Nightlife in York

63 clubs, live music venues and late-night spots in York.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 63.

Photo: Chris Downer, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence)

DoLive music venue
York Barbican
Email via online contact form. A medium-sized venue for touring music and comedy gigs, orchestral performances, opera, ballet, and tribute acts for past pop legends. One of two venues for the Laugh Out Loud comedy club.
Box office Mon-Fri 10AM-2PM, show nights from 5PMWheelchair accessible · Live music
DoTheatre
Grand Opera House
It was built as a corn exchange in 1868, and was converted to full-time theatre use in 1902. The auditorium is indeed very grand, if a little faded. Despite the name, the Grand hosts a wide variety of plays, musicals, gigs and dance, although opera and ballet performances are rather scarce.
Box office Mon-Sat noon-4PM, show days until 15 min before start of performanceLimited wheelchair access
DoLive music venue
National Centre for Early Music
Early music is European music from the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, although the centre has broadened its study to encompass all pre-modern music from cultures around the world. In addition to its two festivals (see below), the NCEM has an extremely lively and diverse annual programme of concerts, seminars and workshops, mostly held at its base in a 12th-century deconsecrated church.
Box office Mon-Fri 9AM-5PMPrices vary per concert; under 35s and full time students of any age receive very generous discounts
DrinkBar
Evil Eye
Colourful cocktail bar tucked behind a gin shop owned by the same people. You may have to queue to enter, as the place is very small.
Wed Thu 4PM-midnight, Fri 4PM-1AM, Sat noon-1AM, Sun noon-midnightWi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible
DrinkPub
The Fulford Arms
Real ale pub with a relaxed 'suburban local' atmosphere by day, but with live music and other events such as charity fundraisers nearly every night.
Mon-Thu 4PM-midnight, Fri Sat 11:30AM-1AM, Sun 11:30AM-midnightWheelchair accessible · Live music
DrinkPub
The Three Legged Mare
The Wonky Donkey
Black Sheep Brewery pub which serves their ales and bar snacks, it has quite an active social week, with a Monday quiz, Thursday open mic night, Friday live folk music and various live music acts on Saturday nights. Dogs welcome.
Wed–Sat noon–midnight, Sun noon–10:30PM, Mon–Tue noon–11PMLimited wheelchair access · Live music
DrinkBar
Dusk
A great place for cocktails, that describes itself as a "laid-back café bar by day, den of iniquity by night." While it does indeed get busy of an evening, especially when there's a live music act, you can usually find some space upstairs.
Daily 10AM-2AM. 2-for-1 cocktails Mon-Thu all night, Fri-Sun until 10PMWi-Fi
DrinkNightclub
Club Salvation
Salvo
Essentially for boozed-up undergrad students, Salvo has cheap drinks, chart music and absolutely no class. The bouncers have a bad attitude, but a strict policy against drugs.
University term time: Wed Fri 10:30PM-4AM, Sat 11PM-4AM. University holidays: Sat 11PM-4AMFree entry before 10PM, then £5 (combo ticket with Society)
DrinkBar
The Stone Roses
A 90s-themed rock/britpop bar which steadily morphs into a club as the night goes on. Decent atmosphere and bargain bevvies.
Mon-Fri noon-1AM, Sat Sun 11AM-1AMFree entry except for gigs
DrinkCocktail bar
Jalou
Email via online contact form. Geordie glam meets medieval York: lavish and pricey cocktails served to an RnB soundtrack in a grade II-listed Gothic church with an impressive 'neon chandelier' centrepiece.
Sun-Wed 4PM-1AM, Thu-Sat noon-2AM
DrinkNightclub
Popworld
Describing itself as "cheese with style", Popworld is deeply proud of how uncool it is. This chain club is smaller than most of its sister venues, but has a revolving dancefloor on which you can bust out your worst moves to music as sugary as the floor's sticky coating.
Fri Sat 9PM-2AMEntry generally free, some events £3
Drink
Kuda Bar and Club
Split over two floors and three rooms, including a tiki bar complete with hula girls, and a cocktail lounge. VIP booths available. Drinks are pricey.
Mon-Wed, Fri 11PM-3:30AM, Sat 9PM-3:30AMEntry from £3
Eat
Pizza Express
A chain which needs no introduction, but this one is worth a look for the setting – a spectacular 19th century gentlemen's club perched on the bank of the River Ouse. Summer evenings on the terraces are pleasant, and their toilets are marble temples of Victorian excess – it's worth eating there just for the chance to use a solid brass-and-marble urinal.
Daily 11:30AM-11PMMains £11-£16
Drink
The Basement
100-seater underground venue for live music (especially jazz), comedy, film, poetry, workshops and discussions. One of two venues for the Laugh Out Loud comedy club. 16+ only.
Most gigs 8PM-11PM, most other events 7:30PM-10PM
Drink
The Biltmore
Housed in a converted historic church, this New York-inspired swish champagne and cocktail bar is relaxed in the week and buzzing at the weekend with the house DJ's music.
Tue-Thu 5PM-midnight, Fr 3PM-at least midnight, Sat Sun noon-at least midnight
Drink
The Crescent
Working men's club turned community events venue. Tuesdays are for retro gaming, Wednesday is open decks night, and there are music gigs several times a week.
Daily 4PM-midnight (Sat Sun until 1AM)
DrinkPub
The Gillygate
The Gillygate, is a Grade II listed public house offering accommodation on Gillygate in York, England. The listing describes the building as mid‑19th‑century, while BBC News reports that the pub dates back to 1811. The site was included in the Central Historic Core conservation area in 1968.
Open now · closes 10:30 pmWi-Fi · Limited wheelchair access · Outdoor seating
DrinkPub
Eagle & Child
The Eagle & Child is a pub on High Petergate, in the city centre of York, in England. The building was constructed in the early 17th century, as a three-storey timber-framed building, with attics and a jettied front. In the 18th century, the building was altered internally, and a brick extension was added at the rear, shared with the neighbouring Petergate House.
Limited wheelchair access · Outdoor seating · Live music
DrinkPub
Old Grey Mare
The Old Grey Mare is a Grade II listed public house on Clifton Green in Clifton, a suburb of York, England. Dating from the late 17th century, it is thought to stand on the site of an earlier inn, The Maypole, which was reportedly destroyed by fire in 1648. Known as the Grey Horse by 1820, the building was altered and extended over time, including late-19th‑century work by architect Walter Green Penty that added a gabled cross‑wing on the north side.
Wi-Fi · Limited wheelchair access · Outdoor seating
DrinkPub
The Black Swan
The Black Swan is a public house in the city centre of York, England. The building lies on Peasholme Green, on the site of an important medieval house which had been occupied by various Lord Mayors of York and Members of Parliament. In 1560, Martin Bowes rebuilt the property, and in 1670 Henry Thompson made substantial alterations, rebuilding parts in brick, and altering the interior.
Wi-Fi · Outdoor seating · Live music
DrinkPub
The Phoenix
The Phoenix Inn is a Grade II listed public house on George Street in York, England, standing just inside the city walls. The building is variously dated to the late 18th or early 19th century and was remodelled in 1897 for John Smith's Brewery to designs by Bromet & Thorman of Tadcaster. It later passed to Marston's, under whose ownership it experienced several closures in the 2000s before being sold at auction in 2008 to private owners.
Wi-Fi · Limited wheelchair access · Outdoor seating
DoTheatre
Joseph Rowntree Theatre
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre is a historic theatre on Haxby Road in the north of York, a city in North Yorkshire, England. The theatre was commissioned by the Rowntree's chocolate company, as a facility for its workers, alongside a library, swimming pool and bowling green. It was designed by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin in the Art Deco style, and was completed in 1935.
Wheelchair accessible · Built 1935
DrinkPub
Museum Street Tavern
The Museum Street Tavern, formerly Thomas's of York (and officially listed as 3 Museum Street), is a historic public house in the city centre of York, England. The building was first constructed in about 1700. Around 1800 it became part of Ettridge's Royal Hotel, and in the 1820s it was heightened from two to three storeys.
Limited wheelchair access · Live music
DrinkPub
The Falcon
The Falcon is a historic pub on Micklegate in the city centre of York, England. The establishment originated as an inn named The Falcon in the 18th century. It was first recorded in 1715, and in 1736, Francis Drake named it one of two notable inns on the street.
Outdoor seating · Live music
DrinkPub
The Dubliner
The Maltings was a historic pub on Tanner's Moat in York. The pub opened in 1842 as the Railway Tavern, a short walk from York railway station, which had opened the previous year. The opening of Lendal Bridge nearby increased its trade, although the relocation of York railway station reduced it.
Outdoor seating · Live music
DrinkPub
Black Horse
The Black Horse (officially listed as the Tap and Spile), is a Grade II listed public house with guest rooms on Monkgate in York, England. The present building was rebuilt in 1897 for John Hunt's Brewery, to designs by Walter Green Penty. It traded as the Black Horse, later became the Tap and Spile, and was renamed the Black Horse again in 2014.
Outdoor seating · Wi-Fi · Live music
DrinkPub
The Knavesmire
Albemarle Road, South Bank
Open now · closes 10:30 pmOutdoor seating · Live music · Wheelchair accessible
DrinkPub
The Hole In The Wall
10 High Petergate
Open now · closes 11 pmWi-Fi · Live music
DrinkBar
Cat in the Wall
4 The Stonebow
Open now · closes 11 pmLive music
DrinkPub
Bootham Tavern
Bootham
Live music
DrinkPub
The Hop
11-12 Fossgate
Live music
DrinkBar
Bora Bora
5 Grape Lane
DrinkBar
Victor Js
1A Finkle Street
DrinkBar
Pink
5 St Helen's Square
DrinkNightclub
Ziggy's
53-55 Micklegate
DrinkPub
The King's Inn
15 Shambles
Wi-Fi · Live music
DoComedy club
All Gold Comedy Club
3 St. Helen’s Square
DrinkCocktail bar
Bobos Cocktail Bar York
5 Little Stonegate
DrinkCocktail bar
DumDum York
37-39 Swinegate
DrinkCocktail bar
Revolution York
Coney St

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).