Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! Step aside pub crawls and drinking games – Dry January may be over, but interest in alcohol-free events continues to increase. Check out our list of suggestions for sober nights out on campus!
College Movie Nights
For a relaxing, alcohol-free night with friends, why not head along to a College Movie Night? There are seven Colleges on the University of Kent Canterbury campus: Darwin, Eliot, Keynes, Park Wood, Rutherford, Turing and Woolf. College Residential Life Assistants in these Colleges regularly run Movie Nights, some of which are open to College residents, while others are open to all students (check the events page to find out which is which).
Movie Nights frequently have a seasonal theme and a selection of films you can vote for on the night. Plus, many movie nights provide free popcorn and snacks!
Check the College and Community Life Events page for details of upcoming Movie Nights open to you.
Quiz Nights
Swap drinking for thinking! With your sharp sober mind, you’ll be able to show off your general knowledge. College Residential Life Assistants run regular Quiz Nights where you can put your trivia skills to the test. Quiz Nights tend to be open to all students rather than reserved solely for those belonging to any particular college. Get a team together or head along on your own to win prizes and meet new friends!
Check the College and Community Life Events page for details of upcoming Quiz Nights.
Grab a Milkshake at Mungo’s
For an alcohol-free drink, you can’t do better than Mungo’s in Eliot college. Treat yourself to an ultra-thick shake with vanilla ice cream or a refreshing smoothie or, if you and your friends are feeling particularly decadent, an super-sized Mungo’s Mega Sundae, designed for sharing.
All shakes, smoothies, waffles, pancakes and sundaes are available Monday-Friday until 9pm. Vegan options are available and you can order from your phone using the QR code on the menu.
Give It A Go Events
Just because you’re not drinking doesn’t mean you can’t shed some inhibitions. Give It A Go is a programme of events open to all University of Kent students, offering opportunities to try out activities you haven’t tried before. Their events offer everything from arts and crafts and sports to off-campus excursions. Plus, you’ll get the chance to meet new friends and maybe even develop a new skill or start a new hobby!
Upcoming evening events include a Roller Disco and UV Sports Night, a Valentine’s Burlesque Class, and an Oscars Movie Magic Dance Class.
Check the Kent Union Give It A Go page for details of upcoming events.
Games Night in Origins
Going to a bar doesn’t have to be about the booze. Get a couple of teams together and head to Origins in Darwin College for a game of shuffleboard, a table-based game involving sliding pucks along the tabletop without sending them flying off the end! Or you and your friends might prefer Interactive Darts, where you can choose your difficulty level to suit your darts abilities.
Or why not join the Origins Bar Triathlon, combining pool, darts and shuffleboard in one big, fun tournament!
Theatre
Soak up some culture! The Gulbenkian Arts Centre, in the centre of the Canterbury campus, offers high quality events open to everyone. They regularly host live talks, concerts, plays, musicals, comedy and dance performances in the evenings.
For £5 for a year, you can get Gulbenkian Student Membership, offering big discounts on film screenings, theatre, dance and food and drink in the Gulbenkian Cafe.
Head to The Gulbenkian Arts Centre What’s On page for details of upcoming shows.
Funny Rabbit Comedy Club
Mix clarity with hilarity at the monthly comedy club, Funny Rabbit, which takes place in the Gulbenkian Cafe. Each event showcases up-and-coming and award-winning stand-up talent from around the world.
In the coming months, they’re hosting Indian stand-up comedian Anuvab Pal, award-winning comic Scott Bennett, polymathic performer Joe Sutherland, regular headliner Jonny Awsum, comedy festival stalwart Stephanie Laing, comic and animator Howard Read, and audience favourite Pauline Eyre.
Head to The Gulbenkian Arts Centre What’s On page for details of upcoming shows.
Pizza Party in Hut8
Hut8 in Turing College is the perfect chill out space to enjoy a pizza party that’s easy on your wallet. Open until 10pm from Monday to Sunday, Hut8 offers take-away style catering, including 9-inch, 12-inch and 16-inch pizzas along with burgers, wraps and fried chicken. Pizzas cost between £7 and £12 and vegan options are available.
These are just some of the alcohol-free events and nights out available to you on campus as a Kent student. Keep an eye on the Student Events page and the Kent Union page for details of more sober-friendly events.