How to spend an evening out in Edinburgh without heading to a club

It's a weekday evening in your flat, and you're sat round the table with your flatmates wondering how to spend your evening. It was a heavy one the night before, and the thought of heading out for another drunken game of Ring of Fire and a three am finish sends shivers down your spine. Well you're in luck – there's plenty more ways to spend your evenings in Edinburgh without waking up with a smudged stamp on your wrist and a pounding headache.

Allow me to enlighten you with some of the best student deals in Edinburgh, for a fun filled, cheap night. If you know, you know.

A comedy night

Often forgotten about, a night of comedy can be filled with lots of laughs from some of Edinburgh's freshest talent. Sometimes nothing beats a few golden one-liners and some drunken heckles from you and your pals. Spending your evening this way can be a great alternative to a Friday night out on the town, and thankfully there's cheaper entry for students too. Check out the Gilded Balloon Basement and The Stand Comedy Club for some high class comedy for surprisingly low prices.

If stand up's not your thing, there's plenty of other similar nights to try too. Look out for open mic nights, jazz nights, or battle of the bands. Whether you're the next Beyoncé or just there to scout out the best new Soundcloud to listen to, these can be fun nights with new music and cheap drinks. No brainer. *Mic drop*.

Theatre

You may be thinking: I'm a student, there's no way I can afford to go to the theatre. Oh, but how wrong you are. Pretty insider knowledge this, but if you head down to Festival Theatre, King's Theatre or The Studio Edinburgh at midday on your desired theatre day, you can get £10 tickets with your student ID. This relies on the fact they have any spare, but more often than not they have great seats still available, especially on a weekday, as these tend to be less busy. Tickets can be priced up to £70 for particular shows so if you're one for a bargain, this is the place for you. Check out what's on here.

Take your seat ladies and gents

Come Dine with Me

Now here's a good one to try with all the budding Gordon Ramsays in your flat. Try taking turns each cooking a three course meal to be rated secretly by the others. Or try one big night with a few flats involved, where each flat brings a separate course. Winner gets a cash prize, plus everyone has a great night of free food. Win-win if you ask me.

A solid 8/10 rating for these pizzas

Pub quiz

Let's be honest – we all wish we were clever enough to be on University Challenge, but here we have the next best thing. Round up your brightest sparks and test out your general knowledge every week, accompanied by a couple of rounds of drinks. This pretty much equates to a couple of hours in the library if you ask me – engaging, mentally challenging, and will have you banging your head against the wall over one simple question. This website has kindly made a map of Edinburgh's pub quizzes by day and location, so go on – what are you waiting for?

Team Quiztopher Columbus coming for ya

Bowling

It may scream "Happy 12th Birthday", but it's actually a great night out with friends which can get surprisingly competitive. With a serving bar at the Tenpin Fountain Park, you can knock back a few while you knock down a few, although this may not help with accuracy of shots. For just £5.20 for two games (bring your student ID), it's a must.

Bowling team making moves, bring on Tokyo 2020

Cinema

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Sometimes you just can't beat a good old film and an overpriced popcorn. Luckily for you, Vue cinema offers films on a Monday for just £3.99. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a wonderful evening of cinematic magic for under a fiver. Top tip: head to your local Sainsbury's beforehand and pick up a pouch of Minstrels for £1 to save yourself the £3.95 they charge at Vue. Outrageous.

Can't say no to a new blockbuster