University students enjoyed their first taste of freedom

Photo: Internet

More than 5,000 university students enjoyed their first taste of freedom during Freshers' Week last night.

Thousands of teenagers beginning their studies at the University of Portsmouth partied into the early hours at six bars and clubs around the city on the biggest event of the week, called the 'Big Night Out' pub crawl.

The students converged around the Portsmouth Guildhall area, with some queues going around the block for The Astoria nightclub, one of the most popular venues in the city with its 'Dirty Disco' themed night.

Photo: Internet

Many security guards, police and Christian street pastors patrolled the area overnight to keep the peace and try to ensure everyone was safe - with Guildhall Walk resembling the Magaluf strip with the numbers of people.

The pub crawl started at 8pm at Mr Miyagi's Bar with the students then moving onto other venues - The Astoria, Pryzm, Popworld, The Fleet and The Dockyard pub for the exclusive use by the students with their wristbands.

Photo: Internet

It follows reports that the Waterhole Bar at the university is set to be replaced by a coffee shop after a huge drop in alcohol sales. It will be turned it into a 'social space' which will also feature microwaves for students.

Students were also photographed out in Birmingham last night as Freshers' Week in the West Midlands kicked off with a bar crawl for Aston University students on Broad Street, famous for its strip of night clubs.

Photo: Internet

The bar crawl took thousands of new starters through the area after starting off at their student union, visiting bars and clubs including Walkabout, Coyote Ugly, Rosies, Revolution and finishing at Pryzm.

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