The Red Gown: The Rebirth of Wednesday Night

St Andrews’ Wednesday night atmosphere has long been dominated by the members of sports clubs, donned head to toe in everything from Magic Mike attire to togas and Minions. Over the years, 601 and Main Bar have featured this assortment of themes, and more often than not, if one was to scan the crowd at the Union on Wednesday, a large portion of the attendees would be dressed up in costume accordingly. For those not in sports societies, they were likely to be in a minority of people: neither in theme nor on the same level of intoxication as many of the sports teams, who typically have social prior to heading to the Union. Pubs served as the buildup to socials or a quick stop for one last pint before heading to the Union, rather than as the main activity for the majority of Wednesday night regulars before this year.

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This term, however, has breathed new life into the average Wednesday night with the addition of our own Wetherspoons, the Red Gown (more commonly known among my friends as the Spoonion (Spoon-Union)). While there has been much debate within the student community about the benefits of the Red Gown, it has altered the vibe of a Wednesday night out. Before The Red Gown became a part of the Union, almost all of my friends were unlikely to attend a Wednesday night, as most of them are not in sports societies. I am a dedicated attendee of Wednesday night as a sports society member, but I have had a hard time in the past trying to convince my other friends to join me post-social. Spoonion has fulfilled the need for somewhere to go between pubs/pres and the Union. Socials fill that space for those in sports societies, but the cost of drinks at pubs have often deterred others, outside of sports, from the long nights out that I experience on Wednesday nights. 

Speaking from personal experience, I can say that the Red Gown has increased the attendance of Wednesday nights by my friends outside of sport. This has both damaged our bank accounts but also diversified the pool of options to play eye tag with in line for a drink. The amount of seating space and pricing of drinks places Spoonion halfway between the cozy culture of St Andrews pubs and the debauchery of the mid-week sports socials. Spoonion has created a casual energy that I think the Union was severely lacking in before this term, it has made a space in which for students to carry the pints/pitcher culture of pubs but also provides the ability to get tequila shots on your way into 601.

Now, this has led to an extension of wait times both for wristbands and drinks at the bar. It has also escalated the amount of time the Spoonion staff spend cleaning Pablos and vomit out of carpet. Conversely, Spoonion has tables, a hot commodity at many pubs in this town, and prices that make you question why you justify a £7 spritz from Molly Malone’s. Needless to say, the Red Gown has completely shifted the mid-week nightlife of our town. The Union has once again become a social hub, and the average student is once again willing to traverse into the night for a cheeky pitcher without fear of being the only person in sight not in costume. So, despite any controversy surrounding its installation, The Red Gown seems to have been deeply embraced by every sort of student in town.