Student-Friendly Spots in Belfast

Serving up cocktail jugs and a variety of delicious street eats, Haymarket is Belfast’s newest student hangout. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Haymarket is spread across an indoor bar area spanning three floors and an outdoor courtyard making it an ideal spot to combat Belfast’s famously unpredictable weather. Something is always on offer at Haymarket but Tuesday is their designated student night with a variety of drink promotions, £5 tacos and lively DJ sets. With a city centre location and enormous size, Haymarket is a popular choice whether pre-drinking before a night out in the city, partying with a big group or just wanting a quick bite to eat.

With three (soon to be four) locations across Belfast and Dublin, BaoBun has become a student hotspot with its unique Taiwanese street food and lunchtime specials. Delivering a huge variety across bao buns, burgers, rice boxes and salads, and even more options for toppings and flavour combinations, BaoBun is sure to please everyone no matter the group size. Aside from its exciting and varied menu, this spot has become popular with students for its special offers. With regular specials such as “2-4-1 rice boxes” and their daily meal deals starting at £11, BaoBun is an affordable way to sample delicious street eats. If walking through Belfast’s Botanic Gardens, just next to Queens University, you will often see the grass clearing littered with students eating their lunchtime bao in between lectures or setting themselves up for a big night ahead.

Open every day of the week, Lavery’s is a bar and food spot that is a reliable go-to for “a bit of craic” – no matter your mood. In a venue that spans over three floors with multiple bars, dance areas and several covered beer gardens, Lavery’s truly has something for everyone. Although popular for a simple pint and a plate of their famous hot wings, Lavery’s hosts several weekly events that are always popular with the nearby student population. Most famously is their weekly Wednesday and Thursday comedy club, seen as one of the “funniest comedy nights Belfast has to offer” and curated by local comedian, Colin Geddis. As well as this, Lavery’s hosts regular pub quizzes, club nights, and with over 20 screens, is regarded as one of “Belfast’s best live sports venues”. One of the iconic student bars of Belfast, you can catch Lavery’s on the go at Belfast’s beloved Continental Market staged outside city hall throughout December. The Lavery’s beer tent is one of the most popular attractions of the market, serving the same great drinks as their main location as well as a variety of seasonal favourites to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Dubbed the unofficial students union of Belfast, right on the edge of the student heartland of the Holylands, Hatfield House is overflowing with students every day of the week. The over 145-year-old bar has a lot on offer with drink promotions, cocktail jugs, “lethal food”, pool tables, a rooftop terrace and live music. If you are searching for the biggest student night in Belfast you can’t overlook “Hatfield Sundays” to start off the new week with a bang, in a packed-out party hosted by DJ Mickey Quinn. On top of its weekly events, Hatfield House has become famous for its day raves, especially its St Patrick’s day extravagance which has almost become a rite of passage for students in the city.

With three locations across Belfast, Maggie Mays has always been a popular food spot for local students. With a menu made up of local favourites and classic comfort food, Maggie Mays is a staple spot for that breakfast, lunch or dinner after one too many big nights out. Whether in for their bumper fry up, stacked burger or variety of vegan treats, you’ll find something that suits your taste at this traditional cafe/restaurant. If out for an evening meal, Maggie Mays offers a BYOB option with just £2.50 for corkage, making their already affordable menu even more budget-friendly. Upon visiting you can’t leave without sampling one of the cafe’s famous giant milkshakes compiled of your favourite confectionery and presented in the most instagram worthy fashion.

Overlooking Queen’s University, nestled among the lecture buildings, is the Queen’s Film Theatre (QFT). A cinema with a deceiving exterior, blending into the Georgian houses surrounding, the QFT always shocks visitors on their first visit. Upon crossing the front door, you are instantly transported into a spacious lobby, walls littered with movie posters and showcases of their eclectic and interesting programmes. Stretching far back this spot offers two cosy screens lined with plush seats, being the only place in Belfast to offer non-mainstream cinema shows all year round. However, if independent and world cinema aren’t your thing you can still find something at the QFT with special showings of new blockbusters and seasonal showcases of classic favourites. With a fully licensed bar and well-stocked snack bar, the QFT makes for a perfect evening out – relaxing in their spacious lounge area before going in to enjoy the showing. At just £4 for a ticket to standard showings as well as discounted prices for special events, you can sample diverse and unique cinema whilst on a budget.