A Freshers’ Guide to Club Nights in Leeds

Eszter Vida on 24 September 2024

So, you’ve come to Leeds, you want to avoid club wristband scams or just escape the Leeds locals at all costs, while hoping to do a full week bender – I mean, partying and having fun! Well, Leeds has not failed you; here is a full week of club nights tailored just for the freshers.

Bobby’s Disco – The Warehouse

What else are you doing on a Monday night but dancing to ABBA at Bobby’s? Cheesy disco galore, kick your week off with a wholesome night out at the maze of a venue that is The Warehouse. A random bathtub? Check. 2 toilets in one cubicle? It’s a bit odd but it exists. There’s no better way than to celebrate a night of new friendships than to the soundtrack of upbeat disco anthems.

Dry Dock Karaoke Night – Dry Dock, Tuesdays

Something for those who hate the awkward dancing and sardines atmosphere of clubbing, karaoke at Dry Dock is another cheap, popular alternative that students eat up. More singing does not mean any less dancing however, unless you’re stuck in the queue for 3 hours. There’s plenty of time to warm up and await your turn, and it’s only located across the dual carriageway next to Leeds Beckett, where your dreams of being the next vocal powerhouse lives on for one night only. 

Mischief Wednesdays – The Warehouse

Exclusively reserved for specific LUU society members, you’re lucky to have made the finish line to Mischief if you have been challenged to survive some of those infamous sports society initiations. With its own name echoing the chaotic vibes, Mischief Wednesday hosts the most feral groups and individuals inside one tightly packed industrial building. Special mention to Walkabout as the most dedicated Wednesday night out goers start here for the cheap drinks; just be smart and beat the queue for entry.

Boogaloo Wednesday – Belgrave Music Hall, Wednesday 18th/25th

Last year’s newcomer at Belgrave, the hippy sister of Bobby’s has grown to be a standout night for 70/80/90s dance tunes among the swirling smoke of incense and hanging peace sign decorations. As standard, Belgrave serves as a student friendly venue for the dwellings of your typical arts students in the day, serving the best pizzas on the block. The multi-functional venue is also crowned with a romantic rooftop terrace that’s guaranteed to be filled to the brim every forthcoming Wednesday night. 

Indie Thursdays – O2 Academy Leeds, Thursday 19th/26th

Bring out your high tops, pair them with your knee socks and throw on a leather jacket; if you’re a bit too quirky for pop music, the mystical aura of sweat and dark fruits awaits you. If AM is your bible, then it will become a ritual for you to attend the recurring nights at Indie Thursdays, but don’t be surprised if you end up getting a free membership by the end of first year. Get your dancing shoes ready for a night of well-loved indie bangers. The very first are always in the main arena, so a bit less sweat and slightly larger smoking area.

Full Fat Thursdays – Old Red Bus Station, Thursday 26th

With Thursdays being the most divisive night, the other half of Leeds would argue that a wild and crammed night of house music is far more elite at Old Red. It’s worth mentioning that despite being a musically diverse city, not many nights do grime/drill. So, Full Fat it may be for you with a mixed bag of some rooms being packed and others being more reliably quieter. The best part? You may not need a kebab order after the night has ended; you get free donuts and sweet treats handed out to you upon entry.

Fruity Fridays – LUU Stylus, Friday 27th

If there’s a time you can go Fruity Fridays, it’s once and it’s in Freshers. Haters are just mad that it is the cheapest place to drink for students, so don’t listen to the bad rep of it being too cheesy. A club night best loved by performance and media societies, you even have the luxury of multiple rooms or themed nights throughout the year, right in the safety and heart of campus. Armed with floating fruit decorations, it’s a night every Leeds student has some interesting story to take away from. 

Quickfire Mentions: 

  • Any event at Beaver Works – Special occasions call for the one-off spectacles here. Whether it’s the Better Days all-day festival or Halloween Cirque du Soul specials, the distance is far enough from the city centre that what happens at Beaver Works stays there in that club’s fairground…
  • Projekt, O2 Academy Leeds – Saturday nights may seem like they lack student events, but that’s probably because you’re not a house fan. There’s always the entertaining smoking area if it’s not for you and your mates are dragging you there.
  • Any event at Space or Carousel – No Pryzm? No problem. This is where the contents of it spills every Friday/Saturday night as a replacement. Best route to follow after some pre-drinks in Hedley Verity, commonly nicknamed as ‘Disco Spoons’ for the almost sci-fi explosion of a dancefloor that appears when the staff just move the high chairs out of the way and a makeshift DJ booth is launched in the middle of a family-friendly Wetherspoons.
  • The Key Club to The Stone Roses pipeline – Some may say it’s the most adventurous trip of their short lifetimes, others have nowhere else they can go to until 6am. Scrap the premise of this whole article; if you’re with the right people, anywhere is good right? It will definitely be an experience.
  • Sela Bar/ Wax Bar, New Briggate – Born in the wrong generation? We get it, you listen to 80s new wave, you drink £9 doubles, you’re not like the rest of us until you wake up to find 50 different versions of yourself at these bars. No shame, I was just like you too once.

New Events:

  • Hot Pot Tuesday, Distrikt – 24th September for house, disco and techno
  • Shakedown Fridays, Headrow House – 27th September for funk, soul, motown and disco

*Come to the first Music and Clubs section meeting for discounted tickets for both Hot Pot Tuesday and Shakedown Friday!

What I wish I had known before Uni

Lottie Passmore on 29 September 2022

As the leaves turn brown and the nights begin to draw in, Leeds once again fills with the buzz of returning students and the prospect of a new term. Navigating university can be daunting, and even going into fourth year, I am still figuring it out! So, whether you’re setting foot in Leeds for the first time or returning, here are some essential pointers I wish I had known earlier. 

1. You don’t have to be best friends with your flatmates

It may be that you walk into your halls kitchen and fall head over heels with every one of them, (in which case, skip to no. 2). However, just because they are the most convenient to hang out with, it’s more important that you just get on enough to share living spaces. You’re more likely to meet people with similar interests on your course, at societies, or at your favourite pub or club. 

2. Don’t sleep with your flatmate/s

Although I didn’t learn this first-hand, I’ve seen the problems it can cause not only for those directly involved, but the whole flat. The likelihood is that it won’t last, you’ll ruin the flat dynamic and it’ll probably end in tears.

 3. Budget! 

I am determined to stick to it this year, fourth time lucky? (I’ve heard) that even writing down everything you spend is a great way to become more aware and supposedly shocks you into cutting down on expenditures. Watch this space. 

4. Invest in a proper water bottle

In first year, my second week of lectures was rudely interrupted by a cheap water bottle leaking in by bag; writing off my laptop. Not only was this tremendously expensive but also seriously inconvenient, just as I was settling in. It also saves you buying single use plastic so often. Economical and environmentally friendly, what’s not to like?

5. Use your Lecturer’s office hours

This one is particularly important if your contact hours are lower than your friend’s doing maths, for example. This year I have four. A week. Yes, I’m shocked too. Speaking one-to-one with your lecturers allows you to ask any additional questions you didn’t think of in the seminar and means you can clear up any concerns about the subject and course at large. 

6. There is more to Leeds than Hyde Park

Whether your halls are on campus or as far out as Clarence Dock, it can be very easy, especially in first year, to limit your sphere to a rotation of halls, Uni, pub, halls, Uni, pub… Whilst Leeds, as a city, has an extensive and exciting cultural scene, from music to museums, a stone’s throw beyond the city centre provides a number of neighbouring towns and villages, perfect for a wholesome day out. Look up Skipton, Harrogate, and Knaresborough, to name just a few!

7. First year probably won’t be the best of your Uni years

There is far too much hype surrounding the First Year, let alone Freshers Week. First Year is particularly overwhelming, and many people don’t meet their best friends until later on in their Uni experience. Remember that everyone is in the same boat so don’t worry if it seems that you’re the only one struggling to stay afloat! 

Freshers: A Guide to Budgeting 

Livia Garrod on 29 September 2022

Last year I adopted, in what I hope is in an endearing and affectionate way, the nickname ‘Budget’ from my friends. This is perhaps a slightly generous and hyperbolic label and is my only qualification to give my advice on this topic, but these are just some opinions on how to budget, from a student who enjoys the stereotypical student experience. 

It is important to note that I can only speak from my own experiences, and naturally, this is not representative of every student’s experience or inclusive of every student’s financial situation. 

Firstly, try not to get too carried away when you see the first student loan instalment reach your bank account! Depending on how much you receive, it can look like a lot, especially to a student, but remember this has to last you until Christmas. My advice would be to try and roughly estimate how much your loan permits you to spend on a weekly basis on top of rent and open a second bank account to transfer this money into – Monzo works amazingly for me.  This way, it is easy to see how much you are spending and on what. You can set the app to tell you how long your money needs to last, either updating it weekly or monthly. Having tried both, I find using a monthly allowance much more attainable, as naturally, your spending on a weekly basis will vary more. 

Monzo, as well as other banking apps, is also great because you can easily request and send money to your friends, making cashing in on night-out Ubers and drinks easy and stress-free! 

Moving away from turning this into free advertising for the aforementioned banking platform, here are some other things to think about during freshers to protect your bank balance:

  • Do things for free! The Fresher’s Fair is a perfect place to collect as much free stuff as possible, and it is also free to go to. It can feel slightly intimidating approaching all the different society stands on your own, so going with a new friend gives you a cost-free opportunity to learn more about your friend and learn more about how you would like to shape your life at Leeds. 
  • Other free activities could be sitting on Woodhouse Moor, if we’re lucky enough to get a nice enough day, or taking a walk along the Woodhouse Ridge. 
  • Although I wholeheartedly encourage joining one if not multiple society’s, don’t feel pressured to pay the membership fees right away. Assess all of your options first. Unfortunately, you can’t fit everything so use the ‘Give-It-A-Gos’ to test the water and work out your priorities before committing to paying the fees. 
  • If it’s not too late already, I would urge you not to buy wristbands or tickets for Fresher’s events before coming to Leeds. Blocking off too much of your week before you arrive can sometimes restrict you and skipping pre-paid events is sometimes inevitable but still a waste of that precious budget! 

Most importantly though, have fun! Fresher’s week is always going to be more expensive than your general week-to-week, so try to not feel guilty for spending more. Say yes to things, and if that means spending a bit more than your bargained for then that’s ok. 

A Guide to Surviving Freshers Flu

Tharushi Wijesiriwardena on 29 September 2022

The annual flu season is almost upon us and with it, the start of the new term. Having survived a global pandemic, the threat of the freshers’ flu is stopping nobody from enjoying their night out this year. 

There’s no doubt that the mass convening of students, from across the globe, to live in student accommodation with questionable hygiene standards can make you ill. Moving into university is not only a big step in your social and academic life, but also a big change for your body. Your body is introduced to a cocktail of germs, viruses and bacteria from the new environment, new diet, and new people. Often, the fresher’s flu is similar to a bad cold, but the impact of the fever, sore throat and headaches can be exacerbated by the late nights, alcohol consumption and poor diet that is common amongst students. The lifestyle choices you make can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to the fresher’s flu.

The flu-like symptoms can be very similar to that of COVID-19 so make sure you do a test to check if you’re positive. Also, make sure to consult the NHS meningitis page if you notice a rash, sensitivity to light or a stiff neck. Fresher’s flu symptoms, like the common cold, can last around a week and shouldn’t be too difficult to get through – if you’re struggling, consider consulting your GP for further advice or treatment.

There are many ways to prepare for fresher’s flu to make your recovery as quick as possible. The following prevention tactics may even help you to avoid the flu altogether: 

1. Sign up to the GP as soon as you get here

Get all the admin work out of the way as soon as you can. In case you catch something more serious than fresher’s flu, it’ll be good to have all the forms already filled out so that you can contact your local GP, should you need to.

2. Make sure your vaccines are up to date

Checking that you’ve had all your vaccines and that they’re all up to date will keep you safe from a lot of the more serious viruses that could be travelling around uni. Cases of mumps were rising in my first-year accommodation, despite many of us having had the MMR vaccine, so make sure you keep an eye out for any bodily changes. 

3. Eat healthily 

Maintaining a healthy diet can be difficult at university, especially during Freshers. Eating a lot of vitamin C-rich foods, like oranges, tomatoes, and broccoli can help support your immune system. 

4. Drink lots of water (and maybe less alcohol!)

Staying hydrated can help prevent illness by helping your body flush out toxins. It can speed up the recovery process if you do fall ill and can help ease hangovers! 

5. Sleep

Sleep not only recharges your body, giving it a much-needed period of rest during a busy time, but also enhances your immune system. When you sleep, certain types of protective proteins and antibodies help fight off infection. 

Like with the common cold, there are no fixed cures. The best things that you can do to treat your fresher’s flu are below. 

1. Warm drinks

Staying hydrated, particularly with warm drinks, can help loosen congestion. Many people recommend warm lemon water drinks that you can make at home or pick up sachets in a pharmacy.

2. Rest

As with prevention, rest and sleep help your body recover, so make sure that you take some time off socialising when you start feeling ill.

3. Soothing your sore throat 

To prevent discomfort and reduce congestion, try taking sore throat lozenges or gargling saltwater.

Fresher’s flu is the unofficial initiation for all those starting university, so don’t be worried if (or when) you start feeling a bit ill, it’s all part of the uni experience! Stay aware of any significant changes to your health and let your GP know if you encounter further issues.

Safety First: A Guide to Staying Safe During Freshers Week

Hannah Pickett on 29 September 2022

As universities make their big return to campus, there are keen students all around the country preparing themselves for a freshers’ week to remember. Here are five top tips for staying safe during the week: 

1. Buddy up

The phrase strength in numbers couldn’t be more fitting for this first tip. You are most vulnerable when you are alone, so it is important to stay in groups when you are out and try not to let people wander off or go home alone. In a new city and unfamiliar surroundings, it can be really overwhelming for many people, so make sure you’re checking in with your friends or flatmates regularly to see how they’re doing. 

2. Keep your phone charged  

This second tip may seem obvious, but having a fully charged phone when you’re out and about in a new city is a must. Not only will it be able to capture those unforgettable memories, but it can be used to pay for things, communicate with friends, and order Ubers or taxis to help you get home safe. 

3. Be vigilant

One of the most important pieces of advice is to be vigilant when you are out. The majority of people that you will meet are usually there to simply have a good time, but unfortunately, there are some more sinister people out there who have a different take on having a ‘good time’. Spiking continues to be a huge issue at parties and in clubs, so it is important to keep alert to minimise the risk of it happening to you or your friends. You can do this by not accepting drinks from strangers and not leaving any drinks unattended. 

If you do end up in a position where you think yourself or a friend may have been spiked, tell a bar manager or security guard, get to a safe place and if the condition deteriorates, call an ambulance. 

More information and advice on spiking can be found: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/staying-safe-while-drinking/drink-spiking-and-date-rape-drugs

4. Don’t overshare 

During the week, you will come across a whole host of new people and fresh faces who are all looking to make lots of new friends. When making conversations, it can be easy to overshare personal information very quickly such as where you’re staying, where you come from and your social media platforms, leaving you more vulnerable. With social media being a huge part of people’s lives, it is common to instantly want to add every single person you meet on these platforms, but this isn’t always the wisest thing to do as your social platforms can give off more information than you think. So, hold fire with those friend requests and wait to see who really turn out to be your close friends.

5. Look after yourself 

The final piece of advice for staying safe during freshers’ week is to look after yourself. It can be easy to see the week as the time to go wild, and many people do! But, it is really important to know your limits. The freedom of being a fresher means that it can be easy to feel pressured to do everything and go out every night, but don’t be afraid of saying ‘no’ if you don’t want to. At the end of the day, looking after yourself should be your top priority and you shouldn’t have to give in to the pressure of doing it all in the first week. 

Ultimately, freshers week is a time to really let loose and enjoy the freedom of being away from home. Take the advice as you wish, but by keeping these safety considerations in mind, you are guaranteed to have a great time and to make some unforgettable memories.