Swansea University Nightlife: 10 Best Clubs and Bars
Uni work done, pre-drinks sorted, outfit planned - sounds like you’re ready for a night out in Wales’s second-largest city! In a study of 53 universities, Swansea placed in the top 10 best student cities for nightlife, based on factors like the average price of a pint and the number of pubs per square mile (both very important, obviously). It’s no wonder, then, that Swansea is one of the best places to go if you’re up for a night out with your uni mates.
There are so many places to choose from, no matter what vibe you’re looking for. Do you want to dance the night away to club bangers, see one of your favourite bands in a local venue, or chat nonsense for hours in a more chilled pub or student bar?
In this guide to Swansea university nightlife, you’ll find a range of clubs, bars and venues to select from. Browse the list, pitch your fave option to the group chat and enjoy letting off some steam. You’ll also find answers to frequently asked questions, plus information about true student accommodation.
10 Best Swansea Clubs and Bars
1. No Sign
Price: £
Location: Wind Street
Go For: Cocktails and Live Music
Fancy an evening of cocktails or a pint on a terrace? No Sign has a spacious back bar, as well as a lounge where you can enjoy drinks like Passion fruit Martinis, Aperol Spritz or a Cucumber Cooler. It’s a great place to start your night, or somewhere to stay if you’re not feeling the club.
What’s more, No Sign is also home to The Vault. Originally a wine cellar, the space has been renovated and is now host to live music if that’s more your thing. In fact, the cellar was featured in The Followers by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Add a little history to your night out in Swansea in this iconic bar!
2. Bambu Bar
Price: ££
Location: Wind Street
Go For: Cocktails and Karaoke
You wouldn’t think of Swansea as your typical beach location. However, Bambu Bar brings the beach to Wales’s second-largest city with its Latin Tiki theme. Enjoy a tropical cocktail in a Tiki cup - they have Pina Coladas, Watermelon and Berry Daiquiris, Blue Hawaiians and more. If you want to level up your cocktail game, you can book onto a cocktail masterclass and get behind the bar too!
Bambu Bar also features resident DJs bringing soul, funk and party anthems to the outdoor dance floor. Fancy something a little different? Private karaoke bars are available to hire out, so you can belt out a power ballad à la Celine Dion or join in on an ABBA medley - Gimme, Gimme, Gimme is our personal fav!
3. Popworld
Price: £
Location: Wind Street
Go For: Cheesy Pop Bangers
Not one to take your night out too seriously? Let your hair down and gorge on a cheese-fest of pop music at this student night-out classic. From Britney to ABBA and the Spice Girls, at Popworld you’ll hear nostalgic throwbacks and the latest pop hits. It’s a favourite for students in fancy dress, or those wanting to dance the night away to familiar and fun songs.
It’s an affordable night out, too. You can get 4 shots for £8 - perfect if you want to get a round in for you and your friends. There are also Jäger bombs available, plus a selection of ‘Poptails’ like Woo Woos, Sex on the Beach or a Cheeky V. Stop in on your travels along Wind Street, or stay until close if you can’t get enough of the fun. Popworld is a tonic in a world of taking-yourself-too-seriously student nights.
4. Fiction
Price: £
Location: City Centre
Go For: DJs
If you’re looking for one of the biggest nightclubs in the city, Fiction is the place to be. It’s a staple in Swansea’s university nightlife scene, and hosts events on four days of the week, so you’ll never be short on club nights to go to!
‘Quids In’ is a popular night on a Monday, which has a School Disco theme and features sing-a-longs, Domino’s giveaways (yes, you heard us), beer pong and more. It’s perfect for students, but if you’d like to party alongside a more mixed crowd, Friday and Saturday nights are also popular. DJs from far and wide come to play the three rooms, which have incredible production value and different music styles to suit your tastes.
5. Club Oxygen
Price: £
Location: Northampton Ln
Go For: Dance Music
Club Oxygen is the home of dance music in Swansea. The venue has been refurbished and features two floors with next-level lighting, sound and great music to match. Wednesdays are host to their student-only night, which is your best bet for a weekday night on the town. But they’re also open till late on Fridays and Saturdays too if you’d rather wait until the weekend to let your hair down.
Fun fact: Club Oxygen is one of the few clubs in Wales to be multi-media friendly. They have radio broadcasts and live streamed events alongside their club nights, so you can join in whilst you're at home in your student accommodation - even in your pyjamas, if you wish!
6. Peppermint
Price: ££
Location: Wind Street
Go For: Cocktails and DJs
Peppermint offers the best of two worlds: sophisticated cocktails and great local DJs. If you’re looking for something a little more boujee than your standard night out, Peppermint is the perfect option. There’s a dress code, so make sure you dress to impress!
Are you going out for a special occasion or celebration? Why not book out a VIP booth, cocktail masterclass or drinks package. That way, you can make your night one to remember.
There’s also a fun challenge to try out if you go in on a Wednesday night. If you beat a bartender in a game of rock, paper scissors, you can get the chance to win an entire round of drinks for FREE. Better get practising!
7. Sin City
Price: £
Location: Dillwyn St
Go For: Live Music and Club Night
Sin City is home to live music and events all year round. See a local band, or go to a themed night like ‘ABBA Disco Wonderland: 50 Years of ABBA’ and bring out your inner dancing queen!
What’s more, there are lots of student-friendly club nights to go to as well. Whether you like Hip Hop and R&B, club classics or anthems through the decades, Sin City has something for everyone in your friend group. If funk, soul and disco is more your thing, then ‘Hustle’ on a Tuesday night is ideal.
8. The Bucket List
Price: ££
Location: Wind St
Go For: Craft Beer and Sports Bar
Not into clubbing? The Bucket List is a sports bar with an extensive menu of lagers, IPAs, ales, sours - basically any type of beer you think of. If you’re a beer connoisseur, this is your go-to place in Swansea!
Not only that, the bar is American themed with burgers, ‘bar buckets’ and wings available too. There’s an events calendar filled with live music events and sports, meaning you can make a full night of it. Pop in on a Sunday for a more chilled vibe, or start here before moving onto one of Swansea’s nightclubs on a weekend.
9. Uplands Tavern
Price: £
Location: Uplands
Go For: Live Music and Beer Garden
The Uplands Tavern - or ‘The Tav’ as the locals know it - is a pub that offers lots of different types of night out. Go in for a couple of chilled pints and, if it’s a sunny day, enjoy your beverage in the beer garden, which is named after Dylan Thomas. There are also lots of live music events throughout the year to attend.
Going to a pub quiz is a great way to bond with your new friends and flatmates at uni. Split into teams, test the knowledge you’re (supposed to be…) learning at uni, and grab a few drinks while you’re there. The Tav hosts their quiz night on a Tuesday if you’re up for the challenge…
10. Juniper Place
Price: ££
Location: York St
Go For: Gin Bar
Gin lovers, unite! Juniper Place is the best place in Swansea to go for a gin and tonic (or three). They’re distillers, which means they have an extensive menu containing gins, as well as cocktails and ‘shottails’ too.
Juniper Place also serves a dinner and pizza menu Monday to Saturday, so you can grab a bite to eat at the same time. It’s perfect for a more casual night out or to celebrate a birthday or achievement, like actually attending your 9am lecture for once…
Frequently Asked Questions About Swansea University Nightlife
Is Swansea University Good for Nightlife?
Swansea has been voted as one of the top 10 cities for student nightlife in the UK. That’s because there’s a range of places to suit all tastes, from live music to bars and nightclubs. The price of a pint is cheap, and there are a good amount of pubs per square mile, so you’ll never run out of new places to try. If you want to go to university in a city that has lots of student nights, Swansea is a great option.
Is Swansea Safe on a Night Out?
Swansea achieved the Purple Flag Award in 2015 - a government backed initiative that highlights places with a low crime rate and few incidents of anti-social behaviour. This suggests that Swansea is, generally, a safe place for a night out.
Which Day of the Week is Best for a Student Night in Swansea?
Fiction has a popular student night on a Monday called ‘Quids In’, and Club Oxygen has a student-only night on Wednesdays. On Fridays and Saturdays you’ll have many bars, clubs and pubs to choose from, but there will be a mix of students and non-students there.
true student Swansea Accommodation
Looking for private, luxury student accommodation in Swansea for the next academic year? With true student, you get bills included, plus access to a calendar of social events to help you make friends during your time at university. Enjoy free fitness classes, a state-of-the-art gym, sky lounge and more.