From BNOCs to alcoholics, here’s what your favourite campus bar says about you

By second year, most of us have probably convinced ourselves that we are evolved. We are going to our lectures (sometimes), we can almost recite our student number off by heart, and can even log into the Eduroam WiFi without having to enlist the help of friends. But nobody is ever above a cheeky post-lecture pint at their favourite campus bar.

Whether you’re loyal to the charm of D-Bar or prefer a much more sophisticated evening at the Glasshouse, your preferred student watering hole says much more about you than a degree ever could.

The Glasshouse

The Glasshouse is the poster child of Campus East, it has that shiny modern vibe that everyone seems to insist is better than anything you could find on West, (mostly because it has a vaguely minimalist design). With its delicious Asian street food menu, the bar definitely gives the vibes of a cool younger sister who “did a gap year in Bali” and came home with a nose ring and new outlook on life.

If you are part of any sports society you will know the Glasshouse karaoke nights are legendary… or the stuff of nightmares, depending on how many pints you have had before the team inevitably gets together to perform a subpar rendition of Angels by Robbie Williams.

But for all its sleekness, being located on Campus East means it’s like a ghost town at times. Definitely perfect for those looking for a quieter pint or sophisticated cocktail with the girls.

The Courtyard

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Picture this: The sun is shining down on Derwent College and your flatmate gives you a look which means “shall we ditch our lectures and head to the beer garden instead”. Obviously, there is only one York campus bar to be at. The Courtyard.

Sitting in the heart of Campus West, The Courtyard truly is the place to be when the sun is out. With its Italian-inspired menu, if you catch it at the right time it can almost feel like you are dining in the Mediterranean… almost.

Despite the cold winter nights, The Courtyard puts up a heck of a fight in an attempt to stay busy. From “Take me out” or “Would I Lie To You”, the quizzes are defo for those craving some healthy competition – or making a bit of a fool of themselves in the name of campus fame and free pints.

D-Bar

They don’t call Derwent the social college for no reason. This bar seems to come alive for Freshers’ Week, and those end-of-year celebrations that usually end up with a hangover from hell. Seeing your “macho men” rugby friends dress up in a skimpy dress for the infamous CAB-D event will always be entertaining. However, those melon Iced-D cocktails they were serving at the Beach event… slightly less fun.

This bar is for the party-goers and die hard fans of local DJ’ing legends Jason Reilly and Matty Mateo.

The Vanbrugh Arms

Calling all aspiring musicians and drunken karaoke singers alike. If you fancy live music and a sing along this campus bar is where York students go when they want to feel cultured without actually having to know anything about jazz. The atmosphere consists of dim-lighting and the faint noise of someone you vaguely recognise from your seminar arguing with a stranger about Amy Winehouse’s best single.

Between the karaoke nights and the surprisingly decent open-mic acts, Vanbrugh manages to balance chaos and class with impressive precision. Its the kind of place you will go for “just one drink” and end up as backing vocals for someone singing about unrequited love whilst making somewhat uncomfortable eye contact with their flatmate.

The Lounge

The Lounge is the chill, younger sibling of York’s campus bar scene. The one that doesn’t make too much noise but still always has a steady crowd. Tucked away in the heart of James College, this bar is where York’s sporty types usually go to “unwind” after a big game, which usually translates to sinking pints and arguing over who actually deserved man of the match.

With its snooker table and calm atmosphere, this bar is definitely less about chaos and more about strategic procrastination.