DUSA - The Grand Tour (Bars & Entertainment)

Member Name: MichaelR

Product:	Bars & Entertainment
Date:	20/09/01 (103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of bars, Cheap Drink, Good entertainment

Disadvantages: Over-zealous security, Crowded in Tav bar when boxing's on, Queues for tickets

Ah, DUSA. Not so much a bar as a great big building full of bars and other drinking establishments, as well as a number of other facilities - some, but not all, of which are alcohol providing facilities.

Anyone reading this who's going to be starting at Abertay this year - enjoy yourself at the Freshers Fortnight over at UADSA, as in previous years it has been pretty good. After that though, ditch the tiny establishment at the top of the never-ending staircase and head over to the fine five-story DUSA building at Dundee Uni.

I guess the best way to write this op is to go floor by floor, to try and keep this op as structured as possible.

Right then:

LEVEL ONE
~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the first floor that you come onto if you take the 'back door' down near the Perth Road. If you come in through the main doors over near the first year halls, then you have to go down the steps on the right to reach this floor.

So what's down here then? Well, on the outside of the main building there's a little travel agency of some sort. I've never used it and never paid it much attention, so I can't comment on it except to say that it's there if you need it. I'm sure it's very good.

If you should choose to go inside the building, you'll find the gents and ladies facilities to your left, a staircase ahead of you, and a big red set of double doors on your right.

The doors lead into Mono, which is a club-like environment where most of the entertainment takes place.

What goes on at Mono then? Well, during the day they have stuff like films and sporting events on the big screen - this mainly happens at the weekend during the afternoon. At night, there are various musical treats from the cheesiness of Pop Tart to the fine progressive sounds of Do This Do That.

Do This Do That really deserves further mention. It's fair to say that DTDT is now an internation
ally renowned club, which stages its night within Mono on alternative Saturdays. It runs from 10-2:30 on most of its nights, although frequently it lasts until 3 if the crowd can persuade the guest to keep playing. There have also been some 4AM events when DTDT has managed to get a special licence.

Entry costs anywhere between £6-£10 depending on who's playing - Neil Anthony is the resident who plays usually until around 12 (and he's really come on well - I gather he now does some minor sets in Ibiza each year) and he is then followed on by the guest DJ - usually one of the UK's best but also frequently Internationally known names. Recent DJ's playing have included:

Judge Jules (Gatecrasher)
Scott Bond (Gatecrasher)
Jon Carter (Home)
Guy Ornadel (Gatecrasher)
Justin Robertson (Bugged Out)
Paul Jackson (Ministry)
K-Klass (Cream)
Nigel Dawson (Renaissance)

I could go on and on, but that's probably enough.

Anyway, it was listed amongst the top clubs in Mixmag a while back - and deservedly so. They've also taken to laying on various entertainers when the night's really got going - jugglers, guys on stilts, and a bloke with a really dangerous big twirly thing that'll take your head off if you stand too close.

Drinks are cheap, seating's inadequate - but then you're not going to want to sit down much anyway - and generally it's always a great night.

OK then, enough about all that. Moving up the building now...

LEVEL 2
~~~~~~~

This is the usual point of entry, and where most taxis will drop you off if you don't live close enough to walk in. The main doors are here, along with a small Royal Bank of Scotland branch, a cash machine, a swimming pool (which I've never used) and ummmm... no, that's it on the outside of the building.

If you walk in through the main doors here, you'll find a security office to
your right, lined with tables at night. If you're a suspicious looking character like me then you'll often be taken over to the tables for a 'random' search.

To your left is a well-stocked shop and off-licence. You're not allowed to take any of their cheap booze beyond that point though, so don't even think about it! There are stiff penalties for people who think like that! (Damn!!)

Anyway, after clearing the security checkpoint, you proceed through a set of double doors and find a staircase infront of you. You can go down the stairs on the right to level one (if you have a ticket for whatever is on - this staircase is usually sealed except to ticket holders for whatever event is going on downstairs) or you can go up the steps on the left to level 3. Nothing else on this level to talk about....

So then,

LEVEL 3
~~~~~~~

Infront of you is a coffee lounge, with payphones and various dispensers of snacks etc. To your right is a corridor leading down to the grungy toilets. Best to avoid those. Sort of on an angle in the corner of your eye on the right is the Liar Bar, and if you turn around you will see another staircase leading upwards.

So then, the Liar Bar. What do we have here then? What we have here is a nice comfy bar, which is the largest and probably most popular within DUSA. It's nicely furnished with comfy green seats in most places, a few benches around the back, and a square bar in the middle that extends all the way around the room. Drinks are the same price at all the bars except Mono (which is actually cheaper) You can get pretty much anything you like from your alchopops to my fave double vodkas with red bull and tequila. There's a wide range of beery refreshments too.

This bar is pretty noisy and difficult to hold a conversation in - although it's also strangely the most 'cosy' bar.

Anyway, onwards and upwards....

LEVEL 4
~
~~~~~~

Here you'll find the games room to your left, the Tav Bar to your right, and a ticket office infront of you.

The ticket office sells tickets for all the stuff happening on levels 1 and 5. Get there VERY early if you don't want to be disappointed, as HUGE queues often form after 9 o'clock even - especially for DTDT. It usually opens around 9 and the friendly staff will be happy to relieve you of your money.

The Games Room contains loads of pool tables - all of which are usually occupied most of the time, some high stools and tables, some benches, and some arcade games. If you go to the back and walk around the wall on the right you'll also find an American pool table (slightly more expensive than the others) and an air hockey table. Follow the wall around and you'll come to the tail of the queue for the ticket office and the nice toilets.

Why are those toilets the nice toilets? Well, they're just the best kept. They're like executive washrooms, whereas those on the previous floor are like grotty old public lavs.

The games room is also home to "The Filling Station" - which serves various meals throughout the day and night at very low prices, as well as cans of soft drinks and stuff. It's basically just a little hatch where you can pick up something to eat and carry it off.

The Tav Bar is the smaller of the two 'public' bars that you don't need a ticket to enter. It has a big screen that shows various sporting events - so this bar can get very full when the boxing's on. Furnishing consists of low tables, old beer barrels, and wooden seats. There's a long bar across the back wall and a men’s toilet in the back - why no ladies? Don’t ask me!

Same drinks are on offer in the Tav bar as in the rest of the building and the prices are the same. This bar has a more 'rowdy' atmosphere than the Liar Bar on the floor below it. Oh
, and I should also mention that it holds various free entertainment events - ranging from bands to stand up comedy. The quality varies between 'poor' and 'very good'. Depends on your tastes though really.

Next floor...

Level 5
~~~~~~~

Pete's Bar is the only thing up here. It's a very gloomy bar with a soft furnished area immediately infront of the doors, and has various little alcoves with benching as well as conventional tables and chairs. It also has a small dance floor, which is why it's used for various entertainment events.

Nick Warren played a memorable set in here a few years ago... Pete's Bar is most famous for being the home to Coalesce though. Coalesce is a night that plays Alternative, Metal, Indie, and Punk music. I do very occasionally go to Coalesce, and it is a very popular night with good quality music played and a very good atmosphere. Somehow though, I never quite feel at home amongst the scary Goths...

Anyway, that completes the grand tour. Don't forget to tip the tour guide on the way out...

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