Nightlife in Salisbury

If gourmet burgers, craft ales and cocktails are your thing, The Craft Bar at The Salisbury Arms is the spot for you. The independent, family-run bar near to the Salisbury Arts Centre is one of our favourites in town, with excellent food and drink options. It’s also located less than a mile from our Salisbury South Milford hotel.

Carry on your bar-hopping at Tinga, which is just around the corner from The Craft Bar on Salt Lane. The Mexican-themed bar covers all the classics, including nachos, frozen margaritas and classic cocktails, all enjoyed in a stylish setting decked out in bright primary colours, Frieda Kahlo prints and lush plants.

The Cosy Club is another firm favourite. The nation-wide chain is known for their alternative decor – think mismatched furniture, Victorian-era details and an excellent range of food and drink – and the New Street venue close to the cathedral is no different.

For an unadulterated cocktail experience, head to YoYo on Milford Street. The cool cocktail lounge takes its retro theme very seriously – while you’re sipping on a Sherbet Dip Dab cocktail, you can play a game of Buckaroo or dance along to their 80’s soundtrack.

The Haunch of Venison boldly mixes the best of the 14th century with today’s modern pub comforts. The reputedly haunted medieval pub dates back to 1320 and has one of the best beer and ale selections for miles, while the gastropub food isn’t far behind. If you only go to one historic pub in Salisbury, make sure it’s this one just off Guildhall Square.

If you’re going to head to two pubs, then we’d recommend The Old Ale & Coffee House as your next watering hole. Another venerable institution, this time dating back to 1411, it ticks a lot of boxes, including excellent food and drink spanning craft beer and gin. But it’s their pub garden with mini beach huts – that can be booked in advance if you’re prepared – that really steals the show.

If you still can’t decide where to go, try the historic Butcher’s Row, where you’ll find The Ox Row Inn. Head to their street-side terrace during the summer and enjoy a Cornish cider or a Stonehenge ale, or head inside and choose from their dedicated steak menu and pair it with a fine wine. On the same street is The Market Bar, where you’ll find fine burgers, craft gin and tonics and regular live music.

Other highly recommended pubs in Salisbury include The Pheasant Inn and The New Inn, both of which blend historical settings with supremely good food, a wide range of drinks and a homely, welcoming atmosphere.

With four distinct rooms, regular club nights every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and a dedicated following, The Chapel on Milford Street is the place to be for clubbers in Salisbury. As the name suggests, the action takes place in a renovated 19th-century Methodist church, with the original pipe organ dominating the main stage. Cool, quirky and with a decent roster of resident DJs and guest names, it’s the place to go for a dance music sermon.