It’s your birthday or your anniversary. You’re celebrating a new job. Or maybe it’s just a Saturday?

Get in the group chat and arrange your big day out – and make sure it’s in Middlesbrough.

If you catch the train into Middlesbrough Railway Station, then jump off and have a look what’s going on in Middlesbrough’s historic quarter.

A £30m refurbishment of the station is ongoing, while Exchange Square has been regenerated – with work ongoing to welcome STACK and a new restaurant, Muddler, in the coming months.

Once you’re off the train, explore what’s going on at Bloom, the stunning cocktail bar complete with live music and decadent interiors.

Staying in that part of town, if you’re heading back to the train there’s always the lively karaoke at the Liqour Vaults on Zetland Road – but to start off your big day, look no further than some lunch or a drink at Christie’s Brasserie in the historic Zetland, with its jaw-dropping tiled dining room.

As you head into town, there’s Project Escape on Wilson Street – a fun-filled group activity which sees you locked in a room with only your wits and a host of clues, solving puzzles and beating the clock to escape, or Putter Chaos, an adventure-filled crazy golf course.

Book a lane and enjoy bowling, retro gaming and great food and drinks at Pinnacle bowling on Albert Road.

But for gaming, bowling and all round entertainment then Level X is difficult to beat.

Indoor electric karting, bowling, VR gaming, pool, darts, bumper cars – Level X has it all at Captain Cook Square, the town’s new leisure destination also home to Teesside’s first Wendy’s and soon to welcome InflateSpace, an inflatable theme park, and Bazaar, a restaurant which promises it will be “unlike anything else in Middlesbrough”.

One of Middlesbrough’s biggest and best days out is the Orange Pip Market.

Influenced by a range of world-class events such as Borough Market in London and the Brooklyn Flea Market in New York City as well as the amazing food producers at farmers’ markets throughout the region, you can enjoy artisan food and drink from local makers and bakers, amazing cocktails and a pint or two.

The market is often held in Centre Square and also on Baker and Bedford Streets, the centre of Middlesbrough’s revived cultural quarter.

On non-market days, it’s well worth visiting the cocktail bars, micro pubs and restaurants on Baker and Bedford and the surrounding streets around the town centre.

A buzzing atmosphere and regular open mic and live music nights are enough to keep any group of mates entertained.

If you’re hungry, you’re well catered for – pick up street food favourites like New York style pizza by the slice at Dough Daze or a smash burger at Burgerlicious on Linthorpe Road.

A burger at Burgerlicious

And there’s a multitude of well-established restaurants that cater for larger groups and special occasions – think Central Park (one to get a picture of yourself with a parmo, for Insta) or family-run Fellini’s. Take a look at our restaurants page for more.

Then to end your night, the legendary Dickens Inn offers music, dancing and drinks at its bouncing venue on Southfield Road, or relive your glory days bouncing around The Empire. What more could you ask?

READ MORE: We are Orange Pip – behind the scenes at Middlesbrough’s favourite get-together