When your head's not buried in books, chances are you'll be out wining and dining - student style! There'll be early mornings, late nights, hazy days and lazy days. But just like the Summer of '69 - they'll be the best days (and nights) of your life. So, here's a list of all the places where fond memories, funny stories and lifelong friendships will be made.

Remember, this is just a run-down of things to do in the evenings. If you want to find out more about the area, just visit our Places to go, Things to see section.

STOKE-ON-TRENT

First, a bit of geography. The City of Stoke-on-Trent is separated into several towns. The University campus is in Shelton, about five minutes bus ride away from the city centre - Hanley, or just a five minute walk from the local town of Stoke.

Shelton

EMBER LOUNGE

"The ball sits inches from the pocket. It's this shot for the game. The pressure's on, and... and he's fluffed it!"

When you're at university, pool can become quite competitive. You'll get more than enough practice in the Ember Lounge on College Road Campus. And if you're up for a few laughs, there's Comedy Night on Saturdays, with some block rocking beats from student DJs every other night of the week.

But it's not all go, go, go. Ember Lounge is perfect if you fancy putting your feet up with a coffee and a spot of lunch between lectures.

If you're a bit of a film buff, or just fancy taking someone to see a movie, we have our own cinema too - the Film Theatre on College Road.  

Leek Road / Stoke

LRV (Leek Road Venue)

LRV is the starting point to many a night out. Having recently undergone half a million pound facelift, this Stoke Leek Road Campus bar is a great place to chill during the day and come alive at night. With a capacity of 1,300, everyone's catered for. There's food if you're peckish, drinks if you're thirsty and loads of entertainment if you're sat twiddling your thumbs. Gobble on Wednesdays has been a huge hit over the years and will most likely go down in your student history as one of those funny nights you remember most.

There are plenty of other pubs to choose from too, including The Roebuck (which offers a loyalty card scheme known as The Yellow Card - available annually for £1 - and entitles you to discounts on selected food and drink), The Fawn and Old Corner Cupboard and high street favourite Weatherspoons. Many have live music nights where you can check out local bands. All are student favourites within walking distance of accommodation. But if you fancy a really late night, then Harry's Bar is the place to be. Plus it's only a five to ten minute walk away from the Leek Road site! 

HANLEY/CITY CENTRE

There's plenty on offer in Hanley, with everything from theatres to nightclubs and a whole range of places to eat. Depending on what you're into, be it mainstream dance, Indie or Rock, venues include The Sugarmill, The Underground, Liquid and Zen. Many venues run student discounts, so don't forget to take your student ID card with you!

If you enjoy seeing plays and stage shows, the Regent Theatre and the Victoria Hall are in the centre of Hanley and the Repertory Theatre is very handy on Leek Road, all offering a variety of productions throughout the year.

For eating out, Hanley has it covered. You can sample a whole range of international flavours such as Indian, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and the fast food bars. Takeaways situated near to the University are particularly good value, varied and good quality.

LIQUID

Slap bang in the city centre, Liquid nightclub has three floors, each dedicated to a different style of music. Dance your way to the top, then carefully crawl back down to Jumpin' Jaks on the ground floor.

REVOLUTION Vodka Bar

All we're going to say is avoid the chilli vodka at all costs!

WALKABOUT

A bar almost as big as the country it's from. You can find it out t'back of Trinity Street, where it's bustling with everything from Sheilas to galaas. What more could you want from a bar? Cold beer and more unauthentic-authentic memorabilia than you can shake a boomerang at. Students wouldn't give a XXXX for anything else.

ARUBA

Ándale! Ándale! Aruba! Aruba! This stylish bar on Trinity Street offers a bit more class without breaking your student bank balance. Take pride of place on the comfy sofas, sink back and watch the world (and your drinks) go by.

FAT CAT CAFÉ BAR

Once upon a time there was an old telephone exchange on Trinity Street. Now, there's a Fat Cat Café Bar! Full of character outside and full of characters inside, there's all sorts happening here throughout the week. It's the perfect backdrop if you're in the mood to hang out.

FLARES

Yep, you've guessed it - 70s baby! Yeah!! Give Austin Powers a run for his money with your sticky sideburns, eerie chest wigs and gold medallions.

Situated in Brockley Square, Flares puts the F.U.N in funky and is a great spot to get down, get down and shake your booty.

VARSITY

If it's a degree in partying you're after, then Varsity in Hanley is the place to study. This massive venue benefits from a firm following of students who really bring the atmosphere to life. Slick, smooth and cheaper than chips, you'll want to graduate from here every night.

NEWCASTLE

Newcastle-under-Lyme is a picturesque shopping town during the day, but it's in the evenings when the fun really starts. An extremely popular night out, the immense amount of clubs, pubs and bars are all situated within crawling distance of each other. Newcastle hosts thousands of revelers each week, with regular late night opening licenses, but Wednesday is traditionally the most popular night out.

Newcastle, or 'Castle as it commonly known, can be easily reached by regular bus services. Oh, and it also boasts a Warner's Cinema complex, and the New Victoria Theatre too!

STAFFORD

Its campus is pretty close to the market town's relaxed centre, so it's perfect for a stroll to the pub and a gentle stagger back again. And the town's got loads to do day and night.

LEGENDS

If you're not big on walking, you'll be pleased to hear that getting to this Stafford Campus club is a doddle - it's right next door to the bar! You don't have far to go to the dance floor either - it's centre stage (which is what you'll be when you're cutting some shapes!).

THE LOUNGE

Sit back, relax and make yourself at home in The Lounge. With everything from coffee to beer to wine, it's perfect for those lazy lunches with friends. It's also host to weekly quiz nights, so put a team together, grab your thinking caps and call yourself something like Quiz Team Aguilera... 

ZANZIBAR

Introducing the busiest club and the best student night in Stafford. It's busy because it's popular, it's popular because... well, because all the students come here! With student night every Tuesday, chances are you'll arrive with a note and still leave with a bit of change - the drinks are ridiculously cheap! FACT!

THE HOGS HEAD

The Hogs Head has got everything you'd expect from a pub - cheap drinks, pool tables, arcade games and even the occasional old man propping up the bar! It's a great place to watch the footy or rugby on the big screen or just meet up with everyone before you venture clubbing.

THE PICTURE HOUSE

Just one of the many Weatherspoons scattered over the country, The Picture House caters for all your student needs. If you're not in the mood for cooking, grab a burger and a pint for less than a fiver! Then come back and have the same again for dinner.

THE SURGERY

Doctor: Scalpel

Nurse: Here 

Doctor: Sponge

Nurse: Here 

Doctor: Baileys Milkshake

Nurse: Here 

Dissect the cocktail menu and head-bang the night away to all the latest unsigned rock musicians who play here night after night.

CHICAGO ROCK CAFÉ / NEW YORK NEW YORK

If you're in to your Hip Hop-the-hippie-to-the-hip-hip-hop-you-don't-stop-the-rock-it-to-the-bang-bang-boogie or RnB, then this is the place to be. Sample the delights of the Chicago Rock Café then, for dessert, venture upstairs and bust a groove on the dance floor in New York New York.

As you can see, Stafford is full of pubs and clubs, there's also The Met Bar, J14, The Litten Tree, The Forester, The Grapes - the list just goes on and on and on and on. But to find out what they're really like, it's no good us banging on about them. If you do decide to come to Staffordshire University, you've got every night of the week to try a different venue and discover which one will be the backdrop to your most memorable nights here.

Lichfield

Lichfield's packed with bars. And it's great for eating out too! There's a great choice of restaurants, including several Staffordshire Good Food Award Winners. There's Chinese, Italian and French as well as one or two cafes and bistros. And of course all those infamous fast food joints.

The Lichfield Garrick Theatre and Business Complex offers theatre music and dance, as well as visual arts too.

Sound good? We hope so. To find out more about the area, visit our Places to go, Things to see section.