Nightlife in Loughborough

The Orange Tree ticks a lot of boxes. A bright and trendy bistro, they also put on regular live music events, while the cocktails are some of the best in town. Its Ward End location near Queen’s Park also makes it the perfect bar for our Loughborough hotel, which is just a two-minute walk away.

Another all-rounder is The Kelso. Next door to The Orange Tree, it’s part-bar with a rooftop garden, part-club (it has a 4 am license at the weekend) and has one of the best soundtracks in town, with resident DJs playing Motown, funk, disco and classic hip-hop.

Nearby on Wood Gate is The Wheeltapper, a stripped-back bar that focuses on the simple things in life: namely cask ale and craft beer. The dog-friendly pub has one of the best-stocked bars in town and a large beer garden in the back to enjoy them in the sunshine.

Heading towards the centre of town, Centro Lounge on Baxter Gate is the perfect place to unwind over a few drinks and some lip-smacking food (including gluten-free and vegan options) all while taking in the eclectic, colourful decor.

Just a minute’s walk from our Loughborough hotel, The Moon & Bell is a great place to kick off your Loughborough’s pub crawl. The Wetherspoons pub does what all Wetherspoons pubs do including a rock-solid selection of beer and well-priced, unfussy pub grub.

Head up Wards End, and you’ll come to The Organ Grinder, a warm and welcoming Blue Monkey Brewery pub that serves over a dozen keg and cask ales and a fine selection of wine and spirits.

Nestled at the top end of town are two of our favourite pubs. The White Hart on Church Gate is a charming, relaxed venue with a traditional range of pub grub, plenty of cask ales and occasional live music and parties in their large garden. Next door is another equally impressive pub, the Three Nuns, a lively public house with plenty of entertainment and even its own in-house range of beer called Habit Ale.

For something a little more boutique, head to The Needle & Pin on The Rushes near Carillon Court. A cool, lively micropub, the small, snug downstairs bar hosts some truly wonderful beers you’re unlikely to find elsewhere, while upstairs, they have a vinyl setup with plenty of vintage vinyl to rummage through and play.

There are plenty of excellent country pubs to explore nearby, with one of our favourites being The Old Bulls Head. A stylish gastropub with some of the best food for miles, the large, airy pub has a large outdoor terrace and is a short drive from Bradgate Park, making it the ideal post-park pick-me-up.

A busy university town, Loughborough has plenty of after-dark entertainment. Revolution Loughborough is a great place to start for night owls in the heart of the action on Baxter Gate. The nationwide chain has an extensive list of drinks spanning cocktails, wine, beer, spirits and bottles, a wide food menu covering all the classics served until 9 pm and a dance floor open until 4 am.

A short distance away is Echos, a two-room club open every Friday and Saturday night until 4 am with plenty of drink deals. Friday hosts more underground DJs, with Saturday featuring party tunes in the main room and tech-house and house in the second room.

Rounding out our selection is Firefly, the latest addition to Loughborough’s nightlife scene. Open Monday, Friday and Saturday night, the fun – and predominantly young – crowd gets down to a party-starting mix of house and R & B tunes.