Student union bar drastically cuts opening hours

The Knights Park Student Union Bar (KPSU) bar is no longer open every weekday, choosing to close its doors for four days a week. 

This is after 540 students signed a petition to hand over ownership of the bar from a private company to the student union but it has met with no success.

The petition outlined the issues students felt the bar was facing, and suggested improvements – with many comments about the change in atmosphere. As one said: “The vibe of the bar feels corporate.”

While others felt that its pricing strategies exclude the venues only clientele – Kingston students. Final year BA Fashion student Antonia Chidlow noted: “The pricing is better than most other bars in the area, but for a student bar, it’s definitely more than you’d expect.” 

Despite the petition the progress students hoped for has not materialised and many feel concerns from students about this space have not been heard. 

Further worries about the bar’s future emerged over the summer, with some students fearing it might not reopen due to declining support. The KPSU has historically served as a vital fundraising venue for arts students, making its future even more critical.  

However, despite the turbulence of the previous year returning staff are hopeful that the venue will regain its status as a central hub for the student community. 

The bar will be open Wednesday to Friday for the remainder of the term, aiming to re-establish its role within the student community.