The best student bars and clubs in Bristol

Bristol for uni? Unreal choice. Now, let's get ready for when that student loan comes in: here are the best student clubs and bars in Bristol.

Skiddle Staff

Last updated: 28th Aug 2026

Bristol’s nightlife has a reputation that speaks for itself. Absolutely buzzing at all times, it naturally delivers some cracking student bars and clubs.

Whether you’re a fresher raring to dive into your first big nights out in the city or a seasoned student who needs some fresh spots to keep the party going, you’re in the right place.

With so many student-friendly venues to choose from, having a look through them all would eat into your pre-drinks time (and nobody wants that). So we’ve done you a solid and rounded up the very best student bars and clubs in Bristol. Your go-to list for making the most of the city’s legendary nightlife scene. Let’s go.

Thekla

Photo: Thekla Bristol / Instagram.com

Where: The Grove, East Mud Dock, Bristol BS1 4RB

Thekla is easily one of the best student clubs in Bristol. This club on an old cargo ship has provided partiers with a cool location to jam out to DJs and live music for years now. The club isn’t fussy about genre, playing drum and bass, UKG, house, techno, indie, rock, metal, RnB, soul, reggae, and just about every other genre over its speakers. Appealing to many scenes, it's easy to see how the venue would attract music-loving students.

Find tickets for events at Thekla

The Lanes

Photo: The Lanes / Facebook.com

Where: 22 Nelson St, Bristol BS1 2LE

Sometimes a drink just isn’t enough. Sometimes you need some proper entertainment. The Lanes is a mashup of a live music venue, nightclub, bar, arcade, and bowling alley, making it easily one of the best student bars in Bristol. We reckon that should keep you busy for a good few hours. But if not, there’s also karaoke, pool, DJs, and pizza. The music is diverse as hell, too, with everything from Motown nights to metal, funk and Northern soul. But the best bit is that it’s open daily.

Find tickets for events at The Lanes

OMG

Photo: OMG Bristol / Instagram.com

Where: 1-2 Frog Lane, Bristol BS1 5UX

OMG is one of the city’s best, liveliest LGBTQ+venues. Thanks to its student nights, like Wednesday’s Poundemonium, which offers £2 bombs and £3 mainlines, it's super popular with students. Then there's £1 Rave Mondays, with £1 entry, £1 drinks, and rave anthems all night. They'll also be launching Toast Tuesdays, with pop, indie, and loads of toast. Expect cheerful, proud vibes, drag acts, and bangers.

Basement 45

Photo: Basement 45 / Facebook.com

Where: 8 Frogmore St, Bristol BS1 5NA

The “home of bass music”, Basement 45 is an underground nightclub (literally) that’s always heaving with students. But despite being mainly a place for drum and bass fans to skank out, the club also bumps other genres such as UKG, techno, grime, house, trance, and more. It also offers cocktail classes, comedy, DJ lessons, and dance classes. It’s always going off at Basement 45, and they have the occasional freshers and free parties too.

Find tickets for events at Basement 45

The Apple

Photo: The Apple / Facebook.com

Where: Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SB

Why wouldn't you want to try a bunch of tasty ciders and perries on a converted 1920s Dutch barge? Well, if the weather’s nice, we wouldn’t blame you for not wanting to sit inside, but that’s cool because The Apple also has a belting beer garden! Serving up the Bristol massive since 2006, you can expect some very reasonably priced pints and some that are so strong that they only serve them as half pints. You've been warned.

Cosies

Photo: Cosies / Facebook.com

Where: 34 Portland Square, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 8RG

Do you love bass? Couldn’t be happier with your ears next to a massive sound system? Cosies is for you. Serving up banging food in the day and transforming into a haven for reggae, jungle, 140 and garage music in the evening, you’ll catch a ton of great DJs at this intimate space. Cosies’ Reggae Sundays events are the stuff of legend in the city, too (and only a fiver entry), so get down and feel your body vibrate to low-end frequencies at one of the best student clubs in Bristol.

The Fleece

Photo: The Fleece Bristol / Facebook.com

Where: 12 St Thomas Street, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6JJ

This live music venue/nightclub hybrid has something on every night of the week, and it’s been that way since 1982. Focusing mainly on guitar music, The Fleece boasts emo, 90s/00s, indie, rock, and metal nights, but also DnB, K-pop, and Y2K pop events in its calendar. With a variety of events and decent drink prices, it’s clear why it's a student hotspot.

Find tickets for events at The Fleece

The Anchor

Photo: The Anchor / Facebook.com

Where: 323 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8PE

Under new ownership but still a student favourite, The Anchor is one of the best student bars in Bristol thanks to its drink offers, bottomless brunches, live sport on 14 screens, cocktails, and scran. It has a beer garden, a pool table, and is open daily. You can’t really go wrong here.

Daisy’s

Photo: Daisy's / Instagram.com

Where: 38-40 Triangle W, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1ER

With bright yellow couches, flowery wallpaper and some seriously sweet-looking cocktails, the retro-inspired feel of Daisy’s is perfect for spending some downtime with your new mates. And if you fancy a dance? Well, you can do that too. The venue has a top-tier selection of student nights from Monday to Thursday, each offering drink deals, bangers, and a buzzy dancefloor. With retro tunes, dazzling lights and most importantly, happy hour every night from 8-10pm, this one looks like a no-brainer.

The Brass Pig

Photo: The Brass Pig / Instagram.com

Where: 1, Clifton Heights, 45 Triangle W, Bristol BS8 1EJ

Open from 5pm until late, Friday to Saturday, Clifton Triangle’s The Brass Pig is perfect for kicking off the evening or sinking that last drink before you call it a night. Relax in the outdoor area or hit the dancefloor so hard you’ll regret it for the next month. The Pig has two floors - a lively lower dancefloor and a comfy balcony terrace overlooking the Triangle, which is perfect for cocktails in the sun. Blow that student loan alongside other students at The Brass Pig, one of the best student bars in Bristol - yes, they have drink deals, including £1 drinks on Mondays!

Find tickets for events at The Brass Pig

Lakota

Photo: Lakota / Instagram.com

Where: 6 Upper York St, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 8QN

Moving on from the more full-on student bars and clubs, we’re now coming to Lakota, a famous, beloved venue for DJs, live music, comedy, beer, cocktails, and more. Independent since 1992, the underground favourite also boasts Lakota Gardens for sun-soaked events and pints, and Moon Club, an intimate electronic music venue with a no-phones policy.

Find tickets for events at Lakota

The Full Moon And Attic Bar

Where: 1 North St, St Paul's, Bristol BS1 3PR

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, Full Moon has live music and DJs on for a bustling atmosphere. Also with food, pool and ping pong tables, and outdoor seating, you can see why it’s a firm Bristol favourite. You'll often find (surprise, surprise) drum and bass nights, including some free ones for the student lot.

You'll find Full Moon in the Stokes Croft area just five minutes from the city centre, made up of its outdoor area, pub, nightclub, hostel, and two kitchens. Get some lager, local IPAs, ciders, cocktails, wine, or spirits down you, and complete it with a burger before enjoying the tunes.

Find tickets for events at The Full Moon And Attic Bar

Think Freshers Think Skiddle. Discover what else Bristol’s buzzy nightlife scene has to offer, including bars, clubs, parties, and so much more, now on Skiddle.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.