The Institute Bar & Kitchen is UCLs high-flying postgraduate bar, popular with the more seasoned crowd and a great place to stop by after work or studies. It has everything you need for a great night! Come and try a cocktail or two from our menu all available at a fraction of the price of bars on the high street. We have cocktail deals on every weekday and a great pizza menu with a huge range of meat-free options.

Our outside terrace is the perfect place to sip a glass of wine and chill out. If you're feeling more lively, why not challenge your friends to a match at one of our pool tables? By day, The Institute is a great place to grab some lunch, get some work done and meet up for a study session, boasting seriously comfy sofas and an enviable playlist. In the evenings, we've got a range of events on offer to keep you entertained. Make sure you don't miss our weekly live music nights, held by the UCL Jazz and UCL Live Music societies every Monday evening. Or, why not test your brain power at our weekly Postgraduate Pub Quiz, every Wednesday evening?

Summer cocktail specials!

Sit back and relax as we bring you our exclusive summer cocktail menu! Don't know what's for you find the 'fool-proof' method of finding your new fav on our blog.

Bookings & hire

The Institute Bar & Kitchen is available to hire on weekends only. To enquire or book an event. Please complete the Institute Bar Request Form and the Manager will send you a quote.

Please note we do not accept table reservations or private event bookings on weekdays in order to guarantee an accessible space for students to study and socialise.

Out of term time opening hours

Monday: 16:00 - 22:00
Tuesday - Thursday: 16:00 - 23:00
Friday: 16:00 - 00:00
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Pizza kitchen

Kitchen Open: Monday to Friday - 4pm to 10pm

Kitchen is meat-free. Vegetarian and Vegan options available, 12" pizzas starting from £7.25

Term time opening hours

Monday: 12:00-23:00

Tuesday: 12:00-23:00

Wednesday: 12:00-23:00

Thursday: 12:00-00:00

Friday: 12:00-00:00

Closed on weekends and bank holidays.

Closing times fall to the discretion of management. Institute Bar operates last orders half hour before closing time.

Address: 

The Institute Bar, 20 Bedford Way - Level 4, WC1H 0AL (Access at rear of building on Thornhaugh Street, up the stairs to the roof terrace)

Bar entry policy and safety

If you're visiting one of our bars, familiarise yourself with our bar entry policy, designed to keep us all safe.

We want you to feel comfortable, safe, and at home when you're spending time in our bars or event spaces which is why we uphold a number of safety initiatives in all our bars including specific measures against spiking and harassment. All our bar staff have also undertaken Drink Spiking Awareness and Active Bystander training.

What's on at the Institute?

Bars
Know your Union BAR crawl
17/09/2024 | 18:00 - 20:30
Kick off Welcome with a bang and join our Union Bar Crawl! Led by fellow UCL students our bar crawl will give you a chance to explore the social scene on campus and visit each of your Students' Union Bars. Plus it's completely free to join! Each bar has it's own vibe and atmosphere so it's a great opportunity to find your new favourite, meet lots of other new students and hopefully make…
Events & Activities
Postgraduate Welcome Quiz
18/09/2024 | 18:00 - 20:00
Bring along £2 to enter and the winner gets the pot!Get ready to flex those brain cells and unleash your inner quiz champion! Join us at The Institute Bar during Welcome Week for the most exhilarating Welcome Quiz extravaganza you've ever seen.
Bars
Postgrad: Know your Union BAR crawl
24/09/2024 | 18:00 - 20:30
Kick off Welcome with a bang and join our Union Bar Crawl! Led by fellow UCL students, this postgraduate only our bar crawl will give you a chance to explore the social scene on campus and visit each of your Students' Union Bars. Plus it's completely free to join! Each bar has it's own vibe and atmosphere so it's a great opportunity to find your new favourite, meet lots of other new…