The Best Student Nights Out in Hull

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About the author: Our SEO Content Exec Morgan Toft has lived all over the place – originally from Hull, she went to uni at York’s own University of York and had a quick stint in Middlesbrough before settling down in Sheffield for her master’s degree at the University of Sheffield. With no intentions of leaving Sheffield any time soon, she’s spent a lot of time around Ecclesall Road, Highfield, the city centre, and beyond.

Tucked away on the north bank of the River Humber, Kingston Upon Hull is a friendly city teeming with history and culture. Thousands of students have flocked here to study at the University of Hull for almost a hundred years, attracted by the uni's glowing reputation as well as scenic landmarks like the Old Town and the Marina.

With an abundance of museums such as Streetlife, shopping centres like St Stephen’s, and cultural hotspots like Ferens Art Gallery and Humber Street, it’s not hard to find yourself busy during the daytime in Hull.

But what about the nights? Here’s where we come in. Below we’ve listed seven of the best places to go for an unforgettable night out in this busy and buzzing city – just make sure that you stop off for a kebab and chips (with Hull’s famous chip spice) or a patty and a bread cake on your way home to bring yourself back to life…

Spiders 

Venturing over the river on a Saturday night to Spiders is a rite of passage for Hull Uni students. As the city’s top alternative nightclub, Spiders attracts a whole host of people from all walks of life – from metal heads to former scene kids, the Spiders crowd is full of folk reliving the nostalgia of 70s punk and 2000s emo. Thanks to the venue’s steadfast refusal to play any form of mainstream pop, hip-hop and house music it continues to be a venue for all.

Don’t let this put you off though. Even if you’re not into heavier genres, you still need to give Spiders a go; after all, you don’t want to miss out on the absolute bargains that are the 50p crumpets (yes, crumpets!) and £2 pints and cocktails. Combined with the £1 membership (giving you entry for a whole 5 years), this makes Spiders the cheapest night out in Hull.

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Broadway 

This central bar is perfect for those who quite literally love to party ‘til the sun comes up. Open until 5am and 6am on Thursday and Saturday nights (or should that be Friday and Sunday mornings?), we wouldn’t recommend that you stroll out of Broadway straight into your Friday 9am, but we won’t judge you if that does end up happening once or twice.

Alongside the fact that Broadway is handily situated directly across from the bus station (Hull Paragon Interchange) in the city centre, the free student entry makes dancing the night away in this club all the more enticing.

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Polar Bear 

Independent venue Polar Bear has been around for a while – this listed building originally opened as a pub way back in 1895, getting its name from Hull’s now-long-lost zoological gardens that used to be right round the corner. Managing to stay open through turbulent recessions and pandemics, Polar Bear is now one of Hull’s go-to places for celebrating up-and-coming local music acts. With live jazz every month, dedicated grassroots gigs on Tuesdays, and indie classics every Saturday, this Spring Bank venue has something for everyone.

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The Brain Jar 

A little more on the expensive side compared to other places listed here, The Brain Jar is definitely worth a visit if you love a creative cocktail or two. Their AW24/25 menu featured innovative inventions like the ‘Tarot Cake’, a carrot-cake-inspired concoction topped with cream cheese frosting for ultimate authenticity. Year round, they’re famed for their Lemon Cheesecake cocktail, alongside classics we all know and love like the infamous Pornstar Martini.

Feeling peckish? The Brain Jar also has a decent food menu which covers small plates like mac & cheese and baked camembert, as well as their raved-about hand-stretched pizzas. There’s a reason the people of Hull love it here.

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Waterfront 

Missing all the classic night-out music that Spiders refuses to play? Opposite Princes Quay on Dagger Lane sits Waterfront, a lively and energetic nightclub that plays everything popular from nostalgic hits to drum and bass. Waterfront definitely makes for a memorable night out, thanks to its lasers, fog machines and confetti cannons. Don’t blame us if you’re still finding glitter in your hair for weeks afterwards.

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The Welly Club 

The Welly is undoubtedly the beating heart of Beverley Road. This community-focused club offers a space for local bands and tribute acts to dazzle crowds with their talent, as well as being a popular student spot for dancing and (of course) drinking.

With emo nights (think MCR, Panic! at the Disco, Paramore… you get the idea) and indie bangers – from the likes of The 1975, The Wombats, Arctic Monkeys, and Catfish and the Bottlemen – sounding all night long, The Welly is one of the most iconic pillars of Hull’s nightlife scene.

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Sanctuary 

If your budget is looking a little worse for wear (that student loan runs dry pretty quickly, doesn’t it?), then don’t fear – Sanctuary is here! Situated in the core of the UoH campus in the student union, this Wetherspoon bar offers everything we love about this great British institution – cheap food and even cheaper drinks, all within walking distance from The Avenues as well as Newland Ave and Bev Road. Live a little further afield in Southcoates or Kingswood? Either head on over to the two other Spoons pubs in the city centre or hop on one of the many buses that take you to the university and Sanc.

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House hunting in Hull? 

It doesn’t matter if you want to live on the doorstep of Sanc or away from the action in a quiet suburb, we can help you find the perfect student accommodation in Hull to suit your needs. We’ve collaborated with letting agents across Hull to bring you a selection of the best student housing the city has to offer, from cosy 1-bedroom apartments to spacious 5-bed houses.

We’re dedicated to making life even easier for Hull students, which is why all properties on our website come with our inclusive utilities package. This means that you get WiFi and uncapped energy all included in the cost of your monthly rent. Handy, right? 

Whilst you’re out having fun in your new uni city, remember that UniHomes promotes responsible drinking, and any alcohol products featured within this article are for ages 18+.