Warrington has been named the third best night out in the country according to a recent study. It comes after the town's food and drink sector was praised for 'bouncing back' strongly. A new study, carried out by door safety security company Get Licensed, ranked Warrington as the best night out in Cheshire and the third in the UK.
The study took into account three ranging factors, including the number of licensed premises per head of population, a Safety Index and also the average cost of a pint in the town, all of which added up to the quality of nightlife. When added up all these factors gave an overall “Night Out” score and Warrington came an impressive third, reports Cheshire Live.
Warrington scored highly - with a choice of 164 pubs per 100,000 of the population, giving a wide range of venues. And, the average price of a pint in Warrington is £3.69 and it has a Safety Index of 68 out of 100, giving the town an Overall Night Out score of 6.97 out of 10.
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Top of the charts is York with an overall night out score of 7.67 due to having a wide range of pubs and bars and also being a very safe city to drink in. Second on the list surprisingly is Telford in Shropshire, which may not be known as a party town, but did score very highly in having cheap drinks with the average price of a pint being just £2.60.
Nearby cities Manchester and Liverpool did not fare so well. Despite there being a large number of drinking establishments per head in Manchester, the city is in 31st place as the average drink is expensive and the Safety Index is relatively low at 43 giving Manchester a Night Out Score overall of 4.75 out of 10. Liverpool was 18th on the chart with a lower amount of pubs per head than Warrington and also offering a less safe night out than the Cheshire town.
Get Licensed is a company that helps security and door staff qualify to get their certificates to work in the industry. Sharzad Ali, the CEO, commented: “We wanted to discover the UK towns and cities that are best for a night out. We investigated a range of different factors to ensure we made a fair analysis of UK nightlife in each location.”
They used data from Tripadvisor, CAMRA, Numbeo and the Geographist. The newly-built Time Square helped Warrington score highly with it’s selection of bars and eateries in the Market Centre and the Cineworld complex, which have brought a new hub and a spirit of re-invention to the town.
Councillor Tom Jennings, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Innovation, said: “I’m really pleased that Warrington has scored so highly, but has been the only area the north west to come in the top 10. That’s because both the Council and businesses really prioritise safety and affordability and the amount of investment that we have had in recent years even through Covid means that we have got an offer for everyone in this town.
"Whether it’s a quiet night out whether it’s fine dining or things to do, as a family or just letting your hair down. That’s why Warrington scored so highly, making this a safe place to visit but also a place with opportunities for all.”
Chris Persoglio, venue and events manager at concert venues Pyramid and Parr Hall, was not all that surprised by the ranking, saying the area is "buzzing every weekend".
Chris said: “Palmyra Square is buzzing every weekend at the moment and our events programme has really bounced back since the Covid restrictions lifted. There is nothing like going to a concert or comedy show and soaking up the atmosphere and seeing people smile and laugh or sing and dance and taking a break from whatever life has been throwing at them. The Cultural Quarter bars and restaurants are busy too, with people getting a drink or a meal before or after a performance.”
Andrew Edwards from the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) noted that Warrington has a wide variety of establishments, especially for the serious beer drinker.
He said: “If cosmopolitan bars or late night venues are your thing, these are within a short walk as are more traditional pubs to soak up the atmosphere and discover real ale. Whether that be one of the town’s own or local Cheshire breweries, or a national, there is plenty of choice for the discerning consumer.”
