Off the beaten track: Planning your niche night out in Norwich

Avoid the mammoth freshers queues and enjoy something a little different instead with these eclectic Norwich gems. (You’ve probably never heard of them)

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Freshers’ Week is accompanied with an overwhelming number of notifications full of promise of amazing and cheap nights out.

But once the novelty wears off, you might seek alternatives with little success.

The Fat Cat (Price Range: Low)

Just off Dereham Road, The Fat Cat is a lively pub boasting over 30 real ales and more than 50 bottled beers from around the world, including the Austrian Fucking Hell.

Hidden gems on tap include ‘Yakima Gold’ and ‘Fat Cat Honey Ale, while ‘Bitburger’ and ‘Oakham Inferno’ tasted too bitter even for bitter.

The Fat Cat is buzzing with life, and locals, and definitely worth a visit for the friendly atmosphere and huge selection of beverages.

“Before I went in, my soul was dry,” said Philosophy student and Fat Cat enthusiast Tom Briggs, “after I quenched my first, I no longer wanted to die.”

The X Bells (Price Range: High)

For those of us who think our student loan is a never-ending supply of Monopoly money, The Ten Bells is a fancy cocktail bar offering independent spirits and real ales, and is even too fancy to sell your average Sex on the Beach or Pina Colada.

From ‘Storm in a Thai Cup’ to a ‘Dapper Man’s Sour’, cocktails are all 2 for £10 from 12-8pm every day.

With regular live music from local artists, The Ten Bells is full of indie-ness for Instagram enthusiasts.

Frequent visitor and cocktail enthusiast, Greenwich student Ffion Noott said: “For those that want to live the Made in Chelsea lifestyle, this place is right up your street.”

The Playhouse (Price Range: Average)

Come nightfall, The Playhouse transforms from a quaint coffee shop to a bar with a friendly and laidback vibe.

From gigs to film evenings, The Playhouse boasts a packed calendar, and is also full of funky little surprises including the infamous ‘ceilingopolis’, so if you do pay a visit here, look up.

The Mischief (Price Range: Low)

With a friendly atmosphere, cheap alcohol and football tables, this pub is perfect for students and a great way to escape the busier student bars.

If you ever find yourself across the river, give this place a go – triples are only £4 on student nights, what more would you ever need?

The Mischief is also home to the infamous ‘Absinthebombs’ for those who like to live dangerously.

The Mischief has DJs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and hosts acoustic nights twice a month for those more mellow nights out.

“Smashing night” said UEA film student Tamsyn Roberts, but warned “Equally smashing hangover”

 

And for the hangover…

 

The Waffle House

This will hands down become your favourite place in Norwich. UEA Philosophy student Emily Woolnough described the food here as “an orgasm in my mouth”, which is basically all the persuasion you need.

Serving both sweet and savoury waffles, The Waffle House is perfect for the morning after a night out.

With their bestselling Horlicks milkshake and banoffee waffle, you’ll leave feeling like you’ll never need to eat again. In fact you’ll start to give yourself a hangover just for an excuse to go here.