Alcohol will be sold on the ground floor of a student hub at the heart of the University of Bristol's campus, after permission for a licence was given.
The plan comes as the Hawthorns building, where alcohol is served and live performances are held, is set to be turned into a flagship £80m library.
So university bosses have secured a new licence for Senate House, across the road in Tyndall Avenue.
Representing the university, Roy Light told Bristol City Council’s licensing subcommittee on July 9: “This is an application by the University of Bristol, a major employer in Bristol, which is bravely investing a huge amount of money in new facilities for students and the general public to use.
“The lower ground floor [of Senate House] is going to be used by students for food and drink.
“Predominantly it’s an eating and drinking venue. As part of the university’s civic values to encourage members of the wider community into the buildings, other people will be invited to come in.”
The licence, approved at the meeting, allows Senate House to sell alcohol and stage plays, films, dance and live music from noon until midnight.
It will be able to open to the public daily from 8am until midnight.
Mr Light added: “Hawthorns Hotel is just across the road. It’s licensed and performing the same functions as this. The public are using the hotel and will no doubt use this facility, to make the university integrate into local people’s lives.
“Once these premises are operational, the plan is to convert the Hawthorns Hotel into a library facility.
“We’re asking you to move the licence across the road.”
The council is yet to consider an application submitted earlier this year for a new library that would house 420,000 books and 70,000 journals.
The university's plans include an archive and collections space, a cultural collections centre, research facility, working and study spaces, exhibition and events spaces and a cafe.
