The Boat Club, Durham – 36 Verified Student Reviews 🍻

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infoImage credit: https://www.the-boat-club.com/menus

The Boat Club -

Cleanliness
Music
Price
Queue
Smoking

Based on 36 user ratings

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Elvet Riverside, Durham DH1 3AF

The Boat Club is a hugely popular cocktail bar on the banks of the River Wear. It has both indoor and outdoor seating and has student drinks deals most nights of the week.

✅ What Students Love

  • Lively atmosphere with a fun and carefree vibe.
  • Friendly staff and quick service.
  • Great music and excellent DJ.
  • Good crowd size, never too packed.
  • Nice place to unwind after lectures.

⚠️ Things to Note

  • Value/price rating is relatively low.
  • Some students may find drinks a bit pricey.
  • Overall ratings suggest room for improvement in cleanliness.

🎯 Best For

Students looking for a lively night out with friends in a welcoming environment.

💡 Things to Know

  • Expect a vibrant atmosphere with a mix of students.
  • Drinks deals are available most nights.
  • The outdoor seating is great for warmer evenings.
  • The venue can fill up, but it's usually not overcrowded.
  • Perfect for both a relaxed start and a wild finish to your night.

❓ Common Questions

What is The Boat Club like?

The Boat Club is known for its vibrant and fun atmosphere, making it a favorite among students for a night out.

How long is the queue?

The queue rating is decent at 4.4, indicating that waits are manageable.

Is it good value?

While drinks are considered good value by some, the overall value rating is lower, suggesting it may be pricier than expected.

What music does The Boat Club play?

The music is lively, with students enjoying a good mix that keeps the energy high.

Is there outdoor seating?

Yes, The Boat Club offers outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying the river views.

infoImage credit: https://www.the-boat-club.com/menus

Reviews
Overall
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The place just has that student buzz about it. ⚡️
By Anonymous Student on Mar 20th 2026
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Affordable and enjoyable, hard to beat combo.
By Anonymous Student on Mar 16th 2026
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Sound bar staff and good crowd make it a 10/10 night.
By Anonymous Student on Mar 11th 2026
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Good tunes, good company, good times.
By Anonymous Student on Mar 2nd 2026
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Great vibe overall, one of my favourite student nights.
By Anonymous Student on Feb 11th 2026
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Nice place to sit and unwind for a bit.
By Anonymous Student on Feb 4th 2026
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Top energy, top people, top nights.
By Anonymous Student on Jan 29th 2026
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Always worth the night out, never dull.
By Anonymous Student on Jan 25th 2026
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Top energy, top people, top nights.
By Anonymous Student on Jan 20th 2026
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Smoking
The atmosphere was spot on from start to finish.
By Anonymous Student on Jan 16th 2026
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Really friendly staff and quick service.
By Anonymous Student on Jan 13th 2026
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Good place to pop into with friends.
By Anonymous Student on Jan 10th 2026
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Such a nice place — always a good experience.
By Anonymous Student on Jan 5th 2026
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Everyone dancing and smiling — what a night!
By Anonymous Student on Jan 2nd 2026
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Had an absolute blast, definitely going again.
By Anonymous Student on Dec 28th 2025
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Always positive energy and great atmosphere.
By Anonymous Student on Dec 24th 2025
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Never too packed, just the right crowd size.
By Anonymous Student on Dec 19th 2025
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Drinks were good value, and the crowd was class.
By Anonymous Student on Dec 15th 2025
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Couldn’t stop smiling all night — proper good times.
By Anonymous Student on Dec 11th 2025
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Super fun and carefree vibe every time.
By Anonymous Student on Dec 4th 2025
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Had a proper laugh all night.
By Anonymous Student on Nov 30th 2025
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Chilled start, wild end – exactly how student nights should be!
By Anonymous Student on Nov 26th 2025
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Never too serious, just pure enjoyment.
By Anonymous Student on Nov 21st 2025
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Such a vibrant and fun vibe every time.
By Anonymous Student on Nov 15th 2025
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Amazing atmosphere, perfect for unwinding after lectures.
By Anonymous Student on Nov 9th 2025
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Really fun experience, the DJ was excellent.
By Anonymous Student on Nov 1st 2025
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One of the best places to go out with friends from uni.
By Anonymous Student on Oct 26th 2025
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Lively music and great crowd, spot on for students.
By Anonymous Student on Oct 23rd 2025
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Chilled start, wild end – exactly how student nights should be!
By Anonymous Student on Oct 20th 2025
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One of those nights that just gets better every hour!
By Anonymous Student on Oct 16th 2025
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Exactly what you want for a night out – fun, easy and affordable.
By Anonymous Student on Oct 13th 2025
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Good mix of people and a very welcoming vibe.
By Anonymous Student on Oct 9th 2025
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Always end up having a great laugh here with friends.
By Anonymous Student on Oct 3rd 2025
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The whole night was smooth, no stress and lots of fun.
By Anonymous Student on Sep 28th 2025
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Always end up having a great laugh here with friends.
By Anonymous Student on Sep 24th 2025
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One of the highlights of student life – great place to go.
By Anonymous Student on Sep 14th 2025
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Very good ambience and location too
By anonymous on Dec 28th 2023