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Nightlife in Belshaft!

Howdy folks:

Given as how there are only a handful of us at university in Northern Ireland I think we should attempt to provide a servie to students contemplating a degree at queens or J'town.

Given as how socialising is a major aspect of going to university and in the spirit of increasing the nationals alchohol tolerance I suggest that we list and give a short blurb about the pubs and clubs of belfast which are frequented by the student populus to allow people to see where could be good to go and where to avoid cos it's pants.

So if u fancy filling this in, give each place a score out of 10 and explain why, you don't have to do them all and if there is any I've missed please feel free to add them (in vaguely alphabetical order):

The Apartment:

Price: 2/10
Craic: 4/10
Drinks: 8/10
Location: 3/10
Overall: 5/10

One of the more up-market places you will ever go to, does beautiful cocktails and loads of them but you'll pay for the priveldge, location is central to the town but ages away from queens.

Aunty Annies:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 8/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 7/10
Overall: 7/10

One of the better nights out in belfast, good for sitting and supping with some mates and the craic is always mighty in aunty annies, don't personally recommend the music upstairs as it's a little...too alternative for my tastes. You can get Hoegarden here which is a lovely beer.

Bar Bacca:

Price: 2/10
Craic: 2/10
Drinks: 7/10
Location: 2/10
Overall: 4/10

You won't see many students here more graduates and young professionals and it's kinda hidden away in a backstreet near the europa, but don't let that fool you it does lovely cocktails and has an extensive bar.

Bar Seven:

Price:
Craic:
Drinks:
Location:
Overall:


I've never been here

Bar Twelve:

Price:
Craic:
Drinks:
Location:
Overall:

I've never been here

The Basement:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 4/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 3/10
Overall: 5/10

Directly across past city hall from the apartment, down a flight of stairs, not a bad bar the craic you have to make for yourself but it's never empty and it's never totally full so it's usually a good place for a few bevvies.

The Basin:

Price:
Craic:
Drinks:
Location:
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I've never been here

The Beach Club:

Price: 8/10
Craic: 6/10
Drinks: 9/10
Location: 2/10
Overall: 7/10

One of the better clubs belfast has to offer and if it wasn't in the odyssey a considerable distance from everything and a sure taxi journey for boozy travelers it would be much better, 3 points on the drinks scale were for the house cocktail 'The Mind Easer' on it's own. Does all drinks 2 pounds nights, one of the more cost-effective nights in belfast.

The Bot:

Price: 6/10
Craic: 8/10
Drinks: 6/10
Location: 9/10
Overall: 7/10

If you're a man United or ireland fan this is the place to watch them play, great atmosphere in here, I quite like it, the up-stairs part is a total sweat pit and don't leave drinking until you get up here as you'll struggle to get to the bar but otherwise can't fault the bot.

Budda:

Price:
Craic:
Drinks:
Location:
Overall:

Havn't been here personally and have heard mixed reports so if anyone wants to fill this one in that'd be good.

The Chelsea:

Price: 1/10
Craic: 2/10
Drinks: 7/10
Location: 4/10
Overall: 4/10

A little out of the way but worth a mention, great bar, really nice lay out, good drinks, but pricey and leave the trainers at home.

Dukes Hotel:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 2/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 8/10
Overall: 5/10

Not a fan of dukes, it's an ok place for a few drinks but not a good place for a night out as the dance floor is the size of my hand and the entire bar isn't much bigger.

The Eg:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 6/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 9/10
Overall: 7/10

I like the eg, I think it's a good night out and a good place for a few drinks, comfy soafs, and it's busy when the bot is busy cos it gets loads of the overflow, they have an irish traditional band on a tuesday night.

The Empire:

Price: 4/10
Craic: 3/10
Drinks: 6/10
Location: 8/0
Overall: 5/10

The empire blows hot and cold but the comedy night is wel worth going a look, they do live music now and then and their jazz night is also worth a look but it's a little pricey.

The Fly:

Price: 4/10
Craic: 4/10
Drinks: 7/10
Location: 8/10
Overall: 6/10

The fly is one of the quieter bars in the university area and I personally can't understand why, it's a nice bar, has two up-stairs dance floor, more than adequate bar areas and really nice drinks, just a little pricey but not spectacularly so.

The Globe

Price: 5/10
Craic: 6/10
Drinks: 6/10
Location: 9/10
Overall: 6/10

Belfasts kareoke bar, some nights be prepared to cover your ears, has lost popularity big time in the last year or two and sometimes the clientel isn't great but I still enjoy the globe for a change. Global Seduction is a lovely cocktail.

The hatfield:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 6/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 6/10
Overall: 5/10

Hmmm hatfield has taken a turn for the better in the last few years it's a really student friendly bar now, nice place, very old timey.

The Kings Head:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 4/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 1/10
Overall: 3/10

The kings head, been here a few times and it's really out of the way, not overly a student bar but still gets a reasonable student clientel, the beer garden is really nice, and as such it's in here cos it's a rarity in belfast.

Laveries:

Price:
Craic:
Drinks:
Location:
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My endeering memory of laveries was it being shot up when I was in upper sixth so probably best not to take much from my ideas of this place, so I havn't filled it in, but the pool is good.

The Limelight:

Price: 6/10
Craic: 9/10
Drinks: 7/10
Location: 7/10
Overall: 8/10

Limelight is a great night out, there's a good atmosphere which isn't a criticism you can level at all bars in belfast and when it's tuesday night be prepared to talk to the world and it's wife, you can stand in the limelight and you'll eventually run into someone you know.

Llyods (aka The Bridge House):

Price: 9/10
Craic: 6/10
Drinks: 8/10
Location: 7/10
Overall: 7/10

Lloyds is a great bar, it's cheap, it does a massive range of drinks and it's quiet enough (volume wise) you can get a bit of a laugh going without having to scream at one another to get a conversation started. Great place to start a night but I wouldn't spend a whole night here.

The M Club:

Price: 4/10
Craic: 3/10
Drinks: 6/10
Location: 8/10
Overall: 5/10

The M club is hit and miss for me, it used to be the best night out in belfast with queues going up to the spar, but it's gone downhill, it's a good place if you enjoy commerical dance music and just want to have a laugh, it's a bit expensive and will either be busy or dead.

The Parlour:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 6/10
Drinks: 6/10
Location:10/10
Overall: 7/10

Ah the parlour, it's guarenteed to be ok all the time, it is rarely much worse and rarely much better the parlour is what you make of it really, located so centrally to the university that it should be declared a school.

Renshaws:

Price: 6/10
Craic: 7/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 7/10
Overall: 6/10

Renshaws...hmmm, it's heavily frequented by the residents of the holylands, renshaws is a pretty good bar, it's reasonably cheap and in a good location but it isn't always the best idea for a night out as it can be un-necessarily loud and cliquely.

Skye:

Price: 8/10
Craic: 6/10
Drinks: 7/10
Location: 3/10
Overall: 6/10

Skye, thursday night, cheapest night in beflast 1 pound per drink and as such the place is piled to the rafters. the dance floor is tiny and you'll struggle to get to the bar. The downstairs is nice to sit in for a few though.

Stiff Kitten:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 2/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 6/10
Overall: 4/10

Stiff kitten is a weird place, you either love it or hate it, I for one am not keen on it, location isn't bad but it's not a good atmopshere at times.

Students Union:

Price: 7/10
Craic: 6/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 10/10
Overall: 7/10

Hmmm well I start this off by saying it's the most expensive students union in the UK so don't be expecting overly cheap booze, and personally I prefer Lloyds for cheap drink but there are three different types of night at the union:

The Speakeasy: It's always way too loud in here the music is turned up to loudly and there is only a small dancefloor which is used pretty much exclusively on st patricks day and when the union itself is all open. Drinks aren't bad and there is loads of comfy seating which is a bonus.

The mandella hall: This place is a good laugh, it's being done up at the moment but this is where all the dancing happens, it's a good laugh and when the union is opened at night it's usually always full to the rafters, just don't expect to get a drink.

The : This place has two major problems, 1. it's way to loud in here and 2. there is 0 mobile reception. The food is really nice and I strongly recommend the pizza.

Thompsons:

Price: 5/10
Craic: 7/10
Drinks: 5/10
Location: 4/10
Overall: 5/10

Thompsons, this is where you go if you're after a late night (most clubs in beflast close at 1am, thompsons closes at 3), it can be a very very sleazy place to visit more so than most, whether you're male or female and the bar closes at 1, so if you fancy dancing away late into the night this could be a good place for you but it's absolutely ROASTING! I'm not keen on Thompsons had 3 jackets stolen here.

There we go folks hope thats helpful, feel free to add anything you wish.

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
Well said... I miss the limelight so.

I take it you're lumping Katy Daly's and the Spring all into the limelight?

I love Katy's for a sunny afternoon summer pint.
milk?
Reply 3
Never been to milk, feel free to write a review of it and I'll lump it in with the rest
Reply 4
I guess I'll give an input too since i've lived in belfast all my life and even worked in a few of these places.

The apartment: I found it pricey, and its only good during the day

Auntie annies: Brill pub during the day, has bands playing at night, very small and cramped and gets very packed out. Good prices.

Bar Bacca: worked here for a bit. Pricey, good for cocktails if your into that, older crowd, plays music on a friday and saturday night (dont know about the rest).

Beach club: Good if you want to go on the pull :p: thats about it. Cheap on sunday nights (£2 a drink, free in).

The Bot: Good pub during the day, upstairs is decent at night, havent been often enough to say much else.

Chelsea: Posh, full of snobs.

The Eg: During the day it can be a bit dead and the prices are decent, but at night (saturday night I think) it gets really packed out, especially upstairs where its free in and plays a bit of everything.

Dempseys: the UDA run this place, and its dodgier then a fire at a petrol station, more likely to get stabbed in the toilets if you bump into someone by accident. Welcome to Northern Ireland. Avoid, apart from being extremely dodgy, its actually a crap night out.

The Empire: A good spot for gigs.

The Kings Head: Or as I call it, "The kings arse".. its pretty **** unless its an organised event (have a mate thats booked a few gigs there before). Its really out of the way. Wasnt too bad for me, its a 20 minute walk from west belfast where I lived (avoid) and its not too far from the Lisburn road if you are in that area. A long long walk into the town though.

La Lea: I worked here for a year, its right next and ran by the same people as bar bacca and irene + nans. In my own opinion, its the best nightclub in Belfast on a Saturday night. Mixed crowd of "young professionals" and students, and people just looking to have a good time. Well kept, avoid the pint glasses though (insider tip just for you lot).

Limelight: Cheapish enough, good on a friday night, always pulls a good crowd (and a lot of regulars) and its great with a lot of mates, its pretty small though so it gets packed out very easily, and the bouncers are ****heads at best.

Lloyds: Everyone who has been in Belfast for the past 2 years will call this place Witherspoons (or Cheapyspoons), so if they say that, its this place. Across the road from the BBC, up the road from the Limelight and around the corner from Auntie Annies, its a place to go before going out. Cheap drink, easy to get into for those with 17 year old mates. I love it during the day.

Skye: Thursday night, enough said. £1

Stiff Kitten: Heard mixed reactions but never been, its a place for thursday nights I've been told.


edit: forgot to add:
Milk: I havent been to this place in over a year and its been done up since. Great on a friday night if I remember correctly, but pretty pricey. The dancefloor doesnt open untill about 11pm if I remember right.
:wink:
milk has been taken over.i went on a night that ahppened to be gcse night, which was also a thursday nite...usuallly free in and £1.50 a drink.on gcse night it was £5 in and full proce drinks with no rnb music just a bunch of 16 years olds with happy hardcore music and glow sticks.when we asked the bar staff why full price she said its gcse night!would never go back again and wouldnt advise anyone else to either.

a good night in town is definitely m club on a thursday night!!well worth the visit
or the parlour on a saturday night but beware they dont allow big crouwds of ppl.
Reply 6
Last time I went to milk, ws before the takeover and it was £5+ for 2 bottles of bud, pricey as hell. Good to see its cheaper.
not anymore its bin taken over!!
Reply 8
Whats the nightlife like compared to say, ohh, Edinburgh, Manchester...Newcastle?
Reply 9
john171
Whats the nightlife like compared to say, ohh, Edinburgh, Manchester...Newcastle?

Not nearly as cheap as manc, but its getting better as time goes on. You can have a good night out but itll cost you if you dont want to end up in a **** hole.
Reply 10
Tuesday nights are pretty good I hear.
Reply 11
the Limelight is brill on a tuesday night, tennents (yuck, still drink it though) for 1 pound, 3 rooms. Other then that I'm not completely sure. Belfast is a weekend nightlife. La Lea is probably one of the best house clubs ive ever been too.
All gone a bit quiet around here recently....yay for going to the limelight on tuesdays and saturdays again

wOOt
Reply 13
john171
Whats the nightlife like compared to say, ohh, Edinburgh, Manchester...Newcastle?


It's nowhere near as good as cities elsewhere. I'm living in Liverpool and although it's not as good as somewhere like Newcastle, it overshadows Belfast by a good bit. Belfast is on the up and I do have good nights out there but it's expensive and there isn't a huge range of different places to go. Yeah, you've got a place for most tastes; cheese, R&B, indie etc but you go to cities like Liverpool and you have a totally different experience. The one thing that struck me about Liverpool was that all the clubs are kinda in the same area or at least within 5 min walking distance whereas in Belfast, a lot of the clubs are very spread out. For instance, should I want to go to Auntie Annies for a drink and then head on to Beach afterwards (because I am that varied in my taste), you'd definitely be talking a taxi ride. I know that's an extreme example because the Odyssey is such a new complex, yadda, yadda but you just don't get that in Liverpool (sorry for the constant comparisons but it's the only place I'm familiar with bar Belfast!).

However, Belfast is a great city and it'll always be a good night for me because I know it so well. I love the Limelight on a Tuesday night and it's so easy to get a taxi back to Carrick because the rest of town is pretty weekend orientated (maybe a fault at the same time?). Maybe in ten years time it'll be up there with some of the bigger cities.
Reply 14
Oh and by the way, you missed out that new club in the Odyssey; Box!! Haven't been yet but I've heard mixed reports and apparently they can be a bit selective with who they let in.
doolie_xx
Oh and by the way, you missed out that new club in the Odyssey; Box!! Haven't been yet but I've heard mixed reports and apparently they can be a bit selective with who they let in.


I've heard that too. A friend of a friend got turned away for being too ugly!
Reply 16
Seriously? Now that's really rough. There must be some sort of...law against that! Reserving the right to refuse entry to the extreme!
Reply 17
By the way, Becca, I LOVE your Black Books quotes. Dylan Moran is my hero..although I don't think he'd appreciate me saying that lol. I did have a Dylan quote in my signature but it seems to have disappeared mysteriously...
Blimey, so the new licensing Act does not apply in NI? I would finde it really strange if a club closes at 1am-3am. It's open end in most clubs here, at least over the weekends, and 2am during the week. So does everyone really go home after that!?
Reply 19
Yeah, I know, it's odd, isn't it? In England I find the clubs close around 3am but when I'm home I fee like I'm having an early night. Well, at least the smoking ban has begun in N.I.! Yay!

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