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Essential information brought to you by the wise mutt, for both your pubbing and clubbing needs.
If your planning to come to the Boro and you need guidance as to a good night out, then you are in for a very pleasant surprise - a rarity in Middlesbrough. For Boro has a large number of pubs and nightclubs available to cater for all needs (though don't expect a peaceful night out).
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The Middlesbrough student pub and club A-Z
Most of the pubs below are all located near to each other, on Linthorpe Road, Corporation Road, Southfield Road and Albert Road. This means that they are very accessible and perfect for a visit on a student night out.
Nightout Comments
Main nights in Boro are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Some places do offers on weekdays for students, but town is usually only packed towards the end of the week.
Pubs
Bar Fresco - ***
A very popular bar, it is often absolutely packed in here. Hard to get served because of the queues on some nights, too. But if you like loud music, a packed place with almost a night-club atmosphere, look no further. Not particularly big, though.
Barricuda - ***
Was Bar Zantia, the Barricuda is situated on two floors with staircases at either side, a fairly large drinks bar downstairs and a cocktail bar upstairs. Personally I preferred it's predecessor the Zantia, the Barricuda is alright for a visit on a night.
The Box Office (Faulkners Bar) - ***
The Box Office is hidden away near to the Empire, and is most popular as a warm-up bar with clubbers on a Sugarshack (Friday) night.
Chicago Rock Cafe - ***-****
Similar in style to the Hard Rock Cafes you find in the cities, the Chicago Rock is located near to Isaacs and below Time and Envy. With walls adorned with gold discs and guitars, Monday - Wednesday is over 18's (previously over 20's), with drinks either £1.50, £1.70 or £1.90 all night long. Tuesday night is Karaoke night, with a cash prize of £100 (and a grand final at the end of each month for £200).
The Chicago Rock music policy is everything from 1957 to 1985 with a
selection of music up until 1995. It is open till 2am on Tues/Thur/Fri/Sat.
The Crown - ***
A bit further away from the other pubs, The Crown, at the end of Linthorpe Road, has a long bar and is quite large inside. Only serves the usual lager stuff and doesn't appear to do many offers, though its location probably makes it less popular than it should be. Not bad, though. Probably worth a visit.
Dickens Inn - ***-****
Located opposite Teesside University, the Dickens Inn is very popular with students. It is very large inside, and is styled much like a typical English pub, with old looking wooden tables and a circular bar. Serves usual drinks, does some offers on Thursday's and upstairs can be booked for private parties. You can also sit outside. Plays music (though not too loud).
Durty Nellys - *
Not a very popular pub, this is your basic small pub serving basic drinks. OK for a few pints.
Flares - ***
A 70s theme bar, Flares usually has a good atmosphere and is often quite full. Definitely worth a visit if you're into your 70s music / theme bars.
The Fly and Ferkin - **
Near to the Dickens Inn, the Fly and Ferkin is like a much smaller version. Usually get quite a few people in, this is a typical pub.
The Hogshead - **-***
A slightly odd pub this. It's right in the middle of the town centre but inside it looks like a country farm pub! Not too bad though not very popular.
Hush
Formerly the Ayresome Park pub, it has now converted into a bar called Hush, playing similar music to Bar Fresco with Mike Johnson and Turby playing. Not been in yet hence no rating, but heard that it is meant to be well layed-out inside.
Isaacs - *****
A very popular pub in Middlesbrough, the Isaac Wilson is a big pub, quite similar to the Dickens. Unique in that it plays no music, Isaacs is definitely one of the more popular pubs in the town centre. Attracts students/locals etc. - basically anyone. Drinks here are very cheap.
Lloyds Bar - ****
Lloyds Bar is located in the Captain Cook Square. A Wetherspoons pub, which makes it cheap, it looks nice from the outside and is situated on two floors. Appearance is quite stylish, definitely worth spending some time in here. Continues to serve till 2am some nights.
The Royal Exchange - *
I'd give this pub a wide berth, unless you're a slapper (no offence intended) or want a fight. Keep well clear!
Scruffy Murphy's - ***
Scruffy's is an Irish pub which is quite small though fairly popular (esp. on St Patricks night). Drinks are reasonably priced and has lots of leather seats inside.
Spencleys - ***
Spencleys is located near the Barricuda, Bar Fresco, the Cornerhouse etc. Though its not very large inside, it is one of the most popular bars and often has local DJs in. With a roaring fire on the left and a leather seating area as well as a standing area near the bar, it looks like quite a nice place.
I believe that Spencley's has also opened a stripclub on the 2nd and 3rd floor on some nights.
The House -
Bit out of the way, located down Linthorpe Road. Worth a mention, but I've never been in so I haven't really got much to say ... think it's meant to be OK.
The Star and Garter - **
Quite similar to the Fly and Ferkin and located on Southfield Road, there's nothing special about this pub - its just basic and fairly small. The Dickens is just a minute down the road.
The Tavern - **
On Linthorpe Road, The Tavern is a basic pub with a standard seating area. Not especially popular, this is just an average, run of the mill place, with no particularly surprising or unique features.
The Arena is located a bit further out of the town centre, on Newport Road. Friday's see "Trashed" held upstairs, playing punk,
rock, metal, indie and classic stuff, as well as a little cybergoth music.
A student friendly night, its £2 in before 11, £3 after, with really cheap drinks offers and is open from 9.30pm till 2am.
The Arena is currently undergoing refurbishment on the bottom floor. When this is finished, there will be 2 rooms with a full complement of
RnB/House/Garage nights. Not been in hence no rating... think its got a reasonable reputation though.
The Cornerhouse - ****
Over the last few years, the Cornerhouse has undergone something of a transformation, changing from a popular bar to a nightclub with a bar-like atmosphere. Now extremely popular, particularly with students, the main nights are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Often plays live music and the Area 2 zone is the main club part of the Cornerhouse. Something here for everyone, whether you like dance (not commercial - house etc.), indie or cheesy club music (though not too cheesy). Be warned, the queues can get quite long though...
The Empire (Theatre), Corporation Road (nr Town Hall) - ***** The Empire website
Formerly a dance hall in the early twentieth century, The Empire was named the Theatre due to its architectural style. Inside the Empire you'll find a central dancefloor, a bar at the back, and a few upstairs, as well as a stage opened for dancing on Friday nights. Looks like a theatre from inside, it has staircases running up and down each side, and a place to look out over the dancefloor upstairs, with seating areas scattered around. Drawback is it isn't very big and the dancefloor can get very packed, though if you're a clubber and you want a good atmosphere if there's a DJ playing, the Empire usually provides it.
Thursday Night
On Thursdays, the Empire hosts 'Sex', a student night for the (17)/18/19 age group, general cheese night, I believe.
Friday Night
Friday night is usually a Sugarshack night, featuring top DJs from around the world and can be up to £15 to get in. This is Boro's top night and amongst the best clubnights in the UK. Water bottles are £1.50 and then can be filled up free in the toilets. The central dancefloor can get quite hot so take care and have fun!
Saturday Night
On Saturday nights, the Empire hosts 'Play' which features live bands.
Update - Middlesbrough Council's licensing committee have allowed a 3.30am opening time for the Empire on some nights, providing the bar shuts at 2am. Obviously this is aimed at enabling clubbers to dance for longer at Sugarshack. However, there are also reports that Middlesbrough council want to buy the Empire (which would be tragic if it ended the Sugarshack night).
Jumpin Jaks - *
This is the club that replaced the Odeon. Only been in here once and can't see myself going in again. Just another cheese nightclub, attracts a lot of townies and fights are fairly common I'm lead to believe. Wouldn't recommend it.
Time and Envy (formerly Liquid) - *-**
Time is probably close to being Middlesbrough's worst nightclub. It's most popular on Thursday nights with 'students' (really just 14/15 year olds who try the Cornerhouse...don't get in, move onto the Empire...don't get in....then try Jumpin Jaks...don't get in...then end up in Liquid!). To get in, you must climb a flight of stairs (so don't go there if you're v. drunk). Mainly plays cheesy dance music. The main criticism of Liquid is that it is fairly small, with just two bars at the beginning and the end, has a small seating area, and the dancefloor is by no means big enough.
Far superior to any Boro nightclub as a venue (apart from sugarshack@The Empire), Club M is more like several nightclubs packed under 1 roof. On going into the club, you will be confronted by a large, fairly luxurious looking bar above a lit swimming pool, viewable through a glass enclosed area. On busy nights, the second area and upstairs is opened, meaning that there are bars scattered all over the club. Also, with an outside area which opens in the summer, club M is a superb place to be.
With 2 massive (and usually packed dancefloors) on top of this, it is difficult to criticise Club M.
Friday Night
Friday (over 20s) is Ignite night - £15 in with a free bar (though usually only mainline spirits and 1 per person, so go early if you don't want to spend your life at the bar). Usually open till 2.30am, it's a great night in a great venue.
Saturday Night
Saturday (over 18s) is usually a culture night, mainly (crappy) DJ's playing (cheesy) dance music. It's £12 in but no free bar - bottles around £3 each, so go somewhere beforehand if you want to get pissed. Once a month, Club M does Retro on a Saturday, which is classic dance/disco music. Also occasionally does Goodgreef nights, a fairly highly rated clubnight.
Also would recommend booking a taxi/minibus before you go and to get it to return, as getting a taxi back from club M if you haven't booked, can be a bit of a nightmare. Serious clubbers are advised to go to sugarshack in Boro, Goodgreef@Club M or Retro@Club M.
Update - It has been reported that Club M and the Tall Trees complex is to be knocked down and replaced with luxury apartments. However, it is expected that Club M will continue to run for some years yet (16/07/03).
Tuxedo Royale (the Boat) - *-**
The Boat is an idea taken from Newcastle - moored near the Riverside, it is an unusual nightclub with a revolving dancefloor. What is good about the Boat is that the drinks are very cheap on most nights, with some nights free entry before 10.30pm. Also there are a lot of different rooms playing different music. But what is bad about the Boat is that's its getting a reputation for being quite rough (possibly because they moored it near South Bank!). A calculated risk going here. Don't try to walk here from town - always get a taxi or something.
