Newcastle’s student nightlife has a reputation that stretches well beyond the city. Ask any student in the UK where they’d most want to go for a night out and Newcastle regularly comes up – the combination of Osborne Road’s pub strip, the Bigg Market’s traditional circuit, the Quayside’s bars, and the dedicated club venues makes it a genuinely complete night-out city. Here’s how to work it.
Osborne Road, Jesmond
The heartbeat of student drinking in Newcastle. Osborne Road in Jesmond runs about half a kilometre and is lined almost entirely with bars and pubs that trade on the student circuit. Bijou, Spy Bar, the Lounge, Lola Janes – the road fills up from around 8pm on weekends with students doing the rounds. Prices are good, the atmosphere is reliably energetic, and the concentrations means you can spend an entire night within 200 metres. A bit of a bubble, but it’s a comfortable bubble.
Digital
On Times Square near Central Station, Digital is Newcastle’s most respected club venue from a music perspective. The booking policy covers electronic music seriously – techno, house, drum and bass, UK bass – and the room has a proper sound system. Less of a mainstream student night and more for those who want to dance to something they’ll remember. Check the listings and book in advance for bigger nights.
Tiger Tiger
On the Quayside, Tiger Tiger is a multi-room venue that covers several genres simultaneously. It’s big, it’s reliable, it runs student nights on specific evenings, and the sheer size means there’s always somewhere to go within it. Not the most discerning choice but a dependable one for groups with varied tastes. Student discount cards apply – check before you pay.
Bijou
On Osborne Road, Bijou is the upscale end of the Jesmond strip – VIP booths, a decent cocktail list, and the kind of atmosphere that suits a birthday night out. Still fundamentally a student venue but one that tries to do it with a bit more polish. Good for occasions when you want something slightly more than the standard pub crawl.
Getting Around
Newcastle’s Metro runs until about midnight. After that, taxis from the Quayside and city centre are plentiful but busy on weekend nights – expect queues. Osborne Road is walkable from most Jesmond student accommodation. The city centre clubs are most easily reached by taxi from Jesmond.
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