Given that I am now technically into my fifth year at Lancs (though this is now only through visiting people I know here) I thought I could provide a rough outline of the bars available on campus. For those unaware of the nature of the University: it is a college based uni on the extreme outskirts of the town of Lancaster- thereby you end up either drinking in town or campus (reviews of town pubs and the clubs may follow). This is to describe campus. In full there are 11 available drinking spots but two are only for completists and pedants- these two are the coffee bar called 'The Venue' which does also sell bottled beers and the hotel attached to the Uni which does offer a bar (though they are not always welcoming to students).

For those of a less pedantic/sturdy disposition there are nine bars available. Of these one is often also considered a technicality due to its location away from the campus proper. This is graduate bar and it is a shame to miss this or to end here as the beer is some of the best on campus and it offers a nice variety of drinks.
However we now come to the eight bars proper (though for a decent 'round of gold' you do have to do Graduate) which constitute a gallon challenge (traditionally eight pints in eight bars in two hours- which is no way as near as hard as it seems).


Taking it from the top there is:

Northern Half of Campus

COUNTY:- Decent beer, decent prices, middle of no-where, slightly southern-USA vibe/Royston valley vibe "You're not from around here are you?". Good games machines, two pool tables, table football, wide screen TV. More of a loungey than bar atmosphere.

CARTMEL:- Metal chic (ie metallic chairs. kind of minimalist), Beer of widely (and wildly) varying qualities (personally would recommend having bottles or cider at a pinch), three pool tables set away from the bar area, not bad arcade machines, good range of drinks.

LONSDALE:- Ope
n-plan type thing, smaller range of drinks, not bad at times, tiny pool tables, crappy arcades. Good place to sit and chat- less good to sit and drink.

BOWLAND:- Two part area, linked bar and JCR. Small selection of drinks, sadly varying in quality (though when they're good they are good). Friendly atmosphere, one of the most 'local' types of bars on campus.
Reflects Bowlands status as smallest college on campus. Two pool tables in entirely separate room- one of the better places to play pool on campus. Middling arcade stuff. Good place for chatting and drinking, not normally too crowded.


Southern Half of Campus:

FURNESS:- One of the bigger bars with conjoining games room, two pool tables and range of arcades. Bar traditionally stocks a wider range of drinks than most, with a good variety of guest ales. Often very busy as are all bars south of this one. Though may only be personal experience but this is one of the less friendly bars on campus.

FYLDE:- The sports college, reflected in the bar which is situated as a unit inside the JCR. JCR contains two pool tables, few arcade machines and wide screen TV. Bar has decent range of drinks that are drinkable, though not always much more. One of the busiest bars on campus, often with a lot of socials.

GRIZEDALE:- Bit of strange one this as it seems to follow the old tradition of two bars back to back, one for the yokels (students) and one for the class (presumably everyone else). Pool table in bar area, others situated away in separate room along with wide range of arcades. Wide screen in another linked room which is used for a disco on Friday nights (which tends to be a tad cramped but a good laugh). One of the better set out bars and one of the best. Busy but still possible to be served and decent selection of drinks. Worth sneaking into smaller bar area if busy in main bar as you may get served sooner.

PENDLE:- Airport lounge. Have purposefully
avoided this place since my first year so have no idea if it has got better. Some people swear by it, rather more swear at it. Often the end of the bar crawl, by which point you're pissed enough not to care. Has potential to be a decent bar but I just don't like it. Above all others at Uni this is one you have to visit and make your own mind up.


IN GENERAL:- Due to the lack of a central bar the prices are a little higher than some in the area (since each bar must be competitive in its own right), however this does offer a good range of bars which are of different styles. Speaking personally I do prefer this to the single large bar that many uni's have and I wouldn't change things. It also allows you to have both a local and a selection of drinking bars when you fancy going out for more than a few.
Town is also very good but that is a different story.