Queen’s University Belfast On-Campus Eats
Sometimes, when you are already on campus, you do not want to go too far to find something to eat and power through the rest of your day (even though Botanic Avenue has sooo many great options). These were the spots I found myself going back to most often while studying at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB).
The Pantry: A FREE Food Refill Station
The Pantry is one of the things that made Queen’s feel especially welcoming to me. It’s located on the ground floor of the Students’ Union (the SU) and provides free food and essential items to students.
You simply show your student ID and can visit up to twice a week to pick up fresh fruit and veggies, as well as pantry staples like pasta, rice, and spices. They also provide household essentials like toilet paper and sanitary products.
For me, the Pantry was a huge part of making studying in the UK more manageable finance-wise. I never had to worry about going hungry because I knew that, when money was tight between paychecks, I could stop by and pick up some pasta and/or other staples to get me through.
One thing to keep in mind is that the hours can be a little unusual, and there can be a line (especially when they have just restocked the fruit and veggies). Check the hours ahead of time and plan accordingly!
The Union Bar
The Union Bar is located on the second floor of the SU and was definitely a bit of a culture shock for me as an American student. In the US, the drinking age is 21, which often means students don't experience typical university bar culture until the end of their uni years.
There are pool tables and weekly events, making it an easy place to hang out with friends. One of my classes even had an unofficial tradition of going straight to the bar afterwards to decompress together.
And it is not just about the drinks! They have great pizza and chicken goujons (aka chicken tenders for my fellow Americans). My go-to order was chicken goujons with seasoned potato wedges, drenched in garlic sauce and ketchup.
Junction Café
Junction is located right across from the Graduate School in the Law School building, so it quickly became my go-to since most of my classes were in the Graduate School.
They have a daily well-balanced lunch special, along with plenty of options if you need something quick to grab between classes. My personal favorite was their vegetable soup along with a vegan sausage roll (especially on those colder Belfast days when I needed something warm before heading back to class).
Special Mention: Queen’s Film Theatre
The Queen’s Film Theatre (QFT) is right across from the Graduate School and shows a diverse array of indie films. It is super affordable compared to movie tickets in the US, and you can even get student tickets online.
My favorite discovery was actually the sweet popcorn. As an American, I had never been to a movie theatre/cinema that offered sweet popcorn. Very yum and you can do a mix of the sweet and traditional salty kind (which I would highly recommend)!
Fuel Your Body, Fuel Your Mind!
Whether you are grabbing a quick lunch between classes, stocking up at the Pantry, or meeting friends at the Union Bar, knowing where you can easily grab some food on campus makes student life so much easier.
Happy eating!
– Christine
