As a university student myself, I must admit that a lot of my life currently revolves around parties, clubs and pub gardens. Although this is not the case for everyone, it is still universally a large part of university life, or at least its stereotypes; to be out drinking and socialising.
However, as me and my friends have transitioned from first year as freshers, where everything was new and exciting, to second year students where our work is more time consuming, I find that we have ventured into the night less and less.
Isabel Bradshaw talks about going to the pub and club as a second year student
As well as work becoming increasingly more important, for some, sport is as well. This year Preeya Abidi, a second-year student at the university of Chester, took on the roll as the 2s team captain for the Chester women’s hockey team. Preeya told me that, “sport is a huge part of my life, and as much as I enjoy a night out with friends or a quick pint in the pub, hockey ultimately comes first.”. I played alongside Preeya last year, and it is safe to say that she deserves her position as the 2s team captain, and she is willing to “make sacrifices to keep the role and to make sure that we have the best chance of winning our matches.” – a good attitude to have when it comes to being a part of a team.
I then spoke to some of my friends who are currently attending Durham University, where they have an abundance of clubs, pubs and college bars. Sarah Skitch, a second-year theology student told me that “it’s really nice to have so many options” and that “it means that you always have somewhere to go”. She went on to talk about how “it means that we never really get bored, like if one place is too quiet or busy, there is always somewhere else we can get into.”.
Chester although abundant with pubs and bars, has a serious lack of night clubs. Rosies, Chester’s main club has been open since 1993 and each week sees hundreds of students and young people alike. But it can get old quick. The same dancefloor, the same music, the same people every single week can grow a little old and sometimes I wish that we had more of an option on our nights out. This thus, is another reason as to why going out is becoming less and less appealing to students
How many students are actually going out?
According to an article from the Guardian, by Stephen Burke, one in four late night venues went out of business between 2020 and 2025. Mainly due to economic pressure, but also due to the desire to work harder and the rise of sobriety.
So, are you a partier, out dancing until dawn, or someone who would rather be tucked up in bed, ready for an early morning sports match or trip to the library?
