As is often the case with new towns, the nightlife options in Basildon aren’t as extensive as you might expect, especially compared to the rest of Essex County. Nevertheless, when the mood strikes for a swift half there are a handful of good bars, pubs and clubs for you to choose from, which we’ve gathered together here in our handy local guide.
Nightlife in Basildon
Pubs
Our Festival Park hotel is literally next door to one of the better pubs in Basildon, The Quays. It’s a Harvester pub, so you can expect big portions of cheap and cheerful food, along with a good selection of drinks and deals. When the sun is shining you can sit on the wooden patio overlooking the lake, sipping on your drink, happily watching the world go by.
The Beehive is another good option, so too the Moon on the Square. Both of which are pubs near the Eastgate Shopping Centre at the heart of Basildon. They offer lively atmospheres, cheap drinks and a convenient location on the Market Square, just around the corner from the Towngate Theatre, your top option when it comes to Basildon entertainment.
Ostlers Cocktail Bar
Unit 7
Bars
We’ve mentioned it once already among our favourite places to eat in Basildon, but Grand Central is also one of our favourite places to go for a drink in town. It’s got a fantastic selection of beers, a good atmosphere, and two-for-a-tenner cocktails – don’t expect the best mixologists in the world (this is a casual bar and grill) and you won’t be disappointed.
If you’re staying at our Basildon South hotel then The Ostlers Cocktail Bar is a brilliant nightlife option that’s less than a ten-minute taxi-drive away in the historic town of Horndon-on-the-Hill. Along with The Bell Inn, which adjoins The Ostlers, they’ve been run by the same family for over three-quarters of a century. Both offer rustic settings to enjoy hand-pulled ales, carefully concocted cocktails, and a tasty menu of good looking gastropub eating. Our top tip is the Sunday roast, which has to be among the best in Basildon.
Clubs
If you’re looking for late night clubbing, lit up dancefloors, and you just happen to be staying at our Festival Park hotel, the good news is the biggest nightclub in Basildon is just a few minutes’ walk away. It goes by the name of Unit 7. It’s in Bas Vegas, it’s right next to Pizza Hut; you can’t miss it. It’s open on Fridays and Saturdays with a late license until 4am.