Eurovision Song Contest - where to watch grand final in Colchester

If you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets for the grand final in Liverpool but still want to spend the evening celebrating in style, plenty of venues in Colchester are welcoming fans to Eurovision parties.

Tonight - The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest (Image: PA Media)

Where to watch Eurovision in Colchester

Colchester Arts Centre

Colchester Pride is hosting a Eurovision viewing party at Colchester Arts Centre, in Church Street.

Tickets are available on a “pay what you want” basis, with a minimum donation of £3, and doors open at 7.30pm.

White Colne Village Hall

The village hall, in Bures Road, White Colne, will be welcoming Eurovision fans.

It promises to offer a fun night of music, sequins, laughter, and dancing. Revellers are invited to bring their own drinks to the venue.

University of Essex

Colchester’s students are in luck as the University of Essex Students’ Union will be holding a Eurovision party in the on-campus SU Bar.

The night will offer money off of European drinks, free entry, and a sweepstake.

Odeon

For the first time ever, the grand final will be broadcast live into cinemas across the UK.

Colchester’s Odeon, in Head Street, will be joining in with the fun, welcoming Eurovision lovers at 7.30pm for a special preview of BBC Three’s new show I Kissed a Boy before the main event kicks off at 8pm.

Curzon

If you like the sound of Odeon’s offering but fancy a change of scenery then you’re in luck – as Colchester’s Curzon cinema, in Queen Street, is offering the same experience, including the preview of the new dating show.

Eurovision after party at ATIK Colchester

If you’re still standing after watching the votes come in and aren’t ready for your evening to end, Colchester’s ATIK nightclub, in High Street, is hosting an after party from 10.30pm.

After party - ATIK, in High Street, Colchester

They’ll be playing the cheesiest of all tunes as well as the biggest and best Eurovision hits of all time.

Eurovision fever hits the UK

The contest is this year being held in the UK with the BBC on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, which triumphed in Turin last year following a wave of support from the voting public.

Essex's Sam Ryder wowed fans with an impromptu performance on Liverpool’s historic docks ahead of Thursday’s knock-out round.

Performer - Sam Ryder (Image: PA Media)

None of the bookies’ favourites performed during Thursday’s semi-final, but a number of eye-catching acts still featured.

Belgium’s Gustaph performed Because Of You, a house music-flavoured dance track featuring euphoric piano stabs.

Celebrate - Gustaph, who is representing Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Polish pop singer Blanka made an impact with her track Solo, a summery tune with a catchy hook reminiscent of Ariana Grande’s music.

On stage - Poland's entrant Blanka (Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Viral TikTok duo Teya and Salena, the first female pairing to compete for Austria, performed their quirky dance-pop track Who The Hell Is Edgar?

Finalists - Austria's Teya and Salena (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

The catchy song is about being possessed by the ghost of 19th-century Gothic author Edgar Allan Poe, but is also a commentary on the struggle of female writers to be taken seriously in a male-dominated industry.