Haha! Stafford used to have a good nightlife. The uni didn't have on-site accommodation so all the students lived in town. The students union bar was in the town centre then too (The Whitely Building, but the County Courts). So even if the students didn't go the SU for the night out, the town had loads on pubs and late bars/clubs for them. If I remember correctly, Stafford was pretty big at the start of the rave club scene.
Though coming from Widnes, a kick in the groin would seem like a decent night out compared to what it had to offer
However, since the Uni moved everything up onto Beaconside, the general "night life" has really died off a lot, or maybe it's the students worrying about their debts?
I only ever saw one night full at the SU club (is it still called Dogends?) and that was a night I ogranised and joint DJ'd (I used to run several clubs at the SU and was heavily involved in that side of things).
Yeah, Stafford sucks, but it has some awesome pubs and superb beer. I always preferred having a few decent pints and conversation at a pub, and then when you're too drunk to talk, move on to a club to fall over while trying to dance. So best of both worlds for me.
I used to go out to clubs in Nottingham (Rock City), Liverpool (Krazy House), Stoke (Chinos and The Sutherland Arms), Cheadle (The Highwayman) and Manchester (Jilly's) regularly, at least once a month to one of them. Sadly, I was usually the driver so rarely got drunk, but they were good nights generally. I used to go the Keele SU a fair amount as well and could get drunk there as I was sleeping with a girl doing her degree there.
Recently, I just go out a few times a year to the pub to meet up with people. It's got to be three years since I last went into a club. So I'm becoming more stay at home, but that's okay, pipe and slippers are the way forward