[HDNG]THE TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.70 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.80[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] (1) Student reductions on afternoon showings.[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] The Hexagon stages everything from snooker to ballet,[PARA]panto to opera. For alternative drama, try the Progress Theatre.[PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The local pub on Christchurch Green at the main gate of [PARA]the campus is a fun focus, or at least it used to be before it [PARA]stopped letting in under 21s. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: The Queen's Head ('The [PARA]Nob'); The College Arms; The Turk's Head.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Reading doesn't have the hottest club scene in the [PARA]world, in fact it's tepid. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: After Dark (ú2-ú3); [PARA]Washington Heights (ú5, the biggest in town, alternative night); [PARA]Frenchies (standard tacky club).[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] The main ones are South Street, After Dark (see [PARA]above), the Rivermead Centre (Carter USM, Bad Manners) and [PARA]the Hexagon (mainstream).[PARA][BOLD]Other:[EBOLD] The Reading Festival, [ITAL]the No 2 hang out (after [PARA]Glastonbury) for hippies, freaks, ravers and any party people[EITAL], is [PARA]held on the flood bank of the Thames over the August bank [PARA]holiday weekend. 1994 saw Primal Scream, Stereo MC's, Public[PARA]Enemy, Ice Cube and Ice T ([ITAL]but, tragically, not Vanilla Ice[EITAL])[ITAL]. Drugs[PARA]are a big part of the atmosphere and the supply and use in [PARA]Reading is widespread - there's crack and heroin in town [PARA]although students steer clear.[EITAL][HDNG]UNIVERSITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.25 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Bars:[EBOLD] (20) The Union runs Nelsons and The Bar and there are [PARA]others in each hall and at Bulmershe.[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] 1 at Bulmershe, plus 1 for the Faculty of Letters.[PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] Home of Reading Film Theatre; recently, Goodfellas, [PARA]Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos/music venues:[EBOLD] Union discos are held every Friday [PARA]night in the main hall (cap 1,100), hosting live gigs[ITAL] [EITAL]as well. Other [PARA]gig venues include the Coffee Lounge (hosting a band every [PARA]Friday, usually local) and the JCRs in the halls of residence [PARA](120-600). 'Formals' (black tie) and 'informals' (casual) are run in [PARA]the JCRs by the student committees that organise fun in each [PARA]hall. These consist of a disco and - [ITAL]hold on to your hats[EITAL] - [PARA]sometimes a band as well.[PARA][BOLD]Recent band appearances:[EBOLD] Oui 3, Levellers.[PARA][BOLD]Cabaret:[EBOLD] Once a fortnight, the Coffee Lounge, run by Ents. [PARA]Recently, Alan Parker and Newman and Baddiel (when they [PARA]were talking).[HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]There is an [ITAL]ample [EITAL]choice of chomps on campus including The [PARA]Buttery or, [ITAL]slightly better[EITAL], the pre-packed platters in the Blue and [PARA]Orange Rooms. Most faculties have their own refectories, open [PARA]all day. The SU provides the Coffee Lounge and hot and cold [PARA]food over the bar at lunchtime and in the evening. [ITAL]Given the [PARA]distance from the town, unless it's for a special occasion, [PARA]students usually shun the gastronomic delights of Reading.[EITAL] [ITAL]But, [PARA]when they get that growling gut feeling, Reading dishes it up in [PARA]plenty of restaurants in the town centre. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Sweeney [PARA]Todd's (American, not cannibal); the Coley Supper Rooms, [PARA]where, for ú17.50, you can eat as much as you like (we know [PARA]someone who had 5 desserts); Mr Cod's Takeaway (the chicken [PARA]burger is described as 'an orgasm in a polystyrene box').[EITAL] Late at [PARA]night, when those tummy rumblings come stumbling, students [PARA]stumble down to the kebab van at the entrance to the University [PARA]or the kebab shop, 100yds further.[PARA][PARA]
