Belfast named one of the worst places for a night out in the UK
Would you agree?
Last updated 13th Apr 2022
Belfast has been named the eighth worst place for a night out, according to a recent study.
Research by Get Licensed has comapred the number of venues per head, the cost of a pint and a range of safety issues to reveal the best and worst nights out in Britain.
Believe it or not York topped the bill as one of the best cities for nightlife and overall safety.
According to the research, Belfast scored 49th out of 50 on drinking score, the scores came from data for drinking venues and the price of a pint.
Explaining their methodology Get Licensed shared: "We wanted to find out which UK towns and cities are the best places for a good night out. We considered a range of factors including the number of venues per head, the cost of a pint, and a range of safety issues.
"The data we used for the number of bars and clubs was taken from Tripadvisor, while the number of pubs close to each location was taken from CAMRA’s whatpub.com. We then compared this data to the populations of each town and city using data from The Geographist.
"We combined all of these factors into a single overall score, where each was given equal weighting. We also created separate scores for each town and city-based purely on drinking factors and safety factors."
Top 10 best places for a night out (marks out of 10)
- York - 7.67
- Telford - 7.56
- Warrington - 6.97
- Edinburgh - 6.95
- Norwich - 6.81
- Swansea - 6.59
- Plymouth - 6.49
- Cambridge - 6.46
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 6.42
- Aberdeen - 6.3
The 10 worst places for a night out (marks out of 10)
- Coventry - 2.12
- Slough - 2.89
- London - 2.97
- Bradford - 3.1
- Southend-on-Sea - 3.11
- Birmingham - 3.11
- Huddersfield - 4.16
- Belfast - 4.24
- Wolverhampton - 4.26
- Milton Keynes - 4.29
We'd have to disagree with that one! Belfast is home to some cracker pubs, beer gardens and bars!
Check out some of our favourite in the city 👇
The Bone Yard
This Bedford Street venue popped up last summer and took social media by storm. A quirky neon entrance opens up to a wide courtyard filled with picnic tables and even food trucks from Pug Ugly's and Tribal Burger.
The Perch Rooftop Bar
Part of the Linen House complex of bars, 'perched' on the fifth floor you'll find this charming and comfy spot. From the pretty drinks to the 'Instagrammable' décor, you'll be left swooning.
Cutters Wharf
Sip on cocktails and enjoy delicious food on the banks of the River Lagan. Grab a table and simply watch the world go by.
The Parlour
Located next to Queens University, The Parlour converted its smoking area out back into a colourful oasis. This is the perfect place to enjoy a pint in the sunshine.
The National
One of Belfast's most popular spots for food and cocktails, doors open from 12pm and there is no need book - it is first come, first served. Yay!
Kelly’s Cellars
In the heart of the city, Kelly's Cellars is one of Belfast's oldest traditional Irish pubs. Although technically not a beer garden, the front of Kelly's Cellars transforms in good weather with picnic benches, beer barrels and bar stools.
The Dirty Onion
Just around the corner from The Duke of York is The Dirty Onion. The owners of this venue have refurbished one of Belfast's oldest buildings and turned it into an authentic Irish pub with an excellent outdoor beer garden.
The Jailhouse
Nestled beside Joy's Entry, The Jailhouse offers a cosy outdoor seating area that's often seasonally decorated. This venue offers a great vibe, with even Instagram-worthy spots.
The Hatfield House
Sit among the chimney pots and enjoy a view over the city when you visit Hatfield House's rooftop garden on the busy Ormeau Road. Their garden has its own dedicated bar with full draught facilities and a separate smoking area. What else do you need?!
Lavery’s
Lavery's on Bradbury Place has got everything that you'd need for alfresco drinks in Belfast. Their outdoor bar has a modern feel with edgy artwork and lively atmosphere.
Filthy McNasty’s
This popular Dublin Road hangout is a great find. Their courtyard is stripped back and layered in festoon lighting, bringing you craft beers, live music, pizza and more.
Union Street Bar
Expect beer buckets, alcoholic slushies and cocktail jugs at Union Street's rooftop bar. This is one of Belfast's most popular bars!
The Thirsty Goat
Just next door from The Dirty Onion is The Thirsty Goat. Their outside beer garden has incredible live music throughout the week.
Town Square
One of the coolest bars on Belfast's Botanic Avenue, Town Square swiftly adapted their intimate bar/restaurant services during lockdown to cater for outdoor dinner and drinks. With an array of picnic benches and heaters, you'll love this chic spot.
Horatio Todd’s
When the sun's out, East Belfast's Horatio's Beer Garden is hard to beat. Complete with retractable roof, this venue offers first class drinks, snacks and service.
Thompson’s Terrace
A clubbing institution in the city that like many other venues were forced to switch things up to allow for social distancing. It's now a fun cocktail bar & pizza restaurant, with a sweet summer soundtrack of Ibiza beats.
Ollie's Garden
Ollie's is one of Belfast's most sophisticated nightclubs located next to The Merchant Hotel in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Their outdoor garden offers chilled house vibes, including tempting cocktails and drinks promotions.
Read more:
9 chic NI restaurants perfect for cosy date nights
Ireland's longest zipline opens this weekend at Colin Glen
Belfast's best beer gardens for the ultimate summer experience