, prices that won’t make you cringe when you open your banking app in the morning, and great ales. 

Also boasting a beer garden, quiz nights on Thursdays, live sports (BT and Sky), great grub, and occasional live music, it’s easily one of the best Lancaster student bars. For freshers' week, they've got a DJ every night, freebies, and some solid drink offers including £2.50 pints and £2.50 spirit mixers. 

 

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Mint Bar

Photo: Mint Lancaster / Facebook.com 

Where: 34 Church St in Lancaster LA1 1LH

If you want a proper cocktail before hitting a club, this is the one. Mint is the city’s longest-running cocktail bar, open daily until 2 am. 

If you’re a bit strapped for cash, Mint does a Cocktail Of The Week so you can grab one for just £6.75. They also have a two for £13 cocktail menu. Don't worry if cocktails aren't your thing though, they've of course got loads of spirits and beers on tap too. 

And when the sun finally decides to show up, they've got outdoor seating so you can make the most of it. Finally, they also do a Mint Card, which lasts for life and gets you some extra offers. 

 

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Dalton Rooms

Photo: Dalton Rooms Sports Bar / Facebook.com 

Where: 14 Dalton Square in Lancaster LA1 1PL

Massive screens, more TVs, booths, and games make Dalton Rooms a firm favourite for many Lancastrian sports fans. Featuring 16 screens in total, the bar shows footie, boxing, tennis, racing, cricket, F1, rugby, and more. 

Flogging Carlsberg for just £2.80 and four-pint pitchers for a tenner, it’s worth heading over even if you aren’t a sports fan. Especially with their new arcade-style games, darts, pool tables, and air hockey. It’s a relatively new sports bar, having only opened mid-way through 2024, so why not head over there and help break it in? 

 

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The Water Witch

Photo: The Water Witch / Facebook.com 

Where: Canal Tow Path, Aldcliffe Rd in Lancaster LA1 1SU

Loads of outdoor seats in the sun beside the Lancaster Canal - The Water Witch is the perfect summer pub. But even when it’s not nice out, it’s definitely a solid choice. 

Offering a 10% student discount on food and drink every day, The Water Witch is good to its student clientele. With Monday evening burger deals, a Thursday evening pizza and pint deal, the Craft Can Of The Week deal giving you 25% off, and £1 entry quiz nights on Thursdays, it has loads to draw you in. And yes, they have vegan and vegetarian options!

 

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Hogarths Gin Palace

Photo: hogarthsbars.co.uk

Where: 9 George St in Lancaster LA1 1XQ 

If you’re feeling fancy, check out this Victorian gin palace. Take your pick from over 120 different brands of gin and get comfy in this open-plan bar with booths, stained glass windows, and chandeliers. 

Showing live sport on Sky and BT on its many TVs, the bar is big on entertainment. But you can also simply enjoy its lively atmosphere complemented by its high-tech music system. And if you don’t care for gin, they’ve got cocktails, a range of draught drinks, and regularly changing cask and real ale. 

 

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The Study Room 

Photo: The Study Room / Facebook.com 

Where: 30-32 Church St in Lancaster LA1 1LH

With a modern, slick look, The Study Room is perfect for drinks, eats, and evening entertainment. 

You might fancy heading to The Study Room on a Wednesday or two, as that's their big student day with drink deals. We're talking £3 spirit mixers, £5 doubles, £3.50 Amstel and Inch's Cider, £3 Sol, two for £10 cocktails, and £1 Sourz shots. They also do 10% off food all day, every day for students. 

Study Room also does quizzes on Thursdays, Live Music Fridays, and brings DJs around to liven up Saturday evenings. 

 

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The Sun Hotel & Bar

Photo: The Sun Hotel & Bar / Facebook.com 

Where: 63-65 Church St in Lancaster LA1 1ET

It might feel a bit odd to go for a drink in a hotel bar, but The Sun Bar is an award-winner that’s known to be quite reasonably priced.

Stocking premium cask ales, draught beers, global craft spirits, and more, The Sun seeks out the best authentic and independent drinks to fill its stock room with. That includes ten hand-pulled cask beers, two draught guests, four imported lagers, a stout line, and fruit beer lines. 

It’s a little more up-market but you’re allowed to treat yourself every now and then. Especially in the summer when the sun is drenching The Sun’s beer garden. 

 

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Gregson Arts & Community Centre

Photo: The Gregson Centre / Facebook.com 

Where: 33-35 Moorgate in Lancaster LA1 3PY

This community centre has all sorts going on. Of course it has a cafe/bar but it also offers loads of clubs, exhibitions, shows, and live music. Everything from queer club nights to dance classes, craft clubs to film clubs and so much more happens here. 

Students can get 10% off drinks at the bar by simply showing their student ID. You'll find cask ales, bottled craft beers, wines, and non-alcoholic drinks along with barista coffees and teas.

Priding itself on being a home away from home and creating hope through connection with the community, why not stop by and see what’s on? 

 

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The Pub

Photo: The Pub / Instagram.com 

Where: 45-47 China St in Lancaster LA1 1EX

Another one that’s popular with the alternative crowd, The Pub welcomes many live performances from acts usually somewhere on the rock, punk, and metal spectrum. It’s one of the best Lancaster student bars, especially for live music enthusiasts.

Offering a solid menu of shooters for just £3 or four for £10, real ales, and an ever-changing guest pump, we think just about anyone could fall in love with The Pub. 

The Pub has a cool outdoor area for festivals and soaking up the sun... when it finally comes back out. Summertime also brings drinks like frozen margaritas to keep you cool. During the colder months, you can stay inside, keeping warm by the fire and playing pool. 

 

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Lancaster student clubs

 

The Sugarhouse 

Photo: Sugarhouse / Facebook.com 

Where: Sugar House Alley in Lancaster LA1 1NW 

Established in 1982 and run by Lancaster University’s SU, Sugarhouse is definitely one of the best Lancaster student clubs, loved for its cheap drinks and cracking atmosphere. 

Having seen sets from Danny Howard, Sigala, Rudimental and more as well as local DJs and acts, the club’s speakers pump out a variety of genres. The club is open every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday during term time but it also has some special events popping up from time to time on other days of the week.

The club also operates Sugar Bus, which is there to ensure you get home safely after a belting night out. Lovely. 

 

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Vibe

Photo: Vibe Lancaster / Facebook.com 

Where: 14 Dalton Square in Lancaster LA1 1PL

Open on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as Monday and Wednesday during uni term time, Vibe is a 900-capacity venue with a VOID Acoustics-powered sound system. 

Depending on the night, you can hear a few genres including DnB, garage, hip-hop, R&B, club classics, even K-pop, and more. Vibe does two-for-£6 on selected drinks, shots, and bombs all night long every Friday, two-for-one before midnight on Saturdays, and 3 am deals every Friday and Saturday. Basically, you can enjoy a long night out and have a laugh without much damage to your wallet. 

The venue is also part of Operation Homesafe, meaning it’s a safe space for anyone who needs it, and they’ll help you get home after a night out if needed. 

 

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There are so many cracking Lancaster student bars and clubs for you and your new uni mates to check out. Spanning loads of genres, offering plenty of solid deals, and boasting lots of events, you’ve got plenty of venues to let your hair down in between lectures. 

Search Skiddle now to find gigs, raves, club nights, comedy, and more in Lancaster. 

 

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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: Kanteena / Facebook.com