[HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.17 [BULL] Glass of wine: 95p[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] In and around the city, there are 4 multiplexes with a total of 38 screens and various smaller cinemas, including specialist Indian cinemas, the arty Triangle cinema (on the [ULNE]Aston University[EULNE] campus) and the Tivoli cinema. The Odeon and MGM offer ú2.50 student deals. [ITAL]If you can't find a film they want to see, you're impossible to please.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] The Birmingham Rep is one of the [ITAL]best [EITAL]rep companies in the country, but it's not the only one in Birmingham - there's also the Alexandra Theatre and the Hippodrome for ballet. Everything from visiting RSC productions to the Sound of Music, from Ben Elton to Bennett to opera and beyond...[PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD][ITAL] It's rumoured that there are more pubs per square mile in Brum than anywhere else in England - whether it's true or not, there are plenty and they're varied and vital. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: The OVT (The Old Varsity Tavern), for rugger buggers and posers, crowded and loud, 6 TVs (including satellite sport, videos) and tacky decor with stuffed animals; The Fighting Cocks in Moseley is a dive with quirky middle-aged twins as landlords; nearby, the Jug of Ale, with multiple rooms and guest indie DJs; The Crooked House is so askew because of mining subsidence, patrons don't even have to be drunk to think the rooms slope; Hibernian; Brook; Country Girl; Unspoilt by Progress; Green Man. The latest craze in Brum pubs is, apparently, spider-fighting.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Bobby Brown's (student night Wednesdays, ú1); The Institute (rave, near Digbeth, ú1); Tressines (70s disco, ú1-2); Dome II (tacky gloss, ú1.50-6); Moseley Dance Centre (dance, reggae, ú2-ú10). On Mondays at the Ritzy, entrance is ú1 or a banana.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] The NEC is an essential tour date on every megastar's calendar (Meat Loaf, Depeche Mode, Take That, etc), and Aston Villa Leisure Centre nearly had Nirvana, but for more down to earth sounds, the [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Edwards No8 (Elastica, S*M*A*S*H); The Institute (Breeders, St Etienne)[EITAL]. The Jug of Ale hosts indie popkids, and the Hibernian and the Irish Centre feature... have a guess. Ronnie Scott's caters for jazzers, and there's a Jazz festival come summer. The Symphony Hall is home to the Simon Rattle's CBSO, but can adapt itself to the [ITAL]less classical delights [EITAL]of Paul Merton and East 17.[PARA][BOLD]Others:[EBOLD] Other pastimes to pass the time include the Silver Blades Ice Rink and Merry Hill (out of town), which is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe and houses a multiplex cinema and a bowling alley. The Town Hall is increasingly being used as a venue; recently offering Jack Dee and Sean Hughes. And you can always go and see 'Gladiators' at the Indoor Arena.[HDNG]UNIVERSITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E1[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1 [BULL] Glass of wine: 90p[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Bars:[EBOLD] There are 6 pubs on the edge of the campus which are popular amongst students and 7 bars run by the University and Guild around the premises, including 1 at Handsworth Wood Halls of Residence. Einstein's (250), in the Guild, is the most popular. The Monk (cap 400) is less so, [ITAL]maybe due to the garish decor.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Film:[EBOLD] Triangle Arts Cinema is right on campus and is Birmingham's premier art and second-run cinema (and host of the Birmingham Film Festival). Recent goodies included Les Visiteurs and Short Cuts.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos and music venues:[EBOLD] Music Inc (800, adm ú1.50-ú2) is run on Fridays and Saturdays in the Guild Hall which is also used for live bands, recently hosting the likes of Blur and the Inspiral Carpets. Discos also swing into action in the Guild bars and the Postgrad Suite and bands in the Vauxhall Centre (150).[PARA][BOLD]Others:[EBOLD] Balls, if you'll excuse my French, are held several times a year, including the Halloween Ball, the Freakers' Ball (perverse), and the May Ball. There are other one-off events, such as Pyjama Hops (bops in jim-jams) and so on.[HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]During the day, scoff spots on campus include the Sumpner Building Refectory and the Vauxhall Brasserie. The Guild's grub shops (Albert's Cafe, the Pizza Garden and Lean Too) are bulging with face-stuffing students. Being near the city centre makes the campus convenient for cramming in the crumbs locally. [BOLD]Eating out in Birmingham[EBOLD]: see [ULNE]University of Birmingham[EULNE].[PARA][PARA]
