[HDNG]TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.30 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.20[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]Newcastle is as happening a city as any, running a close race [PARA]with the likes of Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and London. The [PARA]club and music scene is massive, both mainstream and [PARA]commercial and particularly strong on rave in Gateshead. There [PARA]is a strong gay and lesbian undertow.[EITAL] To keep a check on what's[PARA]on, pick up a free copy of 'Crack' or 'Paint it Red'.[PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] Apart from the multiplex at the Metro Centre, there's [PARA]another 10-screen Warner cinema, a 4-screen Odeon and the [PARA]most excellent Tyneside Arts Cinema (2 screens).[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] Among other theatres, there's the Theatre Royal, a [PARA]regular venue for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Tyne [PARA]Theatre and Opera House and a number of smaller fringe [PARA]venues. The Newcastle Playhouse, the Gulbenkian and Lipman [PARA]theatres - the Gulbenkian owes its history to University connections.[PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD] Newcastle has many, many pubs, some rougher than [PARA]students might like, but plenty serve a welcome brew, not least a [PARA]pint of the ubiquitous 'dog' - Newcastle Brown. [ITAL]The best are [PARA]around the Bigg Market in the city centre, but this is town territory[PARA]at weekends. [EITAL] [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Barley Mow (overlooking Tyne); 3 Bull's[PARA]Heads; Offshore 44 (reasonable cocktails); Strawberry.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] Without ever getting hooked on one sound like [PARA]Manchester, Newcastle has been constantly cool throughout the [PARA]rave scene. Club life is part of the Geordie way of being. Some [PARA]clubs have special gay nights - or even special straight nights. [PUSH][PARA]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs (among others): The Studio (indie, chart, students on [PARA]Mondays, ú3.50); Bliss (ravey, ú4-6); Rockshots (dance and indie,[PARA]studenty, gay on Tues/Thurs); Powerhouse (high energy gay, [PARA]with women's bar, ú2); The Mayfair (alternative, goth, punk, ú3); [PARA]Madison (Tuesdays, ú4); The Ritzy (tacky nightmare, students on[PARA]Mondays, ú1); Club Afrika.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] Whitley Bay Ice Rink, 12 miles away on the coast [PARA](but still on the Metro), is the largest musical venue. In town, [PARA]there's the City Hall, for both classical music and popular bands, [PARA]Mayfair (see above) and the Riverside (Credit to the Nation, [PARA]Aimee Mann).[PARA][BOLD]Cabaret:[EBOLD] Newcastle nurtures many a comic talent in pubs and [PARA]clubs such as the Ugly Jugglers. [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plug: Cabaret A-Go-Go in [PARA]Byker.[EITAL][HDNG]UNIVERSITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E1[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: 95p [BULL] Glass of wine: 50p[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Bars: [EBOLD]The vast Union building has 7 [ITAL]excellent [EITAL] and popular bars, 3[PARA]of which are usually open only for events. The Cochran bar is no[PARA]smoking, and the Mens Bar is not for men only, but named after [PARA]the the Uni motto, 'Mens agitat molem' [ITAL](velvety rodents upset my [PARA]brain)[EITAL].[PARA][BOLD]Theatres: [EBOLD]The University has its own theatre, and occasionally [PARA]student productions appear at the Gulbenkian (see above) and [PARA]there are regular jaunts to Edinburgh.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos: [EBOLD]Sublime, in the Union Building (cap 1,400, adm ú2) [PARA]is the dance pad for feet with fever. Student societies host their [PARA]own regular ents.[PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] Level 2 in the Union Building is big enough to [PARA]attract some major names, such as, recently, Blur, M-People, St [PARA]Etienne and Chumbawamba.[PARA][BOLD]Others:[EBOLD] Freshers and graduation balls, quizzes, bingo, you name [PARA]it.[HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]The University turns out the tummy timber from 11am to 2pm [PARA]every day in the refectory. Meanwhile, all day in the Union, belly [PARA]lumber is available from Spiny Norman's and 6 other food outlets,[PARA]including the main bar. [ITAL]The quality leaves a little to be desired and[PARA]students left desiring a little may be satisfied[EITAL] at the Newcastle [PARA]Playhouse Coffee Rooms or in any or many of the local pubs [PARA]and cafes. Food in Newcastle caters to every taste - from those [PARA]who like haute cuisine, and are willing to pay, to those who don't [PARA]care what junk they put away so long as it's cheap. [ITAL]Particularly [PARA]recommended are many, many marvellous Chinese restaurants,[PARA]Italians and greasy Joe-type places. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: the Tyneside [PARA]Coffee Rooms, One Eyed Jacks, Komal Tandoori, Veggies and [PARA]Don Vito's.[EITAL] [ITAL]Newcastle stays up till long after many other cities [PARA]have given in to a little shut-eye. [EITAL]There are chip shops, kebab [PARA]joints and even a few restaurants (especially around the station) [PARA]open till 3am.[PARA][PARA]
