Thirsting for Connection: Portsmouth students call for the return of student union bar

At the University of Portsmouth, the absence of a dedicated student bar is more than a mere void; it’s a missed opportunity to enhance the quintessential campus experience.

Up and down the country, these spaces act as crucial social hubs — a place to share ideas and forge lifelong friendships.

So, students are asking: “What is so different about Portsmouth?”

The University cite financial concerns, but should they have more of an obligation to students than simple figures?

I spoke with students and union officials to learn more about the closure, and understand why they’re so desperate for the bar to re-open.

A display lining the site of the old student union bar