Be inspired

You’ve just finished work and are looking for some ideas of where to kick your evening off in Basingstoke...

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat and drink, delicious cocktails, fun activities for groups or to party and dance the night away, there are plenty of options!

Restaurants and bars

Whether you want to have a beer, a romantic meal, group dinner or a quick bite on-the-go, there is lots of choice in Festival Place including BrewDog, Cosy Club and Five Guys.

The Top of the Town also has some great independent places to eat and drink:

• The Olive House is an independent, family-run restaurant creating delicious Turkish and Mediterranean dishes and offering a unique dining experience in Basingstoke. They have recently been nominated as no.1 on Trip Advisor for ‘Top Restaurants in Basingstoke’.
• Elai is a snazzy urban South Indian restaurant and cocktail bar set in the heart of Basingstoke. Each dish has been perfectly curated using traditional cooking methods to create a multi-sensory dining experience.
• Serving authentic Thai food with freshly made cocktails, a carefully chosen wine list and full bar, The Lime Leaf provides an excellent Thai experience with a menu that is sure to tantalise your taste buds.

You can experience the nightlife and fabulous cocktails at a variety of independent restaurants and bars at the Top of the Town:

• Duck and Tipple offer freshly made cocktails, craft beers, food boards and burgers – and don’t forget about the table tennis!
• In the building where Thomas Burberry opened his first showroom, enjoy the fresh Boston and New York theme at Gabardine Bar while enjoying a cup of coffee or a classy wine.
• The Royal Exchange offers a wide selection of great value alcoholic beverages and cocktails.
• The Tea Bar is a traditional tearoom by day, and a live music venue by night. 

Clubs

End your night in the early hours with Basingstoke’s clubs:

• Fever & Boutique is a triple-level venue with fantastic booths to hire for different sized parties, as well as tailor made drinks packages! Explore the Boutique Room with its blend of sophisticated style and sumptuous velvet, the retro chic discotheque Fever Room, or the tiki roof-top at The Lost Garden.
• Where the cocktail bar meets the night club! The Plush Lounge Bar brings the best cocktail blends, freshest beats from talented resident DJs and exclusive vibes with VIP packages.

Had a few too many and need somewhere to stay? We’ve got you covered.

Live music, shows and cinema

Fancy attending some live music events, comedy shows or pantos?

• Anvil Arts has three amazing venues at the heart of music and culture in Basingstoke. The Anvil, The Forge and The Haymarket seat over 1,800 people, giving you the chance to experience comedy, live music, pantomimes, and amazing performances
• The Tea Bar, clubs and pubs in and around Basingstoke and Deane provide you with performances from amazing local talent – you can keep up to date with these on the Top of the Town Facebook page!
• There are two cinemas in Basingstoke - Vue in Festival Place and ODEON at Basingstoke Leisure Park. 

Experiences

Want a more active night out with your mates? Here are some fun group activities for you to try!

• Looking for an escape room? Exciting Escapes has six different escape rooms for you to try at their two Basingstoke venues and Escape Hunt is located in Festival Place.
• Experience the thrill of indoor skydiving at iFLY, along with Paraflight virtual reality.
• There are several local distillery or brewery tours that you can take part in. Uncover the secrets of the world-famous Bombay Sapphire gin and learn about the rare production processes used (open till 6pm every day). See for yourself what goes into making Andwell Brewing company’s beautifully crafted Hampshire beers (open till 9pm on Fridays only).
• Bowl along top-quality games at Hollywood Bowl, with great deals on food and drink, as well as the arcade and pools tables for you to enjoy!
• Fancy a night of pool and snooker? Academy Social and Sports Club provides over 40 tables and 10 dart lanes. If you get hungry, there's a Chinese restaurant on site too!
• Basingstoke’s first and only board game café, bar and restaurant, the Dice Tower has a pop-culture theme, and is filled with board games, graphic novel, Sci-Fi and more. An affordable, fun and safe space for lovers of pop culture, board/card games, comics, movies and cosplay.

Please note the inclusion of any business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. While the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.   

Last updated April 2024