Student nightlife is changing in Belfast, according to young people studying in the city.
Earlier this month, demolition work began at Filthy McNasty’s — the latest in a series of well-known Belfast pubs and bars that have closed in recent years.
Diggers and other equipment were seen working at the Dublin Road venue last week, with the old building now largely removed.
The party spot — a popular destination for students down the years — will soon be housing them instead, with more than 200 student apartments earmarked for the site.
While many students still enjoy going out, some admitted the increasing costs of an evening in the city make it harder to afford.
Alexandra Jevtic (18), from Jersey, and Rose O’Shea (18), from Belfast, said they regularly go out in the city.
“I’d say we go out maybe two times a week,” Alexandra said.
But they admit that they only go to bars offering student deals.
Some popular venues known for their deals include Limelight, Kremlin and Thompsons Garage.
“Drinks tend to be cheaper there. A lot of the pubs are so expensive, so if you are trying to get actually drunk, it’s better to go to Kremlin or Limelight,” said Alexandra, who believes the decline in nightlife is not a Northern Ireland-specific issue.
“Back home, where I’m from, every single bar and pub has shut. It’s really bad, but I think it’s just that things are getting so expensive now and people can’t afford to go out,” she said.
Rose said the pair sometimes save money by drinking at home, saying: “It’s a lot cheaper to just buy supermarket alcohol and drink it at home instead of going out anywhere.”
Adam Torrence and Aaron Martin
Adam Torrence (19), from Comber, and Aaron Martin (20), from Holywood, agreed the price of a night out in Belfast is becoming harder to manage.
“The prices are obviously going up. I’d say people have less money, so they obviously can’t go out as much because they sort of think it’s not worth it,” Adam said.
As many students are turning away from traditional nights out, some are hosting house parties instead.
“With a house party, you know everyone there,” Adam explained, “whereas you wouldn’t really know everyone in the pub.”
But the cost isn’t the only thing that is stopping students from consuming alcohol: an ever-growing Christian Union at Queen’s University hosts many students who choose to be pioneers.
Sarah Hanna and Ruth Gilmore
Members Sarah Hanna (20), from Newry, and Ruth Gilmore (20), from Kilrea, choose not to drink alcohol.
“For me, personally, drinking doesn’t have any appeal to me, so I just never feel the need to,” Ruth said.
The girls explained that there are lots of social options at university that don’t include drinking.
“I would have no issue with going to a club or society, and there are lots of sports too that are good to get involved in and meet people,” Sarah said.
Other students avoid binge drinking to focus on juggling work and school.
Aoife Farrell (23), from Fermanagh, said: “I think when you are at the start of university, you go out a lot more. But then when things start to get a bit more serious, you realise that you need to focus more on getting through the course than going out and socialising.”
She said there are ways she socialises with her friends that don’t include partying: “We would go to a coffee shop or maybe out for a meal or something. It doesn’t have to be this big drinking session — you don’t have to drink.”
Aoife said her friends share a similar opinion.
“We would all sort of be like that; I think most of my friends have all settled. I think you just get to the point where you realise you don’t need it,” she said.
Even during the festive period, Aoife and her friends weren’t tempted to go out in Belfast.
“I went out at home over Christmas, but that was really it. I can’t remember the last time I was in Belfast,” she said.
Akshaya Rengamani and Shreenithii Sundaram
Other students choose not to drink for cultural reasons.
Akshaya Rengamani (21) and Shreenithii Sundaram (22), who are originally from India, have been studying in Belfast since September and have noted there is a bigger alcohol culture in Northern Ireland than in their home country.
“I wouldn’t drink at all, and she would maybe drink on occasion. It’s just a part of our culture. We don’t drink alcohol at home either,” Akshaya said.
The pair noted, however, that many students here prefer to socialise at home.
“It was surprising to me over the festive period, because I was in Belfast and it was empty,” Shreenithii said.
“In India you would see everyone out socialising, but over here everyone seems to stay in at home and socialise there.”