I am starting a 4 year degree at uclan this september and I have a few mates who are already studying there, from what I have experienced the nightlife is pretty good, I've been out in manchester and lancaster and places like that and they are all different, I think Lancaster is too small and Manchester is too big, Preston is just in the middle, geographically and size wise, so you can always go to manchester for a mad night out or lancaster for a bit of a change, in general though the clubs and pubs in preston seem pretty good, plenty to do and a good variety, I do not have much experience with the restaurant scene there but judging bu the rest it will be more than good enough, I plan to spend the next 4 years enjoying the nightlife there and can't imagine it will be boring.