From Kasbah Mondays to Smack Saturdays: A guide to Warwick’s nightlife

As an incoming Fresher in 2023, I had no idea what to expect from the nights out at Warwick. I am from a tiny village in the middle of nowhere where socialising in fields and parks was considered prime ‘nightlife’.

Consequently, on my first day, I decided to throw myself into Freshers’ Week and attended the Saturday Welcome Party club night hosted in the Warwick SU. The event was everything you would expect from clubbing, from the cheesy music to the potent drinks. What I did not anticipate was a conversation with my flatmate the next morning, in which I was asked whether I would be attending the Sunday Welcome Party. I, of course, responded that I had already been out the night before, so naturally, could not. My flatmate did not seem to understand my logic and genuinely believed that I had no reason not to go out again. I believe this was the conversation that truly set the tone of my Warwick nightlife experience. 

The rest of Freshers’ Week was a blast, and I encourage any incoming student to attend as many things as they can. My week generally comprised of course and society events in the day, combined with various pubbing or clubbing experiences at night. A particular highlight was the Foam Party, hosted in the SU. I expected a generic clubbing experience with one or two rubbish foam machines; little did I know that I would be walking into a room with enough foam to consume the majority of my clubmates, most of whom were lost in a sea of bubbles, never to be seen again. 

The trademark Skool Dayz outfit is a white shirt and tie. As a result, many Warwick students are likely to see their work clothes drenched in Purple (Warwick’s official beverage) instead of being used to find that elusive graduate job

The concept of Circling was the next thing introduced to me in my first term. Circling can, very simply, be described as society or sports club drinking games with various challenges. Unfortunately, much like in the movie Fight Club, the key rule of Circle is that we don’t talk about Circle. What I can reveal is that at my first Circle on campus with a course mate, we were both so inebriated that by the end of the night, one of us became known as the infamous ‘naked man of Claycroft’ (it was not me). I reached out for a comment from my anonymous friend, who suggested the following advice:  

“Pace yourself at Circles or you could end up locked out of your flat stark naked, or even worse singing karaoke at the SU pub.”  

I would very much like to echo this sound advice. However, I would also like to assure every Fresher that this is not the normal experience of Circles. They are one of the most enjoyable parts of Warwick’s nightlife, and, under normal circumstances, they will not end in this horrifying and scantily clad way. Instead, you will find that they are some of the best places to meet people and get involved in whatever society or sports club you are interested in.  

Smack is also worth mentioning, known for its cramped dance floors, horrifying smoking area, and rooms that are either devoid of or flooded with light – all of these factors combined make the nightclub extremely special

Of course, people often engage in the drinking culture that comes with the nightlife at Warwick. However, I can assure anyone reading this that no one cares whether you drink or not on nights out. And if they do, they are probably best to avoid anyway. 

The next events that were introduced to me on campus were the SU club nights known as POP! and Skool Dayz. Many incoming first years may bring a white shirt and tie to university, hoping to use it in an important interview with a recruiter. Unfortunately, the trademark Skool Dayz outfit is a white shirt and tie. As a result, many Warwick students are likely to see their work clothes drenched in Purple (Warwick’s official beverage) instead of being used to find that elusive graduate job. 

Off campus, to the north, is the most famous nightlife spot we have, Kasbah in Coventry, which is as close to normal clubbing as you can get.  

The student body has yet to formulate a reliable answer on what to do on Thursdays and Sundays

South of campus lies Royal Leamington Spa, a traditional spa town that has the unfortunate predicament of being a twenty-minute bus ride from a university of over 28,000 students. Consequently, as the sun goes down, all the pubs and bars are abandoned by locals and replaced by you and me. 

One of the most vibrant areas of Leamington’s nightlife is a block of bars and clubs located between the equally historic landmarks of Napoleon III’s old house and the McDonald’s on the Upper Parade. The nightclub Smack is also worth mentioning, known for its cramped dance floors, horrifying smoking area, and rooms that are either devoid of or flooded with light – all of these factors combined make the nightclub extremely special and enjoyable. And thus, it is the perfect introduction to Leamington nightlife for any Freshers this year. 

Students here have come up with a timetable known as the Warwick Week, and it goes as such: Kasbah Mondays, Smack Tuesdays, POP! Wednesdays, Neon Fridays, and either Smack (again) or Moo Saturdays. This authoritative schedule has made sure the nights out here have remained lively and fun. However, the student body has yet to formulate a reliable answer on what to do on Thursdays and Sundays. Maybe this year’s Freshers will finally be the ones to work it out…