A NEW cafe/bar opened last night aimed at encouraging students to drink responsibly.

The new-look Riverside Cafe and Bar in Dunelm House – Durham University students’ union headquarters – opened just two months after an MP highlighted how students were ending up at the city hospital’s A&E department following binge-drinking sessions.

Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, said doctors had spoken of their concerns over the amount of students drinking irresponsibly and ending up at A&E when he visited the hospital in November.

The new meeting place is funded by the university, but students’ union president Archie Dallas said he hoped locals would also use it.

He said: “The new-look cafe and bar reflects the new direction the union is taking. The new space is bright, modern and a great place for students to relax, study or socialise through the day.

“We are anticipating a full programme of student-led entertainment to be held each weekday evening as the term progresses, starting with a Swing Band.

“There is an awful lot of talent among the students and they will be providing musical entertainment most evenings. We hope locals will pop in and join the fun. We want to encourage locals to come here, we don’t want the venue to be thought of as exclusively for students.”

Mr Dallas said he hoped students would be encouraged to use the new cafe/bar instead of “stocking up on supermarket booze”.

“Many students don’t have a lot of money so, instead of going into the bars in town, they tend to go to Tesco, then drink in their rooms before coming out later.

“We hope they will use this cafe/bar instead. We won’t be selling drink ridiculously cheaply but we will be providing entertainment. Instead of going out with the intention of getting drunk we hope the students will prefer to listen to the music, chill out, socialise and drink responsibly,” he added.

More than 40 years ago, rock band Free famously penned their smash hit All Right Now in Dunelm House when they decided they needed a more commercial sound after a gig for students earned no more than a smattering of half-hearted applause.

Mr Dallas said: “The story of how All Right Now was written on the staircase in Dunelm House is a legend here. The entertainment provided in the new look cafe/bar may not be quite of that calibre, but we hope people will come and check it out.”