£4.8 Million Well Spent (Bars & Entertainment)

Member Name: jeff2000

Product:	Bars & Entertainment
Date:	27/11/01 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: loads of facilities, new club, friendly faces

Disadvantages: none

Leeds student union has just had a £4.8 million refurbishment and extension completed, all be it a little late, this now makes it one of the largest SU's in the country and brings it's facilities bang up to date.

The union is located slap bang in the middle of campus so no-one has to walk too far from their buildings for the obligatory post/pre lecture pint, not that I'm saying that all students do is drink, but the old bar does have the longest bar in Britain. The building is difficult to miss and entrance is through one of three doors, all very close to each other for some reason, if you're not a student of Leeds then entrance will set you back a hefty 50p at the weekend, but it's free during the week, though you do have to be signed in by an existing student. That is unless you're Jack Straw, who has been banned from the union due to his rather negative (to say the least) actions towards students, so Jack, if you?re reading, you've been warned. There is a plaque by the entrance just to remind the bouncers of this fact, and no, I'm not joking.

Anyway, once you've gained entrance to this magnificent structure then you'll have a wealth of things to do, because, facilities include: book shop, printers, clothes shop (when they finish it), off license, old bar, terrace bar, bar coda, club stylus, travel agents, card shop, hair dressers, opticians, theatre, various food outlets, most notably the refectory, newsagents, supermarket, union offices and pool hall. All in all a very good selection I'm sure you'll agree.

These services are set out over three levels with the top level being devoted to union offices and LSR, the award winning student radio station. I don't usually venture up there but if I did I would find the welfare office, societies office and housing office. They are generally there to look after students and make sure they are having a good time and can be very useful should yo
u find yourself in trouble, not that I ever would or anything, oh no.

On the ground floor there is all sorts of goodness, you'll discover the travel agents, where you can pick up pre booked tickets or plan a holiday to anywhere in the world, very useful considering the number of students travelling these days, I do wonder where they get all their money from, answers on a postcard please. You'll also come across the pool hall, with loads of tables for just 50p a game, and also loads of video games as well, enough to keep anyone amused me thinks. Next to the pool hall is the newsagents, well, I say newsagents but it's more of a general store, selling a large selection of newspapers/magazines (obviously), stationery, Leeds University merchandise, such as sweatshirts etc.. for that authentic American college feel, food such as sandwiches and fresh fruit and they even have a photo developing service. The only bad thing that I could say about the shop is that it gets very busy at peak times, you'd of though they would of put in enough tills when they re did it, but no. Crazy. On the other side of the pool hall you'll find the union's new bar the terrace. It's got quite an upmarket feel about it, and yes, you've guessed it, it also has a terrace for whiling away many a summer afternoon, mmm, sunbathing. It has a large selection of alcoholic drinks at very reasonable prices, as you might expect from a SU, my favourite is Fosters at £1.45 a pint, though it does taste like watered down piss, but for £1.45 you can't complain, can you? They also serve coffee and tea for those not quite as hardcore as me and they've got a fast food outlet as well, what more could you want? In the evening the place has a laid back soundtrack, but at the weekend the pace is increased by some quality funky house DJ's. The place is decked out with plenty of comfy sofas to lounge about on and a large area of this bar is non smoking, which is always
good for your lungs. Nice. Anyway, the last two things on the ground floor are the information booth and the theatre. The theatre is where a number of student productions are put on throughout the year, I?m not too sure of any info on any of them, what with me having no interest in culture what so ever, but I'm sure some people with more intelligence than a monkey would love these dramatical masterpieces. Entrance to such wonderment is usually a very reasonable couple of quid, a very cheap way to expand your mind, I'm sure. The information booth is populated by a small tribe of old men, I'm sure they have all kinds of knowledge about the university, if you dare to ask, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Down the stairs and you're thrust into the dark pit that is the old bar. A more traditional style pub it's got the longest bar in the UK, you know. Drinks are the same price as in the terrace and it's generally not as busy as the new bar. It's got more seating though and they serve the best chips cheese and gravy in the world, a treat at any time of the day. As it's completely subterranean it can be a bit gloomy, but at least time just slides together, night or day, it's all the same. Also included in this bar is a no smoking room, for those who like their pints without the smoke, it generally seems to be lacking in atmosphere though. Major sporting events are shown on the big screen, which also doubles as a visual juke box during the day, pretty pictures and music? Can't go wrong. Both the bars are open from 11-11 for all day sessions and they often have quiz nights and other promotions in the evening. Something for everyone I think you'll agree.

Also downstairs is the new club, 'Stylus', don't you know. It has a capacity of 1000 and is split into three different levels with plenty of seating all around. It houses a large sunken dancefloor, overlooked by the DJ booth. It only has one b
ar, but it's rather large so you should have no trouble getting served and the drinks are at the very reasonable prices of the rest of the SU, guaranteeing a cheap night out. The lighting and sound rigs are both up to scratch and go towards making this a very good club indeed, especially as it's a student one! It has three regular nights, on a Thursday you'll find Loaded in the building, this is a student night playing all kinds of music from the 90's, not for me ta. On Friday's it's Fruity, playing all kinds of commercial dance and stuff like that, just like a ritzy really, yet again, not for me. But, on Saturday it's Love to Be.. recently moved from the Mint club the funky house phenomena has set itself up in Stylus, making a cheap night with good music. They even had Judge Jules on there the other week. Well, the music's good most of the time, anyway. Overall it's a nice club and I have to say they've done well, if they can attract the crowds then it could go on to rival many of Leeds' established clubs.

The last union facility is the refectory. Here you can get a hot meal all day long, a lot easier than cooking yourself anyway. I've found it to be a little expensive and a bit too much like school dinners, but don't let that put you off, loads of people love it so it can't be all bad. In the evenings the place can be transformed to play host to many a touring band, if that's your type of thing. Because of it's size it doubles in this function rather well and many of the countries top bands stop by here on their tours.

Overall I would say that Leeds' SU has a great range of facilities, something for everyone, the bars are a great place to chill and the club is certainly a bonus. This is shown by how busy it is at all times of the day, sometimes a little too busy though, but nevermind. It's nearly worth coming to uni just for here!

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