Nightlife in Blackburn

Blackburn’s nightlife might not be as heady as it was in the ’90s when the town was a hub for dance music and illegal raves (or, indeed, when it was an important player in the ’60s Northern Soul scene), but there are still plenty of good parties and places to hunt out.

Prime amongst them is the Shh! Bar on Northgate, one of the newest additions to the scene. A 1920s-themed Prohibition bar, the small bar quickly fills up at the weekend – but then again, with over 140 types of gin and a piano in there, there isn’t a lot of room to start with!

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, The Lemon Tree is another new addition to Blackburn’s nightlife, quickly becoming one of the leading live music venues in Blackburn with a decent range of drinks to match.

Sports fans, meanwhile, should check out The Blackburn Times. The popular Northgate bar screens all the big-game action with a DJ on the weekend to keep the atmosphere buzzing.

While the bar and club scene is a little thin on the ground, there are plenty of great pubs in and around Blackburn.

Two of the best town centre pubs are Sir Charles Napier and The Drummer’s Arms, both of which are a short walk from our Blackburn Town Centre hotel. The Drummer’s Arms is a lively micropub with an ever-rotating cast of cask ales, boutique gins, guest cider and regular live music. Nearby on Limbrick at the top end of town is Sir Charles Napier, the leading rock bar in Blackburn. As well as being a haven for all guitar fans who come for their weekly rock karaoke sessions, the pub does a weekly pub quiz and poker night as well as a great selection of drinks.

Some of the best pubs in Blackburn are on the edge of the town centre and heading out towards the countryside.

One of our favourites is the Oyster & Otter near Cherry Tree, a welcoming pub with over-sized sofas, a roaring fire in winter and a timeless food menu with a strong emphasis on seafood.

Just as good is The Spread Eagle located several miles north of the town centre. The large beer garden makes the most of the gorgeous views across the Ribble Valley, while the gastropub food is some of the best in the area.

If you’re staying at our Blackburn South hotel, one of the best nearby pubs is The Black Bull. Open Wednesday to Sunday, the micropub showcases all the latest beers and ales from the Three B’s Brewery with up to eight cask ales on offer at any one time.