Events at Refuel, Dunedin

About Refuel

Refuel (formerly “Re:Fuel”) is the Otago University student bar and live-music venue tucked into the campus union building on Cumberland Street. It’s a mid-sized standing-room club known for its surprisingly huge stage and wild student nights. Originally a revival of an old downtown pub called “Fuel” (which closed in 2003), this corner of the university was rebranded “Re:Fuel” in the mid-2000s. Over the next decade it became legendary on Dunedin’s music scene as a grassroots hub: acting as both a late-night student pub and a boisterous rock venue. Its basement bandroom walls were once covered floor-to-ceiling in graffiti and band signatures left by every act from local cover bands to touring indie and metal groups – a colorful scrapbook of Dunedin’s rock culture that students cherished (until those walls were painted over around 2017).

Today the place is officially known as the U-Bar (short for Union Bar) since a 2018 rebranding, but locals still call it “Refuel” in tribute. The atmosphere is anything but upscale – think scrappy, live-wire energy. There are no plush chairs or VIP lounges here, just a broad open floor sloping up to a large stage where sound and lights are engineered by the in-house student technicians. The focus is on music and friendship rather than frills. In short, Refuel is notable for being the heart of student nightlife and live music on campus, with decades of history building Dunedin bands and entertaining generations of students. It’s a rite-of-passage type venue where everyone from a first-year fresher to a veteran local act feels right at home.

Events and Programming

Every week Refuel is buzzing with activity. The lineup ranges from rock, punk and metal shows to DJ dance parties, house nights and student socials. Midweek is all about student specials – for example, the legendary Wednesday “Social Night” (often billed as a “Pint Night”) features cheap drinks and usually a theme or live band, drawing the college crowd. Thursdays through Saturdays put on bigger gigs and club events. Local bands of every stripe play here frequently (indie rock, ska, funk, hip-hop, metalcore – you name it, Dunedin bands have done it on this stage). Club promoters also book the space for dance or electronic nights on weekends (with guest DJs spinning everything from drum & bass to EDM and reggae).

Orientation week and campus festivals routinely use Refuel. For example, during ORI (University orientation) the venue often hosts live concerts or big student parties – in 2025 it even hosted Australia’s indie-pop band The Rions, along with rising local groups, as part of a citywide university showcase. Special annual events like St. Patrick’s Day parties or charity fundraisers also find a home here; in spring 2025 a St. Paddy’s Day-themed concert packed the crowd to celebrate the big green holiday. Many events are co-presented by the student radio station and the OUSA students’ association, so if you follow those student channels you’ll catch announcements well in advance.

Ticket prices and cover charges are generally very student-friendly. On typical club nights there may be no cover or a token $5–10 fee; live concerts by touring bands might run around NZ$15–25 per ticket. Promoters handling bigger names often do advance online sales or a small in-person box office at the door of the university building. In many cases, late-night student events simply let you walk in with your student ID or a low admission price. Either way, shows tend to sell out quickly when a popular act or themed party is announced, so pay attention to the OUSA event list and grab tickets early for big gigs.

Tickets and Booking

There is no conventional box office storefront – tickets are usually sold online or at the door by the student promoters. If it’s a joint event (often promoted by the OUSA student union or Radio One), watch those channels for a sale date. For many smaller shows or social nights there may be no advance sale at all; you simply pay cover (or show your student card) on entry. In practice, that means:

• For club nights and socials (e.g. Wednesday Pint Night), expect free or minimal cover (often $0–$10 at most). These nights rarely sell out, so you can usually just turn up and pay at the door.
• For headline concerts with out-of-town or famous acts, tickets go on sale 4–6 weeks before the gig. They may be sold via student union channels (like Radio One or campus event pages) or on larger ticketing platforms. Once announced, popular shows often sell out, so it’s wise to buy as soon as possible when a show is publicized.
• Many shows allow walk-up purchase on the night if tickets remain. Late-comers can try their luck at the door, but for top acts you might risk a sold-out sign. Door sales usually open about 30–60 minutes before showtime.

Prices are usually tiered in familiar ways: a standard student gig might be around NZ$15 including booking fee, while club nights or radio contests may be free. Some student membership programs offer discounted entry or drink specials, but membership is usually optional. The key strategy for big events is simply to follow the student union or students’ radio social feeds and jump on tickets right away. For casual nights, no fancy booking is needed – you’ll just queue or pay on entry.

Seating and Layout

Refuel is essentially one big hall, so seating is minimal. The main floor is a general admission standing area in front of the stage. Early arrivers can edge forward, but as the crowd grows it’s a typical mosh-floor environment. There are a few bench seats and high tables along the back or sides, but these are communal. There is no reserved seating or balcony – everything is first-come, first-served. If you want a spot close to the stage, your best bet is to be there early in the evening.

The stage itself is unusually large for a campus bar, easily accommodating a full band plus equipment. Sound and lighting rigs hang above and to the sides of the stage. Front-and-center on the floor gets the fullest sound and light show, while the very back or far corners can be a bit muffled or dark. There isn’t a formal VIP section; however, the tall side platforms near the front edges often end up as “unofficial VIP” perches for the most eager fans. In summary, treat it like an open nightclub dance floor. Avoid blocking pillars or doorways behind the main crowd, and remember that view lines are best facing the stage straight on. The head of the bar is often a decent observation point too, if you prefer to lean on something while watching.

Getting There and Parking

Address and Area: Refuel is in the Otago University Union building at 640 Cumberland Street, North Dunedin (corner of Cumberland and Great King Street). It’s marked as the U-Bar on campus maps. The building has entrances on both Cumberland and Great King, but for concerts the main crowd usually lines up on Cumberland Street outside.

By Bus: Dunedin’s Orbus network stops nearby. The closest bus stops are on Great King Street (a minute’s walk south) and on Cumberland Street (a block east at College Street). Frequent routes like #3, #4, #5 or #6 serve these stops, connecting to the Octagon and other city areas about every 10–15 minutes. Check the Orbus schedule – for example, buses from downtown heading northbound will let you off steps from the Union. Taxis and ride-sharing services can drop off right on Cumberland Street by the front doors.

• Nearest Stops: Great King/Stockton (for routes 3/4/6); Cumberland/College (for 4/5/22, etc.). All are under 5 minutes’ walk.
• Cycling: Bike racks line the sides of the building. Short bike ride from campus bike lanes or the Botanic Gardens path.

Parking: Street parking on Cumberland itself is metered. Dunedin uses a color-coded meter system (red/green/orange zones) charging roughly NZ$2–$4 per hour, often with 1–4 hour limits. These spots fill up fast on busy nights, so allow extra time. There are also several pay car parks within a few blocks – for example, the Queens Gardens Parking (on Albany Street, about 5–8 mins walk away) and the multi-storey off Crawford Street. (A few hundred metres south, a fast-food car park often allows paid parking too.) Popular lots near campus include the smaller pay park on Crawford St (about 3 minutes’ walk to campus) and the large Spotlight mall carpark (about 10 minutes’ walk). Rates in these lots are typically NZ$8–$12 for a few hours, or you can pay by the hour. Rideshare drop-off or parking at a distant lot plus walk is usually the easiest on busy nights.

Inside the Venue

Entry and Security: Entry is through side doors or ground-floor doors of the Union building, with security staff checking IDs and tickets. Expect a standard bag check or pat-down at larger gigs. You will need a valid photo ID (passport, driver’s license, or student ID) if you plan to buy alcohol or attend late-night shows. The venue is licensed 18+, so no one under 18 is allowed in after dark unless a special “all-ages” arrangement is advertised. For most events, adult attire is fine – you won’t need anything formal (jeans and a T-shirt are perfect), but shoes are required. Throwing on an O-USA club T-shirt or wearing your student lanyard is very common. Just note that it can get crowded and sweaty on the dance floor, so dress in comfortable layers.

Bar and Drink Options: Refuel has a full bar serving the usual beer, cider, wine and spirits. Drink prices are very reasonable (often 20–30% below city pubs) because it’s a student venue – think NZ$6–$9 for a pint of local craft beer, $6–$10 for a simple mixed drink. Non-alcoholic options like sodas or water are also available. The bar tends to open about one hour before showtime, and stays open between bands on concert nights. A small snack menu (chips, lollies, maybe toasted sandwiches on some nights) might appear at busy events, but for a proper meal it’s best to dine beforehand. Some K̕egs & Boards union café seating is just outside the club area, but once inside Refuel itself, only bar food is offered.

Facilities: There are restrooms (men’s, women’s, and an accessible stall) just outside the hall. A simple coat rack or small cloakroom is often available on cold nights (sometimes volunteer-run, occasionally a single attendant wearing an OUSA shirt). Cell phone reception inside is usually fine, though the concrete walls can muffle signal near the stage. Wi-Fi from the rest of campus doesn’t really reach the basement, so expect no reliable free Wi-Fi inside. Vendors: local bands will often sell CDs or shirts at a table by the sound booth, and occasionally the campus rugby club or charities may have a merch table during big events. Occasionally OUSA or event sponsors might hand out freebies at the door (earplugs, lanyards, etc.) – keep an eye on the OUSA webpage before a big show.

Atmosphere: The vibe is loud, lively and friendly. By design the sound system is big (great bass, big delays so there is booming acoustics) – it’s one of the better-sounding bars in town. Lighting is a mix of stage spotlights, strobes and colored mood lights during songs or DJ sets. The decor is very no-frills: bare walls, a few band posters, and (on older nights) shards of graffiti peeking from behind later coats of paint. The crowd is mostly students and young locals; you will see freshers in hoodies next to graduates. Security and staff are student-trained too, so they’re relaxed but firm about safety. Expect muddy patches to dance, spilled beer puddles in corners, and lots of enthusiastic cheering. It’s not polished, but it’s authentic – exactly the way a campus rock club should feel.

Nearby Amenities

Dining and Drinks: There are several great spots to eat or grab a drink before or after a show. Directly across Great King Street is the campus Union (outside Refuel) which has the University Book Shop café; you can sneak in some coffee or pizza slices if you arrive super early. A two-minute walk away on Great King brings you to The Castle, a cozy Irish-style pub with craft beers and hearty pub fare. Just down the street is Slow Wave (excellent coffee and light meals in a hipster-chic setting). For something quick, there’s a BurgerFuel and a Subway on Cumberland just up from campus. The Garden Bar inside the Otago Botanic Gardens (a pleasant 5-minute stroll north) offers fancy cocktails and fruit teas in a greenhouse-style lounge – perfect on a summer night. If you prefer Asian cuisine, Chinese and Thai restaurants line nearby streets (on Stuart Street’s Chinese quarter or the Albany Street section of the Octagon, about 10–15 minutes’ walk). Essential groceries and snacks can be found at the campus New World supermarket and East Asia supermarket a few blocks east.

• Pre-show Eats on Cumberland/Great King: Billy’s Warehouse (burgers and pizza), Caliber Espresso (gourmet coffee and sandwiches), The Duck Inn (Korean BBQ), and local takeaway joints (Asian, Indian, and kebabs).
• Post-show Late-night: Many pubs downtown stay open late – the Octagon is a 15–20 minute walk, or a quick taxi ride. (There’s a 24-hour McDonald’s at the Botanic Gardens end of Great King if you’re in need of a midnight snack.)
• Bottle Shops: For after-party drinks (or surviving a hangover), there’s a liquor store on George Street, and another small bottle shop on Cumberland near Castle Street. Both stay open until around 11pm on weeknights.

Hotels and Lodging: If you’re visiting Dunedin for the night, there are convenient places to stay near campus. The Cumberland Motel (North Dunedin) and Park Lane Motel are a few minutes’ drive away and offer basic rooms. In the nearby University area you’ll also find boutique guesthouses and classic student-style inns (The False Bird, Dunedin Manor Motor Lodge). For more comfort o­r unique style, accommodations in the central Octagon area (Distinction Dunedin Hotel, Mercure) are about 5-10 minutes’ drive and often have shuttles to late-night events. On big concert weekends, city hostels and homestays often list availability too. Taxis/Uber are plentiful but can surge after major shows, so a centrally-located hotel can save a late-night ride. Overall, aim to arrive 30–60 minutes before showtime (especially on busy nights) to settle your parking or check-in, grab food nearby, and avoid the rush at the door.

What Makes This Venue Special

Refuel stands out for its raw, authentic character. Unlike polished concert halls, it’s student-run (by the Otago University Students’ Association) and lives-and-breathes the local scene. This student stakeholding means the venue has a welcoming egalitarian vibe: freshmen, masters students and staff mingle on the same floor, first-time homegrown acts get equal billing to any international guest, and nobody is treated like a VIP unless they’re a die-hard fan who earned it on the dance floor. It’s exactly the kind of place where, after a gig, you might find band members hanging out and chatting with audience members at the bar.

Architecturally it’s unremarkable, but culturally it has legendary moments. Generations of Dunedin bands cut their teeth here – almost every local alternative rock or metal act from the past 20 years can say they played Refuel early in their career. Bands even signed the greenroom wall backstage to mark their debut, a tradition that has continued with new paint in recent years. Media and fans often cite Refuel’s basement walls as a “living museum” of the city’s music heritage. One local review captured it well, noting that no other spot in Dunedin had “posters of great bands juxtaposed with the odour of beer and BO” quite like this union bar (alluding to the pub-rock ethos). The massive stage (unusual in a campus bar) and superior sound rig also make it one of the only places students can enjoy big raw sound up close.

In simplicity lies its charm: there are no velvet ropes or fussy protocols here – just good times and good music. Students treasure the affordable beer prices and friendly bartenders. Visiting artists often comment on the unique excitement of playing a crowd made up of new Otago students experiencing their first big gig. Every poster on the stucco walls, every weekend of cheap beers and rocking music, feeds into a sense of continuity. Essentially, Refuel matters because it’s where Dunedin’s music community meets and grows; it’s woven into local tradition in a way that bigger, tourist-driven venues are not. This is why so many performers make a point to say, “We gotta play ReFuel!”

Visitor Tips and Information

ID and Age: Refuel is a licensed bar, so all patrons must be 18 or over to enter after dark. You’ll need to show a valid photo ID (driver’s licence, passport, or university ID) at the door if you plan to drink, or if there’s any question about age. Under-18s are generally not admitted unless a special daytime “all-ages” event is advertised, so double-check the event details.

What to Bring: Besides your ticket/entry fee, carry only essentials. Security may search bags, and large backpacks or suitcases are not allowed. A small purse or fanny pack is fine. Earplugs are a good idea for loud concerts. Bring cash in case you want to buy band merchandise; the bar and card machines usually accept cards, but some artists only take cash at their merch table. Dress casually and comfortably – most people wear jeans, hoodies or band tees. Wear shoes you don’t mind dancing or moshing in; stilettos or bare feet are not recommended on the dance floor.

Venue Policies: Standard club rules apply. No outside alcohol, no glass (except the glasses served at the bar), no illegal substances (this is strictly enforced). Photography for personal use with phones or small cameras is usually okay, but professional camera equipment or video rigs may need the venue’s permission, so check with event staff on the way in. Smoking and vaping are allowed only in a small outdoor courtyard area near the entrance (not in the club itself). No early re-entry: once you leave the hall during an event, you’ll have to re-queue if you try to come back in.

Accessibility: The main performance space is in the basement, reached by stairs (there is no public elevator directly to the hall). This means it is not fully wheelchair-accessible. If you have mobility needs, contact the venue staff ahead of time to check available assistance or alternative arrangements – the Union building does have some lifts to upper floors. Inside, there is an accessible toilet near the bar area, but note that navigating through a crowded bar can be difficult. Hearing-impaired patrons may find it very loud during shows; consider bringing ear protection. The staff are usually accommodating, though, so feel free to ask at the door for any help or to find a quieter corner of the hall if needed.

Other Tips: Arrive early (30–60 minutes before showtime) especially on weekends. The bar closes briefly during sold-out events when they stop new entries, so late arrivals can be locked out. Plan your night around drink prices (they’re cheap compared to city bars) and consider grabbing a bite beforehand – after 11pm food options out front are limited. Check weather: if it’s very cold or wet, expect a line on the sidewalk, so bundle up for the wait. Keep track of your drink at all times. Lastly, be respectful in the crowd – this is mostly students and locals having fun, and a positive vibe is part of the experience. Ask fellow attendees if you’re unsure about anything; regulars are friendly and love giving tips about the venue.