Written by Chloe Brewster
#BringBackTheBar is a petition aiming to reintroduce the Student Union Bar.
Students have taken to Instagram to share how they believe it's time for the once well-rated Student Union bar to reopen. They argue that the bar would create a safe place for students to socialise, build a greater sense of university community, and get more students to participate in SU events.
The SU bar closed in 2019 reportedly due to a loss of sales, with the MailOnline reporting that ‘The Waterhole’ had experienced a 20% decline in sales year on year since 2015. Portsmouth SU was the first in England to close its bar.
At the time, the University Vice-Chancellor Graham Galbraith stated that: ‘We recognise that student tastes have changed in recent years… People were simply not using [the bar] enough and the bar has become financially unsustainable.’
The bar was subsequently replaced with a coffee shop and comfy furniture, with a focus on turning the Union into a relaxed social space.
Via Bring Back The Bar's Instagram
On November 3rd, a group of students submitted their petition to the Student Union, in the aim for the SU to encourage societies and students to share the link to their petition and encourage a conversation with the University for a re-opening.
On the Union website the petition shares how they believe the bar would encourage students to connect, suggesting a ‘students only area’ would introduce a safe space for students to drink and enjoy a night out.
This need for a safer night-out follows alleged spiking incidents in local nightclubs, with police in 2021 receiving 45 drink spiking reports between October and December. In addition to this, only several days after BringBackTheBar released their petition, there was a stabbing resulting in four casualties outside a Portsmouth club.
For further information, you can visit the campaign's Instagram page or their petition.
About the Author: Chloe Brewster
I’m a first year Journalism student, loving all things news. I am also in Swim Society, so you’ll always catch me out on Purple Wednesday! :)
(This piece was edited by Amber Turner-Brightman)
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