If you’re heading to Reading for college, just know that you probably won’t have many early nights. Between live music, club nights, beer gardens and two-for-one cocktails left, right and center, Reading has a killer nightlife.
But there are also a few bars and clubs that are probably best avoided. So, to avoid all that trial and error and waste of time and money, here are the best student clubs and bars in Reading to check out.
walkabout
Photo: Reading Walkabout on Facebook
Where: Wiston Terrace, Reading RG1 1DG
Walkabout is an Aussie-style bar with live sports, a dance floor and an outdoor area for late-night drunken conversations. They have karaoke nights every Wednesday where pints are just £2 from 10pm, so this could be your laid back midweek night out. Spread over two floors there is plenty of seating for you to enjoy football, boxing or F1. If that’s not your vibe, just relax and enjoy the DJs or wait for the next season of Love Island as they host watch parties!
Lola Lo
Photo: Lola Lo Reading on Facebook
Where: 126-127 Friar Street, Reading RG1 1EP
This Polynesian-inspired venue is one of the best student clubs in Reading. Skint Thursdays are definitely worth a visit if you’re short on cash. It goes down every Thursday and tickets are just £2. There is rock music in one room and alternative, electronic and RnB music in the other. And Red Stripe, VK and Jagerbombs are all £3! Or head to Waiola Fridays for half-price cocktails until midnight and dance, house, tech and RnB bangers. And did we mention it has an outdoor patio and bar?
Milk
Photo: reading milk on Instagram
Where: 8 Merchants Place, Reading RG1 1DT
With over 100 rums on offer, Milk is the best bar for rum lovers and the only independent cocktail bar in town. Join us on Wednesday to take advantage of the rum club, which offers a third off all rum. Or go any weekday for happy hour which includes four Estrella, Red Strip and Asahi for £12. And if you’re looking for something a little different, they have monthly comedy nights, a nice change from just pint after pint.
Gun Street Garden
Photo: Gun Street Garden Play on Facebook
Where: 5-6 Gun Street, Reading RG1 2JR
If dancing the night away is an essential part of a high-profile night out, you can count on Gun Street Garden to make your night a good one. This urban jungle themed club is spread over two floors with house, pop, hip hop and garage tunes ringing out all night long. GSG is known as one of the coolest clubs in the region, which makes it popular with young people. And if you’re feeling a little hot after dancing for hours, head to the rooftop bar and enjoy the fresh air.
The market house
Photo: The market house
Where: 1-2 Market Place, Reading RG1 2EQ
The Market House is easily one of Reading’s best student bars and general hangouts. If you want a yeast dough pizza, a cocktail, a pint and enjoy the weather from a rooftop bar, this is the place to be. It’s even a hotel! Is there anything he can’t do or be? And with events like quizzes, rooftop cinemas and comedy festivals, we think you’ll spend a good part of your college years here.
Bar Mojo
Photo: Mojo’s on Facebook
Where: University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UR
Real student bars are heaven when you’re skinny. Mainly because they are incredibly cheap. But Mojo’s Bar, located on the University of Reading campus, is also a great bar for a few other reasons. As well as being cheap as fries, the bar also broadcasts live sports and hosts quizzes, karaoke, comedy, and live music events. There is also a small patio so you can fully enjoy the summer before the sun hibernates again.
purple turtle
Photo: Violet turtle on Facebook
Where: 9 Gun Street, Reading RG1 2JR
Visiting The Purple Turtle is not really an option. It’s a rite of passage for Reading students. It’s been one of the area’s most popular bars for over thirty years, making it one of Reading’s must-visit student bars. And it’s open until 3am every night! There are plenty of beers on tap and resident DJs to get the party started. As an iconic late-night spot, we’d be surprised if you didn’t dive in for a pint or two at some point.
Oakford Social Club
Photo: Oakford Social Club on Facebook
Where: 53 Blagrave Street, Reading RG1 1PZ
Oakford Social Club has it all: live music, mouth-watering food, cocktails, craft beers, draft beers and a lovely outdoor area for a drink in the sun. Open every day, it’s the perfect place to catch up with your friends to catch up, have a bev and one of their delicious burgers or wings, which are two for one on Wednesdays. They also held quizzes on Wednesdays with a different specialist topic each time. It’s Wednesday sorted!
The border
Photo: The border on Facebook
Where: 21-23 St. Marys Butts, Reading RG1 2LN
Get a student discount and you can enjoy jaw-dropping food and drink discounts at The Boundary Monday through Friday. We’re talking pints for as little as £3, spirit mixers for as little as £2.75 and a sharing plate of chips, onion rings, garlic bread and more for just five. The bar also offers football, rugby and F1 so you can enjoy a cheap and happy day out with your friends. Oh, and they do bottomless brunches every day. Yeah… good luck getting to the conferences.
Reading’s student clubs and bars are unreal. With endless brunches, live sporting events, beer gardens and crazy nightclubs, you’ll barely have time to hold conferences. But who said college was about learning, anyway?
If you’re going to Reading for college this year, start the year off right with a killer freshman event. Click or tap here to guarantee your place at one of Reading’s hottest parties.
Check out our What’s On guide for even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head over to our Things to Do page or get inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
On your mind: Oakford Social Club on Facebook
