[HDNG]CITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.17 [BULL] Glass of wine: 95p[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] In and around the city, there are 4 multiplexes with a [PARA]total of 38 screens and various smaller cinemas, including [PARA]specialist Indian cinemas, the arty Triangle cinema (on the [ULNE]Aston [PARA]University[EULNE] campus) and the Tivoli cinema. The Odeon and MGM [PARA]offer ú2.50 student deals. [ITAL]If you can't find a film they want to [PARA]see, you're impossible to please.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] The Birmingham Rep is one of the [ITAL]best [EITAL]rep companies[PARA]in the country, but it's not the only one in Birmingham - there's [PARA]also the Alexandra Theatre and the Hippodrome for ballet. [PARA]Everything from visiting RSC productions to the Sound of Music, [PARA]from Ben Elton to Bennett to opera and beyond...[PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD][ITAL] It's rumoured that there are more pubs per square mile in [PARA]Brum than anywhere else in England - whether it's true or not, [PARA]there are plenty and they're varied and vital. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: The OVT[PARA](The Old Varsity Tavern), for rugger buggers and posers, [PARA]crowded and loud, 6 TVs (including satellite sport, videos) and [PARA]tacky decor with stuffed animals; The Fighting Cocks in Moseley [PARA]is a dive with quirky middle-aged twins as landlords; nearby, the [PARA]Jug of Ale, with multiple rooms and guest indie DJs; The Crooked [PARA]House is so askew because of mining subsidence, patrons don't [PARA]even have to be drunk to think the rooms slope; Hibernian; Brook; [PARA]Country Girl; Unspoilt by Progress; Green Man. The latest craze [PARA]in Brum pubs is, apparently, spider-fighting.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Bobby Brown's (student night [PARA]Wednesdays, ú1); The Institute (rave, near Digbeth, ú1); Tressines[PARA](70s disco, ú1-2); Dome II (tacky gloss, ú1.50-6); Moseley Dance [PARA]Centre (dance, reggae, ú2-ú10). On Mondays at the Ritzy, [PARA]entrance is ú1 or a banana.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] The NEC is an essential tour date on every [PARA]megastar's calendar (Meat Loaf, Depeche Mode, Take That, etc),[PARA]and Aston Villa Leisure Centre nearly had Nirvana, but for more [PARA]down to earth sounds, the [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Edwards No8 (Elastica, [PARA]S*M*A*S*H); The Institute (Breeders, St Etienne)[EITAL]. The Jug of [PARA]Ale hosts indie popkids, and the Hibernian and the Irish Centre [PARA]feature... have a guess. Ronnie Scott's caters for jazzers, and [PARA]there's a Jazz festival come summer. The Symphony Hall is [PARA]home to the Simon Rattle's CBSO, but can adapt itself to the [ITAL]less[PARA]classical delights [EITAL]of Paul Merton and East 17.[PARA][BOLD]Others:[EBOLD] Other pastimes to pass the time include the Silver Blades[PARA]Ice Rink and Merry Hill (out of town), which is one of the largest [PARA]shopping centres in Europe and houses a multiplex cinema and a[PARA]bowling alley. The Town Hall is increasingly being used as a [PARA]venue; recently offering Jack Dee and Sean Hughes. And you [PARA]can always go and see 'Gladiators' at the Indoor Arena.[HDNG]UNIVERSITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.13 [BULL] Glass of wine: 85p[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Bars:[EBOLD] There are 12 bars around the University including 1 in each [PARA]hall of residence and 4 Guild bars (the cheapest in town for a [PARA]lunchtime pint or an evening binge): Mermaid Bar ([ITAL]packed pub [PARA]atmosphere[EITAL]); Old Joe's (open till 2.00am on club nights); Berlins ([ITAL][PARA]smart, for posers during the day, the best club at night[EITAL]); PMSA [PARA](postgrads and mature students, [ITAL]quiet[EITAL]).[PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] Films are shown on a large screen video; Thelma and [PARA]Louise, Forever Young, Indecent Proposal.[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] The University Studio Theatre is frequently used by the[PARA]Guild's Theatre Group and the Drama Department. There are [PARA]also 2 other theatres around the campus and 8 productions went [PARA]to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] The Guild runs 3 regular clubs, the largest of which[PARA]is Old Joe's (cap 700, adm ú1.50-ú3) open Wednesday to [PARA]Saturday. With Berlins (400) as well, it's possible to die by [PARA]dancing until late almost every night of every week. What's more[PARA]there are frequent discos in halls, departments and common rooms.[PARA][BOLD]Cabaret:[EBOLD] Comedy Club run by Guild Ents and the Independent [PARA]National Comedy Network featuring some of the [ITAL]funniest [EITAL]joke [PARA]junkies, for example, Jim Tavare, Jenny Eclair and Harry Hill.[PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] The Debating Hall (cap 700) is the University's [PARA]largest venue, hosting the likes of D:Ream, Urban Species, and [PARA]Oui 3. Also live bands at Berlins (400) and PMSA (150).[PARA][PARA][PARA][HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]There are 2 Uni-run refectories on campus. The Guild offers an [PARA]almost unlimited choice - 5 cafeterias and snack bars open all [PARA]day. Brum itself offers eateries of all kinds, but you can't avoid [PARA]the Balti houses ([ITAL]mouthwatering[EITAL] Indian nosh, served on iron [PARA]plates, with vast slabs of nan bread) and there are plenty of [ITAL][PARA]top-level [EITAL]Chinese outfits. Around the city centre and the campus [PARA]area, the grub markets are open till 3am. [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Digbeth Fish [PARA]Bar; Happy Gathering (Chinese); Chamon and Dilshad (Balti [PARA]houses, tolerate rowdy studes).[EITAL][PARA][PARA]
