It is always fun to go out to a bar in the city, but the experience is not always the most student-friendly when it comes to budgeting your night out. Therefore, I have listed below the best bars you can visit in Birmingham as a student, which are both super fun and fairly reasonable.
If you love happy hour…
Las Iguanas
With bold, brightly coloured painted walls and loud reggaeton tunes, this Latin American-themed restaurant chain is perfect for any student looking for a bar that is both fresh and funky. Las Iguanas currently has 57 outlets in the UK, meaning that you can find a similar experience pretty much around the whole country, but I think it would be quite hard to beat the vibe the Brindley Place one offers in Birmingham. Many a time I have seen people having a sing and a dance around the bar, and it’s not really any surprise given that the cocktails (and mocktails) are 2-4-1 all day every day. I would personally recommend trying out their brilliantly fruity Raspberry Collins and dreamily creamy Piña Colada.
Slug & Lettuce
Another hotspot in Brindley Place (which actually happens to neighbour Las Iguanas) is Slug & Lettuce. The company is also a chain with a whopping 70 outlets in the UK, but the Birmingham one is particularly aesthetically pleasing with floral arrangements, fairy lights and fancy outdoor birdcage seating. Unfortunately, their happy hour is only from 4-10 pm, but still offers 2-4-1 cocktails and mocktails. Something particularly unique about this one would have to be the cocktail trees, which are great for group outings as they feature 9 cocktails that allow you to get your bang for your buck. If you are going out with the girls, I would recommend the PornStar Tree or the Cosmo Tree, which both look gorgeous and taste deliciously sweet.
If you like playing games…
NQ64
Whether you are a modern gamer who is into Halo and Fortnite or a classic arcade gamer who cannot get away from Pacman and Donkey Kong, NQ64 has a game for you. With neon paint-splattered walls and plenty of technicolour blinking lights, the retro 80s feel in this bar is somehow simultaneously nostalgic and also a new thrill. In terms of how it all works, most games require 1 or 2 counters to be played and you can buy 15 counters for £5, which is quite a steal! One of my favourite things about this bar is the cocktail menu available, which not only has a selection of drinks that taste delicious but also have cute novelty names like ‘Kirby’ and ‘Donkey Kolada’.
Roxy’s Ballroom
If you are more into traditional games rather than virtual or video ones, then Roxy’s Ballroom is the place for you. With venues in major cities across the country from Manchester to Leeds to Bristol, Roxy’s has become a staple bar pretty much everywhere, and Birmingham is no exception. There is a wide range of games to play including ten-pin bowling, American pool, ping pong, shuffleboard, beer pong and basketball, and most of them cost between £10-£15 to hire out for the hour. On top of this, the food and drink is extremely good – I personally recommend trying any of the pizzas and the peanut butter and jelly shot, which is made with Frangelico and Chambord, and is part of the bargain 2 shots for £6 deal.
If you’re looking for a cheap night out…
Joe’s Bar
If you are a University of Birmingham student, you will know all about Joe’s. Located on campus in the Guild of Students, this bar is perfect if you are looking for a way to blow off some steam after a long day of lectures and seminars, or if you are not wanting to trek too far from the Selly Oak student area for a pint. There is also a brilliant pub quiz available to compete in every Thursday with the prize usually including some highly-coveted Fab n Fresh tickets!
The Indie Lounge
This is my personal favourite on the list. Located in the heart of Selly Oak at the bottom of Hubert Road, this longstanding establishment has been a student hub for decades now. The drinks are cheaper than competing local pubs down the road, the staff are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet, and there is always some sort of event going on. Whether it is a night of live music, karaoke, stand-up comedy, a quiz or even drunken Shakespeare performances, the entertainment is always enjoyable.