Going Higher: Valley of the balls

THERE IS fierce competition between the universities in Wales and the south-west of England, Exeter and Cardiff for the accolade of having the liveliest social scenes.

Dance dominates Devon

In Exeter the nightlife is a combination of city and university-based activities. During the week most of the action takes place in town, while at the weekends it reverts to the campus. City clubs have regular student nights and a number of university societies also hire out clubs to put on their own events. Club Sexy is a university dance music club which specialises in bringing down good DJs to provide a dance theme, while Car Wash is a Seventies music society.

There are several nightclubs in town that cater for the student scene. These include Timepiece, Warehouse (which offers chart music, dance funk and hardcore dance, drum and bass and garage), Volts 9 (Thursdays are student nights) and the Rococco club (student nights on Mondays, cheesy music).

On campus the social life is dominated by "The Lemmy" - The Lemon Grove, a bar and dance complex operated by the student union. This has a capacity for 1,300. The university's Great Hall is one of the biggest venues in the south-west. Recent visitors have included Cast, Catatonia, the Chemical Brothers, and the Super Furry Animals.

Cardiff is capital for a night out

In Cardiff, student nightlife is also split between the city and the university student union. Popular student pubs include Clancys, the Rat and Carrot, The Woodville Arms, Sam's Bar and Macintosh. One of the most popular clubs in town is Zeus.

Club Ifor Bach, the Welsh club that promotes Welsh speaking, is open to all-comers during the week but to Welsh speakers only on Saturdays. It promotes local bands and a lot of students who have formed bands have staged gigs there. The Super Furry Animals and Catatonia have performed and it s the place to go in Cardiff for star spotting. Howard Marks has been seen. The International Arena is a good venue for concerts, as is St David's Hall. In summer Cardiff stages a festival with a free music weekend with top bands, fairgrounds and stalls.

Spread your wings at Swansea's ball

University of Wales, Swansea, is also a happening place. In the summer the union stages the largest outdoor student ball in Europe on the nearby airfield. More than 5,000 people attended this black-tie event earlier this year.

In the week clubbing students go in to town, but at weekends they tend to go to events in the students' union on campus. One of the most popular nights in town is Monday at the Ritzy nightclub. Popular pubs include the Fine Leg and Firkin, the Smoking Dog, Vincent's and The Hungary Bear. Clubs include Neptunes on the seafront club, the Zone, Icon and Bubbaclub. The city is famous for its cheap and plentiful Indian restaurants, many on the St Helens Road. The Mumbles also has more than its fair share of popular pubs.

Union strong in Pontypridd

In Pontypridd where the University of Glamorgan is based, a lot of the nightlife takes place in the union. At weekends, many students decamp to Cardiff nightclubs. Local Pontypridd pubs include The Pick and Shovel, The Otley, The Forest and Bootleggers. There is a nightclub in town, Silks, but it is not especially popular with students.

The student union bars include the George Knox Tavern, Smith's cafe-bar and Shafts disco bar. Historically, relations between the students and locals have not been good, but things are now said to be improving.

Despite the university's unpromising location it managed to attract Robbie Williams to its recent summer ball.

Have a lovely time in Bangor

In Bangor the social life is friendly and intimate. There is a popular nightclub, Amser/Time, in the new pounds 1m student union building. In town, Wednesday is student night at the Octagon club. Popular pubs include Y Glob, The Belle Vue, Rascals, a cafe bar, The Pheasant and Firkin, The Tap and Spile, The Castle, The Fat Cat (another cafe bar), The Harp (good for a quiet drink) and The Albion (similar).

Lampeter's living in the Seventies

At the University of Wales, Lampeter, the main music venue is the students' union hall, capacity 700. The college tends to attract Seventies-style groups and singers who cover artists and bands such as Tom Jones and Oasis. The Old Quarry pub is popular with students (pool tables and a small dance floor), as is The King's Head.

Variety of fresh talent at Plymouth

At the University of Plymouth, the students' union has attracted some major new bands including Speedy and Space. The union also stages comedy nights, karaoke nights, film nights and a big bar quiz. Favoured student pubs include The Fortescue, The Freebooter and Firkin, The Hogshead, The Hyde Park, the Fool and Firkin and The Nowhere Inn. Nightclubs include Charlies, Ritzy's, Oz and The Dance Academy.

Plenty to do in Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth has a lively social life based on the students' union and the town. The union has several bars including the Cwrt Mawr, the Penglais Bar and the Llanbadarn Outback bar. Clubs include Peer Pressure, K2 and the Footie. In recent years union balls have featured The BlueTones, Shed Seven, Space, My Life Story and the Bootleg Beatles. Popular student pubs include the Glen, Rummers, the Boar's Head and the Llew-Du.

Hot spots worth a visit

Favourite pubs for University of Glamorgan students include the Pick and Shovel in Treforest, Bootleggers, The Forest and The Otley. Student nights are staged at the Bootleggers pub. The university runs buses into Cardiff 15 miles away for students wanting to go to Zeus nightclub.

University College Bangor students favour the Fat Cat, Y Glob and Bellevue pubs.

Popular pubs for University College Swansea students include The Fine Leg and Firkin, Vincent's and The Hungary Bear. Pubs on the Mumbles Mile are very popular at weekends.

Student social life at Exeter is dominated by "The Lemmy", The Lemon Grove, a bar and dance complex run by the student union with a capacity of 1,300. Town clubs with student nights include Timepiece, Warehouse, Volts and Rococo.

Cardiff has two popular gay clubs, Wow and Club X. Several quite up- market pub and clubs, including Scotts and Club Med, have opened in time for the millennium.

The students' union is the most popular dance and drinks venue at University of Wales, Lampeter. Popular pubs include The Old Quarry Pub and The King's Head.