A Quick Introduction to John’s Bar

Helena Farthing introduces us to John’s Bar for prospective students or a reminder for alumni who want to remember the great times they have experienced here.

Small but mighty is how I would describe John’s bar. I mean where else in Durham are you going to get 8 jaegerbombs for £10. I can assure you, definitely not Mary’s where ONE is £2.50. Despicable. 

The best way to describe John’s Bar is an old-school basement that was carved out of stone in the 18th century with little precision and planning. This means that it looks like a cave that has been painted white. It has two rooms with, obviously a bar, but also a lot of seating that makes it a great place to hang out with your friends talking about anything and everything whilst drinking a pint (priced at as little as £2.45 for an Amstel and at most, £3.80 for a neck oil) or not as John’s bar is a welcome place for anyone looking to socialise and unwind. It is also staffed by some very friendly members of the Johns community and is run by a Senior Bar Officer, which this year is Josie Harrison. 

The great alcohol prices are advertised on the large blackboards all around the bar bringing that extra bit of character that every bar needs. Additionally, the large lettering and images make the drink options and beers very clear which is great after you have got a couple of pints in you.

We also have our college drink, which is named after our legendary mascot Olav III, The Gatorade, which consists of a shot each of vodka and peach schnapps, green VK (if it is in stock) and lemonade making it great value for money and frankly doesn’t taste too bad. Additionally, for those who don’t drink alcohol, there is a sober option called the Sober Sunrise which makes a nice alternative.

Now the truth is, we are known for having a VERY small bar, which means that some societies skip the bar on a Bailey bar crawl (personally I think they are missing out on a great atmosphere, and even greater prices). But I have to argue that why would we need such a large bar for the second smallest college, we are not Colllingwood!

But, a little-known fact is that we also have a bar overspill room with a darts board and some extra seating, so we can accommodate more people. There is also a projector within the room so that John’s residents can watch things like sports and University Challenge (with two members of the team being from Johns this year). During the Rugby World Cup, we had some great watch parties where people could cheer for their respective country.

Additionally, the bar hosts many events during the year with the highlights being Oktoberfest, St Patrick’s Day and Brewfest which celebrates the end of the year most spectacularly. Personally, I have only experienced Oktoberfest so far where, included in your ticket price you received a Stein to keep that has had a lot of use since then. Walking down to the bar, you were greeted with decorations and pretzels organised by the brilliant bar staff, and people dressed up in lederhosens. The typical bar lineup was traded in for German lagers, cocktails, shots, and mocktails which made for a nice change.

Another unique feature of John’s bar is the challenge for most people to get down the stairs at John’s bar. However, the vertically challenged members of society (for which I am included) finally have an advantage over the rest of society here as there will be no ducking needing to be taken place. However, if you are not part of this small percentage of people, then ducking is necessary to get down the stairs and through the doorways.

But don’t just take my word for how amazing John’s bar is, you can see for yourself on Instagram @st.johnsbar.

So, in conclusion we may be small, but the best things come in the smallest of packages.

Image Credit: Helena Farthing and St John’s Bar