[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, 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 the campus is a fun focus, or at least it used to be before it stopped letting in under 21s. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: The Queen's Head ('The 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 world, in fact it's tepid. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: After Dark (ú2-ú3); Washington Heights (ú5, the biggest in town, alternative night); Frenchies (standard tacky club).[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] The main ones are South Street, After Dark (see above), the Rivermead Centre (Carter USM, Bad Manners) and the Hexagon (mainstream).[PARA][BOLD]Other:[EBOLD] The Reading Festival, [ITAL]the No 2 hang out (after Glastonbury) for hippies, freaks, ravers and any party people[EITAL], is held on the flood bank of the Thames over the August bank holiday weekend. 1994 saw Primal Scream, Stereo MC's, Public Enemy, Ice Cube and Ice T ([ITAL]but, tragically, not Vanilla Ice[EITAL])[ITAL]. Drugs are a big part of the atmosphere and the supply and use in Reading is widespread - there's crack and heroin in town 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 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, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos/music venues:[EBOLD] Union discos are held every Friday night in the main hall (cap 1,100), hosting live gigs[ITAL] [EITAL]as well. Other gig venues include the Coffee Lounge (hosting a band every Friday, usually local) and the JCRs in the halls of residence (120-600). 'Formals' (black tie) and 'informals' (casual) are run in the JCRs by the student committees that organise fun in each hall. These consist of a disco and - [ITAL]hold on to your hats[EITAL] - 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. Recently, Alan Parker and Newman and Baddiel (when they were talking).[HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]There is an [ITAL]ample [EITAL]choice of chomps on campus including The Buttery or, [ITAL]slightly better[EITAL], the pre-packed platters in the Blue and Orange Rooms. Most faculties have their own refectories, open all day. The SU provides the Coffee Lounge and hot and cold food over the bar at lunchtime and in the evening. [ITAL]Given the distance from the town, unless it's for a special occasion, students usually shun the gastronomic delights of Reading.[EITAL] [ITAL]But, when they get that growling gut feeling, Reading dishes it up in plenty of restaurants in the town centre. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Sweeney Todd's (American, not cannibal); the Coley Supper Rooms, where, for ú17.50, you can eat as much as you like (we know someone who had 5 desserts); Mr Cod's Takeaway (the chicken burger is described as 'an orgasm in a polystyrene box').[EITAL] Late at night, when those tummy rumblings come stumbling, students stumble down to the kebab van at the entrance to the University or the kebab shop, 100yds further.[PARA][PARA]
