10 Best Night Out Ideas in Preston (and One Trip You’ll Never Forget)

Preston doesn’t get nearly enough credit as a night-out destination. It’s a proper city with a proper nightlife scene live music venues, cocktail bars, entertainment complexes, comedy clubs, and a handful of places that genuinely surprise first-timers. Whether you’re planning a hen do, a birthday, a works do, or just a long-overdue night off, here are ten of the best night out ideas in and around Preston that are worth your time and money.

1. Funny Girls — Blackpool’s Most Fabulous Cabaret Show (Worth the Short Drive)

Right, let’s start with the one that demands a mention. Funny Girls is technically in Blackpool just a 30-minute drive or direct train from Preston but if you’re looking for the best night out ideas in Preston and the surrounding Lancashire area, this show belongs at the top of your list.

Funny Girls has been running since 1994 and is now celebrating over 30 years of drag cabaret in a gorgeous 1930s-style theatre on Dickson Road. The show mixes high-energy dancing, comedy, audience interaction, and jaw-dropping costumes across multiple themed seasons throughout the year. Right now, the Blooming Queens Spring Show is running until May 2026, with the Hot Girl Summer show following from late May through to September.

What makes it special isn’t just the spectacle, it’s the atmosphere. The crowd is always a mix: hen parties, couples, families, groups of mates, and people who’ve been coming back for years. The cast are proper performers; reviews consistently mention West End-level choreography and comedy that keeps the whole room laughing for the full show.

They also offer a three-course pre-show dinner at Garbo’s, their art deco restaurant, for £29.85 per person. Tickets for the show itself start at around £10 for standing which, frankly, is remarkable value for the quality of entertainment on offer. You can check the full schedule and book directly at funny girls website.

Best for: Hen parties, birthdays, groups who want something completely different. 

Tip: Book in advance on weekends. Seasonal shows sell out.

2. Level Preston — Entertainment Complex in the City Centre

For a night out that stays in Preston itself, Level is one of the strongest options in the city. Housed in the Guild Hall complex on Lancaster Road, it’s a multi-level entertainment venue packed with activities.

Here’s what’s on offer:

• Odin’s Bowl — boutique ten-pin bowling, including Bottomless Bowling (£40 per person for 1.5 hours of bowling, drinks, and a sharing platter)
• End of Days Laser Tag — popular with groups and surprisingly competitive for adults
• Trailer Trash Jim’s Crazy Golf — a 12-hole indoor course
• Pointers & Co Darts — including the new VSPHOENIX interactive darts machines (first in the UK)
• Karaoke Rooms — private booths, with a Bottomless Karaoke package also available
• Brooklyn Sports Bar — for drinks, food, and watching sport

The Bottomless packages at Level are genuinely good value. For group nights out where you want to actually do something rather than just drink, Level is one of the best options for a night out in Preston.

Best for: Groups, mixed-age parties, those who prefer activities with their drinks.

3. Bar 1842 at the Corn Exchange — Cocktails and Live Music

If you want a more grown-up night in Preston, Bar 1842 is hard to beat. Located in the beautifully restored former Corn Exchange building, it’s a restaurant, cocktail bar, and live music venue all in one.

The small-plate menu covers over 70 dishes with globally inspired flavours, suitable for meat-eaters and vegans alike. The bar side of things is run by proper mixologists their cocktail menu changes seasonally and is consistently well-reviewed.

Live music runs every Friday and Saturday, with a resident DJ taking over later in the evening playing soul, R&B, and house. It opens until 2:30am on weekends, so it works either as a starting point for the night or as a full evening in itself.

At the rear of the building, The Rabbit Hole is Preston’s only dedicated outdoor gin bar, with over 100 gins on the menu. It’s worth checking their Facebook page for opening times, as it tends to operate seasonally.

Best for: Date nights, birthday dinners with dancing, those who want quality food alongside their drinks.

4. Revolution Preston — Four Floors of Cocktails and Late-Night Fun

Revolution Preston sits near the train station and university campus, spread across four levels. It’s a reliable choice for best night out ideas in Preston the cocktail menu is extensive, the space can accommodate large groups, and it runs themed events, bottomless brunches, and late-night DJ nights regularly.

It’s one of those venues that works equally well as a dinner spot earlier in the evening or a dance floor destination later on. They also show live sport on big screens, which makes it a decent option on match days.

Best for: Large groups, cocktail lovers, mixed occasions.

5. Preston Guild Hall — Live Music, Comedy, and Big Shows

The Guild Hall is Preston’s main entertainment complex, hosting everything from tribute bands and touring theatre productions to monthly comedy nights. The venue includes the Charter Theatre, the Grand Hall, and The Guild Lounge, a 350-capacity intimate space that now runs events Thursday to Sunday.

The Guild Lounge’s monthly comedy club (Laughter in the Lounge) brings a rotating lineup of rising-star comedians to Preston. They also put on tribute acts, gaming-based live shows like WiFi Wars, and acoustic sets, it’s a genuinely varied programme that’s worth checking ahead of any visit.

For bigger shows, the Grand Hall and Charter Theatre host touring productions throughout the year. It’s one of the most reliable answers to the question of what to do on a night out in Preston for people who want proper entertainment rather than just a bar crawl.

Best for: Comedy fans, music lovers, those who want a seated show as part of the evening.

6. The Ferret — Preston’s Best Live Music Pub

The Ferret on St Gregory’s Road is the go-to spot for anyone who cares about live music done properly. It hosts rock, indie, folk, and open mic nights, and is widely recognised as one of the best small music venues in the North West.

The beer is excellent cask ales are well-kept and the selection is solid. They also run a US-style smokehouse food menu, which makes it a full evening option rather than just a pre-drinks stop. Every August they host Glaston Ferret, an indoor-outdoor festival with live bands that’s become a fixture on the Preston social calendar.

Best for: Music fans, craft beer drinkers, anyone after a proper pub atmosphere.

7. Chew’s Yard — The Converted Workshop Worth Finding

Chew’s Yard is a relatively recent addition to Preston’s nightlife scene and is already pulling strong word of mouth. It’s a converted workshop space in the city centre housing multiple food and drink stalls, cocktails, ciders, charcuterie boards, and more plus two event rooms that regularly host live DJs, comedians, and bands.

It has a relaxed, independent feel that’s a bit different from the chain venues. Keep an eye on their events listings because the quality of performers varies significantly depending on the night.

Best for: Those who like independent venues, foodie groups, casual nights that can turn into proper ones.

8. The Warehouse — Three Floors of Dancing Since 1972

The Warehouse has been part of Preston’s nightlife since 1972, which makes it an established alternative for anyone who wants to actually dance. It runs across three floors, each playing a different genre dance, R&B, and indie so there’s usually something that lands for most groups.

It’s particularly popular with students and rock/alternative music fans, but genuinely draws from across Preston on weekend nights. Worth knowing: it runs different nights on different days, so check what’s on before you head down.

Best for: Dancing until late, alternative music fans, student nights.

9. Bottomless Brunch at Review Bar — Preston Guild Hall

For a daytime-into-evening option, the Review Bar inside Preston Guild Hall runs themed bottomless brunches that have developed a strong following. The Magic Mike themed events have been particularly well-reviewed, with guests praising both the quality of food and the speed of drinks service.

Bottomless brunches have become one of the most popular night-out formats in Preston for groups of friends and hen parties, and Review Bar delivers them with enough novelty and organisation to make the format actually enjoyable rather than chaotic.

Best for: Daytime events, hen parties, birthday groups who want a focused experience.

10. Bar Pintxos — Spanish Tapas and a Proper Atmosphere

Sometimes a night out is more about great food and conversation than activities. Bar Pintxos in Preston city centre does exactly that proper Spanish Basque-style tapas in a lively, music-filled space.

It’s not a club or a late-night venue, but it’s consistently one of the highest-rated restaurants in Preston for the quality of the experience. Start here for dinner with cocktails and then use it as a launchpad for the rest of the evening.

Best for: Date nights, food-first groups, starting an evening properly.

Quick Summary: Best Night Out Ideas in Preston

Frequently Asked Questions About Nights Out in Preston

What is the best night out in Preston for a hen party?

For a hen party, the top options include a trip to Funny Girls in Blackpool (a 30-minute drive from Preston) for their drag and cabaret show, or Level Preston for bottomless bowling or bottomless karaoke packages. Both are bookable in advance and work well for groups. Funny Girls in particular has been a hen-party staple in the region for decades, with sequins, comedy, and table service throughout the show.

Is there a good comedy night in Preston?

Yes. The Guild Lounge at the Guild Hall runs a monthly comedy club called Laughter in the Lounge, featuring a mix of rising-star and experienced comedians alongside an MC. It runs in a 350-capacity intimate venue, making it a proper comedy-night experience rather than a club with a comedian shoehorned in. Check the Guild Hall Preston website for upcoming dates.

What activities can you do on a night out in Preston?

Preston has a decent range of activity-based nights out. Level Preston is the main destination it offers ten-pin bowling, laser tag, crazy golf, darts, and karaoke all under one roof in the city centre. They also run Bottomless Bowling and Bottomless Karaoke packages for groups. For something outside the city, Funny Girls in Blackpool offers a full cabaret show experience that’s hard to replicate anywhere else in the region.

Where is good for cocktails in Preston?

Bar 1842 at the Corn Exchange is widely considered the best cocktail experience in Preston, with a full mixologist-led menu and live music on weekends. Revolution Preston is another reliable option, spread across four floors near the train station. The Rabbit Hole gin bar at the back of the Corn Exchange is worth visiting separately if you’re more of a gin person — they stock over 100 gins.

How far is Blackpool from Preston for a night out?

Blackpool is approximately 17 miles from Preston, which is around 30 minutes by car or direct train from Preston station. This makes it a practical evening-out destination, particularly for groups who want to see the Funny Girls cabaret show on Dickson Road. Trains run regularly between the two cities, and the last trains back to Preston are late enough to make it a viable night out without needing to book accommodation.