I recently went here to pick up some tickets for a gig and the whole affair was ridiculously confusing. The gig was taking place in Mandela Hall and when booking the tickets online I was told to pick them up at the venue on the day of the gig, so this is what I tried to do! I specifically went down early and went to the usually handy Ticketmaster outlet on site (in the shop) and I was told they had turned the machine off and to come back tomorrow, only problem with that was the gig was that night. Once I explained this I was directed to the front desk where the security team told me that I didn't even need a 'paper' ticket. The whole thing was really confusing and kind of put me off the Union. Seemed a little disorganised! On the plus side we're lucky we have a venue like this on our doorstep and it does well to attract big names! The union itself is handy and the shop stocks all Sorts of handy student gear, super noodles and stationery - the basics! I've had great experiences here before but the ticket fiasco downgraded the overall rating! read more

The Student's Union at Queens - Nightlife Near Me - Belfast, BFS

The Speakeasy (upstairs) is a really chilled out place to call in for a drink, and is pretty cheap compared to normal Belfast prices. In addition, the bar always seems to have some offer on booze. During the day, the speakeasy has a few pool tables- not in absolutely brand new nick, but good for a bit of fun. You'll need to leave an ID or something behind the bar to get cues and balls. There is another dedicated pool room out the back which has a mixture of pool tables and full sized snooker tables. At night time, there is usually some sort of event on in the speakeasy, such as table quiz, bingo, club nights, etc- all good fun!! Downstairs in the union is the legendary Mandella Hall- this place is the biz if you're into live music! I've seen quite a few excellent bands and artists here, and because it's not a huge venue, it's a sort of intimate experience. However, it's not really that good if you want a drink- unless you're standing beside the bar, you'll have a struggle to get a drink during busy shows. Also, some of the shows cater for under 18's- there is no alcohol allowed inside the venue at these, but you can still get a drink at the bar next door or the speakeasy. In addition to live music, there are also club nights for various musical tastes, like MeltDown- wanna hit this soon! As its a student orientated bar, it is busy during term time (September - December, February - May), but quiet outside this. read more

The Student's Union at Queens - The Cult @ Mandella - Nightlife Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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The Queen's Students Union is handy for me as I work in Queens, it's got the SU shop, Clements, Santander, a beauty salon, a bar upstairs and the Mandela hall downstairs. I went to the bar upstairs before a concert at Mandela Hall, they had a full selection of drink promos on offer, snooker/pool tables and an outside seating/smoking area. There is no natural light coming in, the Windows are covered so it had a dingy feel about it. Maybe this is how students like it but I felt it could do with being brighten up. Mandela hall is the same, it think it's furnished exactly the same as it was when it opened. I think the whole students union could really do with a revamp. read more

The Students Union is brilliant and you don't have to be a student to use it. I remember when I was a student (many decades ago!) and students unions happened to be small, dingy places. Not so with QUB! It's a large building housing a reception desk, shop, Ticket Master, beauticians, book shop, computer supplies shop, cafes, bank, ATMs, bars, upstairs beer garden, concert spaces, places to sit and relax and pool tables etc. QUB Students Union is entirely self funding and it's a lovely bright, modern building since being refurbished a few years ago. Great spot - but can be very busy during term time which is mid September to June. There are handy recycling bins here too for aluminium cans, paper and plastics. read more

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Let's be honest, this place is never going to be more than a student union, but in my opinion, it's a bloody good one. There are 3 bars, a music venue and a full on dance nightclub in the attic. Not bad, is it? My favourite of the bars is the Speakeasy. The drinks offers are usually pretty good. All through the World Cup, it was £2 a pint, and right now it's £1.80/£1.50 per drink (depending on whether you're on spirits or not). The music in this bar is slightly more indie pop (think more Killers and less Pussycat Dolls). There's also usually a great atmosphere in the place and the layout allows most people to have access to at least a table, if not seats as well (BIG plus if you're getting on like I am. Ahem). The Mandela Hall is one of the best venues for music in Belfast. It's small enough to be intimate, but big enough to get a sizeable crowd in. It also attracts a lot of up-and-comers, which leads to a lot of cocky "Oh, I saw them aaaages ago" stories! read more

I went to the Mandela hall two weeks ago for the first time in years and had the best night out in ages. I was very reluctant to go at first, as a thirty something I felt I'd be too old for this student venue but the mighty Slash was performing and the atmosphere was electric. Although usually a student Mecca; as it is found within Queen's student union, it does, on the occasional evening, house some great musical legends and there was a real mixture of age groups! The drinks are cheap, I think I paid less than two quid for a pint of beer. There is the opportunity to stand in among the crowd and mosh or to go upstairs to a less crowded standing area and a less crowded bar. As we went in I was asked if I had a camera and had to hand it in to security - I wasn't pleased when we got into the gig and nearly everyone inside had a camera! - I'm just too honest ;-) I was able to get to the very front of the crowd very easily and rocked my little socks off while being drenched by the sweat of the mighty Slash. Great venue, cash machine on the premises, three really good bars to choose from, clean toilets and decent security - I honestly feel for rock and moshing it's one of the best venues in Belfast - I'll be back!! read more

The Student's Union at Queens - Nightlife Near Me - Belfast, BFS

The Student Union is the hub for Queen's students, whether they want a beer, a game of pool, a coffee or a newspaper. The variety offered within the Union epitomises what it is to be a student. Within the ever changing Union complex, there is a good value shop, a variety of coffee shops and eateries, a number of student bars, chill out areas and a pool room. Although the pool room is offered to students only, the bars and shops are open to the public and boast very good value. Upstairs is the Speakeasy, where many local bands have tread the boards on a Monday or Thursday nights. Speakeasy is open during the day and complete with pool tables and jukebox, the Speakeasy offers good value and a fine place to chill. Downstairs consists of three joining bars, the undiscovered Bar Sub complete with pool tables, the newly refurbished Bunatee and the concert venue of the Mandela Hall. All bars boast the same student-orientated offers. I recommend the £1.80 - £2.00 a pint which, when consumed after a hard day's work (!) is the best way to wind down. The Union also hosts a number of themed nights, including quizzes and football matches. The staff are pleasant and predominately students so there is a buzzing atmosphere all the time. It may not appeal to everyone to go to a student bar on a night out, but it is certainly a pleasant place to be and a wonderful insight to what it is to be a student. read more

The Student's Union at Queens - Nightlife Near Me - Belfast, BFS

I find this place hard to review. It is so much of a mixed bag that is pretty hard to say what I feel about it. The Mandela Hall as a music venue is brilliant, it always puts on a top notch show and has plenty of top quality acts on show. I have seen people from The Cribs to Ryan Adams, from Jenny Lewis to The Super Furry Animals. The rest of the Union I can't be as complimentary about. They're ok and they're a bit cheap but I can never tell when they're open. In my day, all the pubs were open all the time and you could always head down for a pint and some banter, even from 11am. The Speakeasy should be better than it is and the music put on is absolutely rubbish. The downstairs bars, again, are ok but you can never get any phone reception and they're usually too empty to get any decent atmosphere going. Maybe its because I'm growing older and like a bit of class about the place but the Union just doesn't cut it anymore. read more

I have been to the Speakeasy twice, once last Valentines day to see Beach House. The band were brilliant but the venue isn't really up to much. The pints were cheap enough, but the place was a bit dark and dingy with sticky floors. You get the picture. The bouncers also take to shouting at you "Here Luv!!!!!" if you try to bring your drinks outside or to the loo or anywhere outside of the main vicinity. I was here for the second time a few months back to see a friends cousins band, who were great and really got the crowd going. It was part of the BBC Introducing Stage, but the bands who were supporting were absolutely crap. The kinda stuff that wouldn't even make your local village hall. Maybe the guys who book the acts just want to fill the place, in fairness there were loadsa grubby looking students swaying away so it's a win for them. I'd go here again if there was a band playing I liked, otherwise I wouldn't go out of my way to go here. read more

Could be better, though I really enjoyed the metal night there! I would avoid it on saturdays as it is often packed with drunk kids, but on sundays it is rather enjoyable. The skittles vodka they make is my JAM! read more

The student's union is a great night out. It boasts several different bars including the Speakeasy, BarSub, BunateeBar and the Mandella Hall on the ground floor, which also hosts various bands and gigs throughout the year. The drinks promotions are very cheap, with various drinks usually costing £1.70. The Student's Union also includes various places to eat during the day, including Clements which is rather expensive on a Student budget, however there is also a food hall at the back of the Union with various carts selling both hot and cold food to supplement your needs. Need second hand books? Chapter One, the bookshop near the back of the Union sells lots of second hand books for all courses at Queen's University so it may be money-saving to have a look in there first before heading over to the Queen's bookshop. read more

my favourite venue as there is a good space to queue so it's good for bands that have a dedicated fanbase! BAR SUB is my favourite and the staff are always nice. Mandela Hall is also a good venue as it's small enough but there can still be a decent sized crowd! The shop is pretty good too. I can't fault it. read more

The Student's Union at Queens - By Conquest or Consent - Nightlife Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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I'm torn by this place but in general it's a fair place to spend a little time, student or otherwise (a hack looking for some work?) When I lived in Stranmillis we often toddled down here for a crafty one, there are a range of bars on offer, Speakeasy being the oldest and largest, with fair prices and a reasonable atmosphere when it's not too busy. I do actually quite like Bar Sub in the bowels of the place. A nicely lit, welcoming small bar with a good jukebox and pool tables. What else do you need? read more

Union is a great bar with a good atmosphere and is relatively inexpensive. The main club night is a friday, for years I have loved Union Fridays, i awaited their sweet embrace everyday from saturday morning to friday night! However the past few months have spiralled severely downwards for union friday. For a while i blamed union, i thought union had lost its way but in reality it was me, i was the one who changed. My expectations for union are high as always but each time i they lower just a little. Union has my unconditional love but i just don't like it anymore, just like my son who choose to live with his "mother". The building is great and very helpful though. read more

Good venue downstairs for concerts but beside that not much else really does it for me. On a Friday they offer 3 drinks for a £5 which is really good deal, but never has the atmosphere to back it up, but its not bad if your wanting to start somewhere before a night out. Snooker tables are not in the greatest conditions, but is cheap so can't really complain. But for me, only useful if attending a concert there. read more

only going to give three stars, i went to see dragonforce, with turisas as the warm up gig, and to be honest they were miles better, it was a nice enough venue, kinda cramped for the number of people though, and i wasnt happy when i saw that the people in the balconies were drooling down on those below and throwing beers down on us, so for the lack of event staff stopping this they lose a star, and for the cramped conditions, coupled with lack of ID checking that i saw at the gig, they lose another one in my book read more

VERY popular with students studying in and around the Belfast area, as well as holding concerts for some VERY popular actssome recent ones have been the wombats, fratellis read more

Ah, the days are gone when I disgraced myself in the many bars and clubs in the Student's Union...but others are following in my footsteps and keeping up with the pace - and I'm glad to see it. The Union is the heart and soul of Queen's University - with students and non-students alike flocking here to the various watering holes within. You can get all sorts of entertainment and nights out on offer here, from a few pints in the Bunatee Bar (very Irishy), or a more commercial nightclub feel upstairs, and the Mandela Hall which is a biggest part of the building, offers live music gigs and DJs of all sorts, which bring the crowds in from all corners of Belfast. There is also the main nightclub "Shine", which I've never been to because it offers much harder music than I'm used to, but it's extremely popular and has been so for a long time. No matter what your music taste is or what sort of bar you prefer, you are bound to find it in the Students Union. read more