All-nighters could be dying out – as seven in 10 university students prefer day raves so they can get to bed early, a new study has found.
Partying on daytime dance floors is nothing new to older generations, but university students are often known for dancing until the early hours of the morning.
However, research by Papa Johns claims to show this could be a thing of the past, with seven in 10 students saying they’d prefer to head out early.
They say it shows day raving and soft-clubbing, where you party earlier on in the day and have a dance with your pals, booze-free, is gaining favour among students.
The study found three quarters (76%) of students in Manchester would prefer a day rave to a night out – ahead of Liverpool with 74% and Edinburgh (73%).
This could mean that future Freshers weeks will look a little different, especially as three in five (59%) students drink less when socialising during the day, while a further 11% do not drink at all.
Despite the change, students still want to party, as dancing with new friends (39%) and connecting over music (58%) remain popular ways to spend their first week of term.
The research also revealed house parties take centre stage when students get used to their new accommodation.
More than three-quarters (76%) of students agree that some of the best moments happen in the kitchen. They say it’s the ideal place to meet new people (65%), get into deep and meaningful conversations (68%) or simply find the best vibe (68%).
Yesterday [October 7] Papa Johns and Red Bull brought this research to life and had a rave in their own kitchen.
They transformed their Fallowfield, Manchester, store into a surprise daytime rave. Freshers came together for a set from DJG2 (@djg2uk), Papa Johns pizza slices and drinks of Red Bull.
A Papa Johns spokesperson said: “Students are choosing to rave earlier and the kitchen is officially the place where everyone comes together.
“So, when Manchester was crowned the UK’s day-rave capital, we thought ‘why not invite its students into our kitchen for the ultimate daytime party?’ Freshers From The Kitchen served up great music, piping-hot pizza and plenty of energy, without a 3am finish required.”
The Papa Johns study claims to show clubs are no longer the only place to be, as house parties have now overtaken clubs as the most popular way for students to hang out (55%).
They insist the right ingredients still matter though, with 45% saying a lack of good party food can ruin the vibe, while 64% blame bad music and 51% point to poor sound quality or speakers.
Papa Johns is aiming to save students across the country from a bad house party by ‘helping Freshers create the ultimate vibe at home’.
Their limited-edition ‘Kit-chen’ packs include Papa Johns pizza vouchers, merch and stickers, Red Bull cans and a bassy speaker.
Elsewhere in the research, feeling fresh rather than fighting a hangover is the biggest motivation (31%) for those cutting back on partying.
Others say they want to look after their health and wellbeing (35%), don’t need a drink to have a good time (43%), or prefer non-alcoholic choices such as soft drinks and energy drinks (32%).
However, when it comes to what students need to get them through the week, easy comfort food comes out on top (72%), with pizza topping the list for three quarters (76%).
The pizza firm are giving students a chance to get their hands on a limited-edition ‘Kit-chen’ pack and throw their own Papa Johns and Red Bull fuelled kitchen session.
For a chance to win, play Win it Wednesdays via the Spin to Win feature on the Papa Johns app on Wednesday October 14. Students who create and verify a Papa Johns student account can even bag a free Personal Pizza reward, unlock weekly deals, discounts and offers on the app too.