[HDNG]IN LONDON:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.50 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.45[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]For a weekly guide to the Capital's entertainments, 'Time Out' magazine is a must. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD][ITAL] London is a bitter blow for bitter lovers. Some London pubs water down their ridiculously expensive beer (sometimes over ú2 a pint), but one of the few sparkles in your glass is the rise of the Weatherspoon chain, dedicated to good ale and food, at superb prices (regular 99p a pint specials). Look for the blue and gold livery. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs in Bloomsbury area: Jeremy Bentham; Rising Sun.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: many repertory cinemas offer student discounts and The Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square shows films from ú1.99.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Theatres: [EBOLD]Student standby tickets are sometimes available for West End shows, but they're still around ú8. The National Theatre on the South Bank is cheaper and features some of the country's top talent. Also, don't forget the Fringe (the collective title for all the smaller theatres around town, ranging from back rooms at pubs to full size auditoria)[ITAL] where you can often see high quality at low cost.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos: [EBOLD][ITAL] [EITAL]Although London clubs are always at the very nub of any fashion scene, you pay for the privilege. At top nightspots, admission starts at around ú5 and drinks can be anything up to 5 times pub prices. There is, however, an ever-changing set of cheaper hang-outs where the latest sounds are available without the latest prices. [ITAL] [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Heaven (mostly gay); Camden Palace; Maximus; Ministry of Sound; Fridge; Subterania. These are the venues; individual events move between clubs, and disappear like cliches in the night, so don't blame [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH] [ITAL]if our recommendations for Smashing, Pleased, Billion Dollar Babes and Kinky Gerlinky send them off into the memory-zone of the groove.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Cabaret: [EBOLD]London is a hot-bed of alternative laugh-mongers[ITAL]. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: There's the just-moved Comedy Store or, more cheaply, Jongleurs (Camden, Battersea, Shepherds Bush), East Dulwich Cabaret, Hackney Empire and many, many more.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues: [EBOLD]Many of the country's biggest and most famous, including Wembley Stadium and Arena, Hammersmith Apollo (was the Odeon), The Marquee, The Forum (was the Town and Country), The Garage (was TandC 2), The Astoria, The Hackney Empire, The Brixton Academy, The New Cross Venue, as well as innumerable pubs, warehouses, cardboard boxes, and, of course, Tube stations.[HDNG]THE CITY AND ISLINGTON:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.60 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.40[ESTAT][PARA]The Barbican contains thetres, cinemas, restaurants, bars, [ITAL]and not enough loos[EITAL], all under one roof. [ITAL]In Islington, The Steam Passage and the Angel are good for a pint or 5.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]UNIVERSITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][GRPH]E1[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bars:[EBOLD] There are 2 bars in halls, and 2 in the Union: TC (The Carrot) Venue (cap 275, open till 11 weekdays, 2am on Fridays and for events); Saddlers Bars (80, open all day).[PARA][BOLD]Music venues and clubs/discos:[EBOLD] In the TC Venue, the Union holds weekly discos (adm ú2). They have occasional events and live bands in the New Hall (700), where they have a lighting and sound rig. Weekly bops also ensue in the halls.[PARA][BOLD]Recent bands:[EBOLD] James Taylor Quartet; Alison Limerick; James; Hot Chocolate.[PARA][BOLD]Cabaret:[EBOLD] Recently Mr Methane and the Regurgitator made mirth ([ITAL]in a bodily function sort of way[EITAL]).[PARA][BOLD]Others:[EBOLD] The Union tries to keep up a programme of at least 3 events per week and generally churns out some [ITAL]worthwhile [EITAL]budget fun. There are 6-7 balls a year.[HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]The University runs 2 refectories ([ITAL]which have a good vegetarian range[EITAL]) throughout the day. In the Bar Lounge, there's a variety of hot and cold food from 11am until the bar closes. The local area is [ITAL]good [EITAL]for cafes, pubs and junk food and is [ITAL]particularly strong[EITAL] on international cuisine. [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: The Brokers' Inn (Indian for ú10); Ravi Shankar (veggie, all the lunch you can eat for ú3.50); Red Lion (pub grub); Whole Food Shop (cheap veggie); Ruby in the Dust (Mexican). There's a 24hr grocer nearby and a kebab cafe in Old St torturing the hungry almost all night.[EITAL][PARA][PARA]
