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| City Guide - Perth - Nightlife | ||
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Nightlife From Wednesday to Saturday, there's no shortage of nightspots to go to in Perth - although occasionally it can seem like there are more venues than punters. The larger dance clubs are concentrated in Northbridge; Subiaco and Fremantle are friendlier epicentres for the over-thirty crowd. Pubs tend to be licensed 1000-2400 Monday to Thursday, 1000-0100 Friday and Saturday, and 1200-2200 Sunday. Bars and nightclubs have longer hours and are licensed for the entire time that they are open. Most clubs stay open until 0500 or later on Friday and Saturday. The minimum legal drinking age is 18 years. Perth is home to an extremely healthy indie rock scene - far more popular and creative than in Sydney - and the 'craic' is good at several Irish pubs. One fascinating recent development is the increasing popularity of big band swing clubs at venues such as the Varga Lounge, 161 James Street, Northbridge and the Orient Hotel, 39 High Street, Fremantle. Free entertainment weekly XPress (web site: www.xpressmag.com.au ) is the best resource when planning a night on the town. Bars: The Moon & Sixpence British Pub, Murray Street, is a kitsch but popular hangout serving a wide range of Australian and international beers. Mezzonine, King Street, is a hip bar-restaurant featuring great skyline views. The Duxton Bar, 1 St George's Terrace, offers civilised surroundings for a quiet cocktail. A crawl of Fremantle pubs such as The Bog, 189 High Street, and Benny's, 10 South Terrace, is de rigueur when visiting the port town. Casinos: Located a short distance east of the city, the pyramid-shaped Burswood International Resort Casino, Great Eastern Highway (tel: (08) 93 62 76 46; fax: (08) 94 70 17 89; e-mail: burswood@burswood.com.au; web site: www.burswood.com.au) has over 140 gaming tables, offering blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette and the classic Australian game of two-up. The complex also contains nine restaurants, five bars, free nightly entertainment, a five-star luxury hotel and an 18-hole golf course. Dress standards apply; persons under 18 are not admitted. A free shuttle bus conveys visitors between Burswood Station (Armadale Line) and the casino. Clubs: Seemingly in an effort to please everyone, Perth nightlife has lately crystallised into a number of 'entertainment complexes' combining discos, bars and live music venues. The Globe, 393 Murray Street, unites a pumping main techno area with a late-night bar featuring live bands. The Deen, 84 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge, boasts no less than six zones and is popular with the university crowd; while Metropolis, 146 Roe Street, Northbridge, when not featuring major international touring bands, is a multi-level dance club. A guaranteed good time can be had at the Leederville Hotel, 742 Newcastle Street, Leederville, notable for its enormous beer garden/outdoor dance club. Gay perennial Connections, 81 James Street, Northbridge, offers techno and some quite outrageous floor shows. Comedy: Despite having nurtured some of Australia's finest comedians, the Perth comedy scene currently offers little to laugh about. The Brass Monkey, corner of William and James Streets, Northbridge, features comedy on Thursday nights. Burswood Casino, Great Eastern Highway, hosts international touring acts. Live music: The Universal Bar, 221 William Street, Northbridge, has live soul and jazz every night and a suitably cool ambience. The Subiaco Hotel, corner of Hay Street and Rokeby Road, hosts a jazz trio on Wednesday and Saturday nights; patrons can listen in while enjoying bistro meals. Irish music enthusiasts should check out Bridie O'Reilly's, 328 Barker Road, Subiaco, on Friday and Saturday nights. Local rock bands perform Wednesday to Sunday at The Grosvenor, corner of Hill and Hay Streets, while a large 'surfie' crowd converges on The Lookout, The Esplanade, Scarborough Beach, for bigger Australian acts and rowdy good times. Those with a hankering for the blues should try the smoky confines of the Perth Blues Club, Charles Street, North Perth. The Perth Entertainment Centre, Wellington Street (tel: (08) 94 84 12 22) is Perth's main venue for major rock groups and blockbuster shows. |
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