First opened in 1971 (and officially established as a student pub in 1975), Clark Hall Pub is not only the oldest bar on Queen’s University campus, but also the first student-owned and operated bar in Canada. Clark Hall Pub is colloquially known as the “Centre of the Universe”, though students with a more rudimentary grasp of cosmology will always be able to locate it directly above the Campus Bookstore.
Clark Hall Pub began as a place for students and professors to interact outside of the classroom. Beer was sold out of a cooler. We’ve since swapped the cooler for a fully stocked fridge, but professors still frequent the pub with their students. Although it is a service of the Engineering Society, the pub’s management, staff, and patrons represent all faculties of Queen’s.
We’re open every Wednesay night for Live Band Bingo or Games Night, every Thursday for free live music shows, and every Friday afternoon for Rituals. Aside from these weekly events, we also host a huge range of private ones; from the Dean’s Reception to comedy nights, from Battle of the Bands to conferences, and everything in between.
Bands such as Arcade Fire, the Arkells, Two Hours Traffic, Craig Cardiff, Peter Katz and more have played on Clark’s stage. The Tragically Hip once competed for, and lost, a chance to be Clark’s house band.
We have a storied history, as any alumni will tell you.