[HDNG]CITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.30 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.20[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]Newcastle is as happening a city as any, running a close race [PARA]with the likes of Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and London. The [PARA]club and music scene is massive, both mainstream and [PARA]commercial and particularly strong on rave in Gateshead. There [PARA]is a strong gay and lesbian undertow.[EITAL] To keep a check on what's[PARA]on, pick up a free copy of 'Crack' or 'Paint it Red'.[PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] Apart from the multiplex at the Metro Centre, there's [PARA]another 10-screen Warner cinema, a 4-screen Odeon and the [PARA]most excellent Tyneside Arts Cinema (2 screens).[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] Among other theatres, there's the Theatre Royal, a [PARA]regular venue for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Tyne [PARA]Theatre and Opera House and a number of smaller fringe [PARA]venues. The Newcastle Playhouse, the Gulbenkian and Lipman [PARA]theatres - the Gulbenkian owes its history to University connections.[PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD] Newcastle has many, many pubs, some rougher than [PARA]students might like, but plenty serve a welcome brew, not least a [PARA]pint of the ubiquitous 'dog' - Newcastle Brown. [ITAL]The best are [PARA]around the Bigg Market in the city centre, but this is town territory[PARA]at weekends. [EITAL] [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Barley Mow (overlooking Tyne); 3 Bull's[PARA]Heads; Offshore 44 (reasonable cocktails); Strawberry.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] Without ever getting hooked on one sound like [PARA]Manchester, Newcastle has been constantly cool throughout the [PARA]rave scene. Club life is part of the Geordie way of being. Some [PARA]clubs have special gay nights - or even special straight nights. [PUSH][PARA]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs (among others): The Studio (indie, chart, students on [PARA]Mondays, ú3.50); Bliss (ravey, ú4-6); Rockshots (dance and indie,[PARA]studenty, gay on Tues/Thurs); Powerhouse (high energy gay, [PARA]with women's bar, ú2); The Mayfair (alternative, goth, punk, ú3); [PARA]Madison (Tuesdays, ú4); The Ritzy (tacky nightmare, students on[PARA]Mondays, ú1); Club Afrika.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] Whitley Bay Ice Rink, 12 miles away on the coast [PARA](but still on the Metro), is the largest musical venue. In town, [PARA]there's the City Hall, for both classical music and popular bands, [PARA]Mayfair (see above) and the Riverside (Credit to the Nation, [PARA]Aimee Mann).[PARA][BOLD]Cabaret:[EBOLD] Newcastle nurtures many a comic talent in pubs and [PARA]clubs such as the Ugly Jugglers. [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plug: Cabaret A-Go-Go in [PARA]Byker.[EITAL][HDNG]UNIVERSITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E1[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.20[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Bars:[EBOLD] There are 3 bars at the main centre and 1 at Coach Lane: [PARA]Reds (cap 500); Northumbria Lounge (200); Ballroom (1,500, [PARA]Friday nights only). Plans for thirst-quenching facilities at [PARA]Longhirst and Carlisle are in hand.[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] There are local theatres on site, and the University has [PARA]one of its own. Students took 2 shows to the Edinburgh Fringe [PARA]Festival last year.[PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] The projector broke.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos and music venues:[EBOLD] Students dance themselves [PARA]dizzy almost every night, usually in Reds Bar, which also hosts [PARA]live music. More pounding sounds drown the downs in the [PARA]Northumbria Lounge but the Ballroom is big enough to attract [PARA]some major names and draw students from [ULNE]Newcastle [PARA]University[EULNE].[PARA][BOLD]Recent band appearances:[EBOLD] Brand New Heavies; Blur; Ministry of Sound.[PARA][BOLD]Cabaret:[EBOLD] Mainly local comics, [ITAL]but that's not a problem, there's [PARA]some excellent up and coming Geordie talent. [EITAL]Also, recently, [PARA]Lee Evans and the Rubber Bishops.[PARA][BOLD]Others: [EBOLD]An [ITAL]impressive [EITAL]art gallery in the library building, and [PARA]occasional balls.[HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]The University, with 4 cafeterias, refectories and snack bars, [PARA]beats the Union with its Continental Cafe and the Northumbria [PARA]Lounge. If these aren't enough to fulfil the students' needs for [PARA]face filling, [ITAL]there's enough elsewhere to feed a city the size of [PARA]Newcastle - strange, that. [EITAL][BOLD]Eating out in Newcastle: [EBOLD]see [ULNE]University[PARA]of Newcastle[EULNE].[PARA][PARA]
