[HDNG]TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.35 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.10 [ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Stoke:[EBOLD] see [ULNE]Keele University[EULNE].[PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD][ITAL] Everyone in Stoke goes to the Fawn and Firkin, and the [PARA]Old Corner Cupboard. Stafford [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Bird In Hand; The [PARA]Castle. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plug for metalheads: Dougal's in Stafford is a rock [PARA]tavern by night, run by an ex-roadie for Metallica; by day, it's a [PARA]bistro run by his mum.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] Both towns have a choice of mainstream cinemas.[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] The council-run theatre in Stafford houses [ITAL]pretty dire[EITAL] [PARA]amateur dramatics and touring rep. Newcastle-under-Lyme on [PARA]the other hand has the UK's first purpose-built theatre in the [PARA]round, hosting [ITAL]high quality [EITAL]touring productions.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The Place, Valentino's and Chico's are safe bets [PARA]and cheap (ú1);[EITAL] [ITAL]Reynolds Bar and Colosseum in Stafford are [PARA]your best bets. The student night at the latter's called (wait for it) [PARA]Colostomy.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] Both towns have venues for local bands, blues, [PARA]jazz and folk, including The Wheatsheaf and Victoria Hall.[HDNG]UNIVERSITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E1[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: 90p [BULL] Glass of wine: 85p[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Bars:[EBOLD] (6) College and Leek Road bars are both popular, and open [PARA]till 11pm[ITAL]. [EITAL]The Beaconside bar at[ITAL] [EITAL]Stafford[ITAL] is a bit quieter[EITAL]. The [PARA]Whiteley bar [ITAL]can become a bit boisterous.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] The Film Society, based at College Rd in Stoke, is [PARA]home to the regional film theatre. Recent screening include [PARA]Naked, The Wedding Banquet, and The Cement Garden.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] Decibel's (cap 2,000) at Leek Road pounds to the [PARA]sounds 3 nights a week for a quid.[PARA][BOLD]Cabaret:[EBOLD] The Whiteley Building at Stafford, hosts weekly funnies;[PARA]recently Stewart Lee, Stevie Starr and the Rubber Bishops.[PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] A total of 4 venues, 2 in each town, the largest [PARA]being at Leek Road (cap 1,866).[PARA][BOLD]Recent band appearances:[EBOLD] Suede, the Auteurs, the Fall, Back to [PARA]the Planet, Manic Street Preachers, the Pogues, Bad Manners, [PARA]BjÜrn Again. [ITAL]And you thought this was the middle of nowhere...[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Others:[ITAL] [EITAL][EBOLD]6 balls a year. [ITAL]About what John Barnes gets.[EITAL][HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]The University runs refectories on all sites from 8.30am to [PARA]5.30pm (there's talk of them staying open later), and Universe [PARA]City is a joint foodie venture at Stafford (pizzas, burgers, etc). In [PARA]Stoke, students get pies and sarnies from local shops; there are [PARA]also some [ITAL]sound[EITAL] balti houses, and Dylan's, a [ITAL]great[EITAL] veggie haunt.[PARA]Stafford has the usual links in various chain outlets and a [PARA]selection of curry houses, [ITAL]but afternoon teas are the local [PARA]speciality. The best food is found in village pubs nearby. The [PARA]Soup Kitchen and The Grove are especially good (with French [PARA]maid waitresses)[EITAL]. Late at night Stafford students find [PARA]themselves making a robotic trot to Atlas - [ITAL]greasy,[EITAL] but the only [PARA]option when the greed need is belly-aching for a pizza or kebab at[PARA]2am.
