Best Student Bars In Durham
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Best Student Bars In Durham

Zoe Kramer February 10, 2023

Durham proves that you don’t have to attend a city uni to have a fun nightlife experience. In fact, for Durham students, you don’t even need to take the twelve minute train to Newcastle to have a good time (although that can be fun, too.) With each of the university’s 17 colleges having its own dedicated bar as well as a range of different venues in town, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the best student bars in Durham to have a fantastic night out and make some fond memories.

The Undercroft Bar

Affectionately known as ‘The Undie’ or ‘Undies,’ the Undercroft Bar is the resident bar for University College. It has a unique selling point, which is that it is located in Durham Castle. It holds the title of oldest student bar in the world, and its warmly lit stone walls give it an ambience that is rivaled by none. The Undercroft hosts a variety of different events from formal dinner nights to live music, quizzes and open mic nights.

Photo by Matthieu Comoy on Unsplash

See also: Durham University Encourages Maths Professors To Decolonize Curriculum

Tin of Sardines

Tin of Sardines is a cute and cozy little gin bar. During the warmer months, their outdoor patio area is the place to be, with a perfect view of the River Wear. If you’re a gin aficionado, this place is hard to beat with over 200 varieties of gin available to try. Even if gin isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy the atmosphere with their selection of beer, wine and cider.

The Half Moon Inn

The Half Moon Inn offers a classic pub atmosphere in a Grade I-listed Tudor building. You can catch a game, check out an event or just have a chat with friends. They have a variety of offers, including St. Patrick’s Day specials, shots & bombs, drinks packages, or two cocktails for £10. They’re especially known for their wide range of top-quality beer, which you can enjoy in their charming courtyard facing the Cathedral.

The Stag’s Head

The Stag’s Head is the resident pub for Collingwood College. They offer all kinds of events from quizzes to performances on their two stages, the Ultraviolet and the Wild Side.

DSU

The Durham Student Union bar, also known as the Kingsgate, is another fantastic option for students. Many society socials and open mic nights take place there. Plus, they have loads of offers – what’s not to love?

See also: Top Places For A Student Night Out In Oxford

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Zoe Kramer has been writing for GRV Media’s student-centric website Freshered since October 2022 and is now also contributing to HITC. She graduated from Cardiff University in 2022 with a BA in Journalism, Media and English Literature. During her time in university, she worked for her student newspaper as well as completing an internship with a book publisher. She has also written and continues to write book and theatre reviews. She is excited to now be pursuing a career as a journalist and learning something new every day. In particular, she loves writing about student life, books, the Internet, and travel. Originally from the United States, she is enjoying living abroad in the UK.