Luton is one of the most culturally diverse towns in Britain with 140 nationalities represented in a community of 185,000 people. As a result, the town is rich with a varied mix of music, food, art and sport with plenty of new things to try in your University years.
During May, Luton hosts the biggest one-day carnival in the UK with attendance up to 150,000 people. The town is also set to welcome a £400m regeneration project in the coming years.
Hear what Luton students had to say about their second home...
www.dtamusic.co.uk
Luton University Student Union, Vicarage Street, Luton, LU1 3HZ
www.dtamusic.co.uk
DTA Promotions host some great open-to-all alternative live music nights at the Luton SU. Many styles are catered for, including rock, metal, indie, acoustic and dance. The sound system in this underground venue is top-notch, there's a good sized licensed bar to the back of the room and a chill out garden upstairs. Many shows finish up with an after show party, with the bar open late into the night.
Alex Miles
The Edge
96-98 Park Street, Luton
Tel: 01582 431765
www.intheedge.co.uk
The Edge is one of the area's only alternative rock clubs. They run a number of regular club nights, each with their own special drinks promotions, on top of the already ridiculously cheap booze, which is served from the bar until 3.00 am. Good stuff. And if that's not enough, they play host to live bands upstairs as well.
Bellini
9 Chapel Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
www.bellini.co.uk
Tel: 01582 720427
Bellini isn’t strictly a student hang-out but it’s where a lot of us tend to commune if we want to get dressed up and hit the town. The music policy hinges mainly on house and R&B and there are usually well-known DJs on the weekend line-up.
Jennifer Clarke
Funck
Flowers Way, Luton, Bedfordshire
Tel: 01582 485050
Funck has just undergone a big make-over and is looking pretty good. It’s a huge venue with 5 arenas to lose yourself in or, more importantly, to find new friends in your first few weeks of University. The music is commercial and ranges from dance to ‘chart and cheese’, which is always great fun.
Debbie Fellows
The Hat Factory
65-67 Bute Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
Tel: 01582 878100
If you fancy a break from the high street then The Hat Factory is definitely worth a visit for alternative arts. I’ve seen some great independent films but my personal recommendation is Jazz Jam, which takes place every Sunday lunchtime. There’s always a special guest playing but all musicians are welcome to go along and join in. The best part is that it’s free for students with an NUS card.
Stuart Storey
The Temple
4 Dunstable Place, Luton, Bedfordshire
Tel: 01582 653505
The Temple is Luton’s only Afro-Caribbean restaurant and the bonus is that us students get a discount. You can get take-aways but dine in for the full experience – jerk chicken and fried dumplings with a bottle of Alize – all set to a suitably Caribbean soundtrack. The perfect place to inject a bit of Island heat into your Winter.
Obar Knanska
The Arndale
Luton, Bedfordshire
Tel: 01582 412636
The Arndale is 750 square feet of retail heaven with over a hundred shops to choose from. The selection of designer and independent labels is a bit sparse but all the high street favourite are enclosed under one roof, which is a godsend in Winter. Primark is a must for me along with that good old student favourite; Topshop!
Jane Kelly
Filmstock
This international film festival happens once a year but is a must-see if you love the big screen! There are themed nights and outdoor screenings over a two-week period of film fun. The organisers are so creative – they have screened Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet in a big church in Luton that was filled with candles and this year I watched a nail-biting screening of Jaws in a swimming pool with my friends. I’ve got one more year left at Uni but I will keep returning long afterwards for Filmstock.
Chris Bailey
London
Jump on an Arriva bus and head to the capital on the Luton Green Line 757. It’s a round-the-clock, cheap way to get to know the city.
