The clocks will soon be changing and the evenings will be drawing in, but that doesn’t mean we have to retire to our sofas and binge on Netflix all night… well, at least not every night! Gloucestershire has plenty to offer after dark – from a trip to the cinema or attempting an escape room, to an evening of live music or sipping on a negroni at a stylish cocktail bar. It can be tempting to hibernate during the winter months, but if you feel like embracing your inner night owl, check out our recommendations below.


Immersive Experiences & Evening Activities
Offering endless excitement and adventure with their virtual reality games, VRXPerience in Gloucester offer a range of VR experiences from tranquil and soothing to adrenaline-fuelled simulators and mind-bending escape rooms.

From Creepy Carnival to Hexmore School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, Houdini’s Escape Rooms in Gloucester are packed with mystery, excitement and teamwork, with multiple offers and discounts on throughout the week.

The Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham offer several great evening activities in Mr Mulligan’s Crazy Golf, Escape Hunt Escape Rooms and Flight Club Social Darts. With bowling, American pool, shuffleboard and a batting cage, Roxy Lanes offers another great spot for evening entertainment in Cheltenham.


Cinema & Film
Swap your slippers and dressing gown for some popcorn and pick ‘n’ mix and visit your local cinema. With upcoming film releases including TRON: Ares, After The Hunt, Zootropolis 2 and The Choral, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a cinema trip this autumn/winter.

Whether you’re looking for the latest releases or want to reminisce with a classic movie, there are many film venues across the county with regular viewings, including: Tivoli Cheltenham, Barn Theatre Cinema (Cirencester), The Playhouse Theatre (Cheltenham), Studio Cinema (Coleford), Wotton Electric Picture House (Wotton-under-Edge), The Palace Cinema (Cinderford), Bacon Theatre (Cheltenham), Sherborne Cinema (Gloucester), The Roses Theatre (Tewkesbury) and Gloucester Guildhall Cinema.


Live Music
If you prefer to stretch your legs a little and soak up some live music, Gloucestershire has some of the best venues around. With many of them showcasing local talent, favourites include the Frog and Fiddle and Smokey Joe’s in Cheltenham, Café René and The Thirsty Pine in Gloucester, Stroud Brewery and The Sub Rooms in Stroud, Téatro in Cirencester, and Inferno Brewery Firepit Bar and Venue in Tewkesbury.


Cocktail Bars
All that singing and dancing is thirsty work, so why not refresh yourself with a delicious cocktail at one of the county’s cocktail bars?

Mentioned above for great live music, Téatro in Cirencester has a fantastic cocktail menu including its own twists on classics like the Espresso Martini, Negroni and Mojito. A few minutes’ walk away and also offering regular live music is Seventeen Black, with 2 for 1 cocktails every evening of the week.

From the family who brought us Sibling Gin in 2014, Our House is a cocktail and wine bar in Gloucester with an ever-changing menu of beverages designed to ‘capture your imagination and develop your palate’.

Tucked away behind the Promenade, The Clarence Social is one of Cheltenham’s most popular cocktail venues, with interesting concoctions like The Flamingo and the Clarence Colada, alongside classics like Gin Bramble, Cosmopolitan and Long Island Iced Tea. Café by day and bar by night, Mr Cambrays Curiosity in Cheltenham also have some intriguing sounding cocktails, including Fairy Floss, Mango Sunset and Russian Spring Punch.

Part of the ubiquitous Lounge group, Rosado Lounge in Tewkesbury overlooks the Cross from its impressive stained glass entrance. Their cocktail menu includes exotic delights such as Key Lime Pie, Mango Tiki Shake and Ginger Gin Fizz, to name a few.


There are, of course, hundreds of great establishments across the county in which you could spend an evening with friends, family or your significant other. From pubs and restaurants to comedy nights, quiz nights and karaoke, the possibilities are endless.