[HDNG]IN LONDON:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.50 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.45[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]For a weekly guide to the Capital's entertainments, 'Time Out' magazine is a must. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD][ITAL] London is a bitter blow for bitter lovers. Some London pubs water down their ridiculously expensive beer (sometimes over ú2 a pint), but one of the few sparkles in your glass is the rise of the Weatherspoon chain, dedicated to good ale and food, at superb prices (regular 99p a pint specials). Look for the blue and gold livery. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs in Bloomsbury area: Jeremy Bentham; Rising Sun.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: many repertory cinemas offer student discounts and The Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square shows films from ú1.99.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Theatres: [EBOLD]Student standby tickets are sometimes available for West End shows, but they're still around ú8. The National Theatre on the South Bank is cheaper and features some of the country's top talent. Also, don't forget the Fringe (the collective title for all the smaller theatres around town, ranging from back rooms at pubs to full size auditoria)[ITAL] where you can often see high quality at low cost.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos: [EBOLD][ITAL] [EITAL]Although London clubs are always at the very nub of any fashion scene, you pay for the privilege. At top nightspots, admission starts at around ú5 and drinks can be anything up to 5 times pub prices. There is, however, an ever-changing set of cheaper hang-outs where the latest sounds are available without the latest prices. [ITAL] [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Heaven (mostly gay); Camden Palace; Maximus; Ministry of Sound; Fridge; Subterania. These are the venues; individual events move between clubs, and disappear like cliches in the night, so don't blame [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH] [ITAL]if our recommendations for Smashing, Pleased, Billion Dollar Babes and Kinky Gerlinky send them off into the memory-zone of the groove.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Cabaret: [EBOLD]London is a hot-bed of alternative laugh-mongers[ITAL]. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: There's the just-moved Comedy Store or, more cheaply, Jongleurs (Camden, Battersea, Shepherds Bush), East Dulwich Cabaret, Hackney Empire and many, many more.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues: [EBOLD]Many of the country's biggest and most famous, including Wembley Stadium and Arena, Hammersmith Apollo (was the Odeon), The Marquee, The Forum (was the Town and Country), The Garage (was TandC 2), The Astoria, The Hackney Empire, The Brixton Academy, The New Cross Venue, as well as innumerable pubs, warehouses, cardboard boxes, and, of course, Tube stations.[HDNG]COLLEGE:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.30 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Bars:[EBOLD] (1) The bar ([ITAL]large, crowded, grubby, 3 pool tables, no frills[EITAL]) shuts at 8.30pm (except Fridays), but is popular not only with SOAS students but also with those from [ULNE]SSEES[EULNE] and other colleges nearby. [ITAL] Social life in the School can be a bit limited after the bar closes if no other ents have been organised.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Film:[EBOLD] Films (often with an Eastern or African flavour) are screened regularly, including recently, A World Apart, and documentaries on female circumcision.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos and music venues:[EBOLD] The Assembly Hall (cap 300) hosts discos (often with a theme) about 3 times a term, run by either the Union or student clubs. Bands also play there - usually with a World Music slant (bhangra, African, etc).[PARA][BOLD]Recent band appearances:[EBOLD] Ragga Twins; Fun Da Mental; Well Oiled Sisters.[PARA][BOLD]Others:[EBOLD] Many of the international student clubs provide ents which attract many people from outside college. There have been Indonesian Gamelan recitals, Laotian Khmer Thai dancing, an African drum and dance group, food and music evenings and so on.[HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]The Refectory is [ITAL]a tad pricy, and, oddly for an institution such as SOAS, [EITAL]does't serve halal, kosher, or vegan grub. Students also often eat at ULU, the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the [ULNE]Institute of Education[EULNE], Senate House and local cafes. The place is packed with restaurants. [ITAL]Drummond St is particularly good for south Indian veggie food[EITAL]. [ITAL]Pollo's in Soho is a very cheap, exciting and packed Italian, while Chinatown has the best chinese meals going. Dionysus on Tottenham Court Rd is a chirpy chippy that's stays open till early, as do various burger places.[EITAL]
