I gatecrashed a Wednesday sports social at Uni of York, here’s what happened

Ah Wednesdays, when all of the best and greatest university clubs and societies host a range of events. Socials are a staple of many of the biggest clubs amongst the university and colleges, but what actually goes on? Wednesdays bring societies together in a weekly tradition of fun and entertaining activities, and then more often than not heading into town.

However, while this is the standard routine for most social clubs on a Wednesday, what they often get up to can differ from the expected. York comes alive with socials on a Wednesday, with the fun and chaos spilling out on the streets until the early hours of the morning.

With this in mind, wouldn’t it be a great idea to gatecrash one of these clubs, and see the drama unfold from within? I vote yes.

My club of choice was a college sports society (that shall remain unnamed for their and my own benefit), making use of a friend I know in the club itself – so I wasn’t completely out of my element! The social of choice was a golf themed pub crawl, so donning on my finest polo and flat cap, I headed into town to Yates where the social was to commence.

Sat in Yates, the first drink to go was one of their famed £1 pints, then a glass of wine at the Slug and Lettuce across the road, before crossing the Ouse and heading into a less familiar part of town.

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Already at this point, the camaraderie was on show. Conversation flowing, a few drinking games being played (20+1, you have made an enemy for life) and everybody who was there made me feel really welcome. Leaving the pubs, York was already in full swing of a Wednesday night.

Straight to the Ackhorne, making use of their fine selection of craft ales, I got yet another pint. At this point, so far so good, making good progress much to the appreciation of my mate. Following that, a short trip to the Cock and Bottle for a double whiskey and coke, and by this point, things were getting noticeably messy.

Something particularly noticeable was how all the locals of York, despite how loud and numerous we were, showed nothing but kindness. It’s one of the things that makes York such a wonderful place to study and live, that everyone is so welcoming. Nights out are so much more fun when you feel safe and accepted wherever you are in town.

Back across the river, the Kings Arms was next and thankfully the last pub on the list. This penultimate hole involved your partner buying you a drink, and I was blessed with a double rum and coke. Unlike some of the other participants, I did not have to face an unfamiliar concoction that had been cruelly chosen for me, so I was immensely grateful.

Following this, a short queue into Flares and the clubbing had finally started. A VK and a Jäger bomb finished off the pub golf, and the dancing and music (as far as I can remember, Taylor Swift and Abba) had the club booming. By this point, I seemed set to have an unforgettable evening.

To round off the night, a slightly longer queue rammed full of students from every society under the sun took me into my final destination of the night: the famed Wednesday Salvos. By this point, the memory certainly becomes a little hazy.

A few more overpriced drinks were consumed; top floor Salvos was buzzing with life, and I had the chance to witness college rivalries in the form of drinking competitions, debates around results, and hopes for the future. There was more questionable dancing, and even more questionable financial decisions. By the early hours of the morning, it was my time to pack it in and say goodbye to an enlightening Wednesday night.

Overall then, it’s easy to see the appeal of a Wednesday night out and socials in general. It’s a chance to catch up with teammates in a social environment, a chance to forget about the stresses of uni life for an evening and let loose, and a chance to see all the delights that York has to offer at night.

Weekly socials are apparently the fabric that brings the uni and colleges together in a shared love of innocent fun. They’re as good a reason as any to get involved in the clubs and societies that York has to offer. If one of these pub golfs came up in the future, I would honestly love to be invited back.