These are my suggestions for some good nights out if you're not interested in going to a club or party.
Every student in Birmingham will have a night out on Broad Street at some point. The clubs there - including Rosies, Players and Pryzm amongst others - show up on many freshers' week wristbands and are within walking distance of most accommodations. But, they are not all Birmingham has to offer. There are many reasons why people may want something else. Perhaps you tried clubbing and it wasn’t your thing, or you want to do something a bit more special for a birthday.
Ghetto Golf is an ages 18 and over mini golf course in the super cool Custard Factory. Students pay only £14.50, and get a free cocktail or two free beers included in that price. This mini golf course is a great way to compete with your friends while still having a lot of fun. I personally had an amazing night there, and got some great pictures with the ‘unique’ decorations.
This retro arcade and cocktail bar is another wonder of The Custard Factory. You can get 15 tokens for £7. Although this doesn’t sound like a lot, the last time I went there I didn’t even finish my tokens, so I recommend going halves with a friend where possible. If you love video games, you’ll definitely get a kick out of playing beloved classics such as Donkey Kong, Mario Kart, Dance Dance, Ms Pacman and Guitar hero amongst many more. All the cocktails are delicious and themed around games the arcade offers. A real blast from the past!
I stumbled across this gem by accident. On the surface, Flight Club is just like any other cosy pub in the city centre. However, it doubles as a darts bar with a modern twist. All the boards are filmed, so you can watch back your successful throws and capture your success over your friends. With great drinks and food, the darts are just the cherry on top of this delightful pub.
Not so much an alternative night out, this boozy meal is perfect for any occasion. With an extensive menu, the Button Factory includes unlimited prosecco with their brunches, as well as both peach and orange syrup to turn your drinks into bellinis. I can personally recommend the burrata starter, if you ever get the chance to go to this beautiful Victorian building.
While this definitely takes a little more forward planning, a night at the theatre is always a great time. Birmingham boasts many great theatres, but with its easy central location by the train station the Alexandra is easy to access for students at the University of Birmingham. With its ever changing shows, there will always be something that takes your fancy.
Being on Campus, this is by far the easiest for students to get to. While on Wednesdays and Saturdays Joe’s turns into a more traditional club, every Thursday a much more chill evening can be found in this location attached to the Guild. Grab a few friends and a few pints and test your knowledge, there’s prizes and bragging rights to be won!
It’s always worth keeping an eye on what’s happening around campus. There are always one off events happening, many including your fellow students. I have just reached the end of my first year, and I have done so much. I’ve attended MMA fights, plays about vampires, winter balls, summer garden parties and so much more. All of them were immensely enjoyable, even ones I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy. I had never seen a fight in person before, but it ended up being a highlight of my year. You will meet a lot of people at university who think clubbing is the only way to have fun, but now you can stay smug in the knowledge that you know better.
My name is Maddie, and I study English and Creative Writing and want to become a video game writer.
