Go Higher: The North - Bright lights

The North

THE NORTH has set the clubbing agenda since the "Madchester" days in the mid-to-late Eighties. All the major student cities have a partying culture that pulls students as well as locals. Expect to pay pounds 8-pounds 12 admission for entry to the larger venues, but many venues have much cheaper student nights, offering cheap drink as well.

The most renowned northern venue is probably Liverpool's world-famous Cream, best-known for its last Friday in the month Full On All-Nighter, where you can dance until 6am. At the weekend, it's 9.30pm-4am.

Manchester's Hacienda is one of the most important clubs in the centre; Sheffield's Republic is student-friendly, and in Leeds, try Majestic, with a students-only night on Tuesdays.

Newcastle's Tuxedo Royale (aka The Boat) floats under the Tyne Bridge, and students and locals mix most nights.

In most cities, student night is on Monday, and "sports night" is Wednesday. Look for clubs and pubs offering special drinks offers and cheap admission with your NUS card. Manchester's 5th Avenue has 50p student entry on Monday and Thursday. Newcastle's Ikon charges students pounds 1 for all shots on Monday nights.

Other clubs include: Tall Trees, Yarm, Teeside (outside Middlesborough, North-east's answer to Cream, dress strict); Temple, Bolton, famous for "outrageous glam" atmosphere; Uropa, Leeds (vodka club on a Monday, pounds 1 for a double); Club 051, Liverpool (call here if the queues at Cream are too long - it's very close); and Rockshots, Newcastle (Saturday's NICE night, for a "totally different" experience).

Northern pubs welcome students. Try the Irish pubs, Scruffy Murphy's in both Newcastle and Leeds; Ducie Arms, Manchester; and Howcroft, Bolton for October beer festival. Then there's the Tap & Spile and Frog & Parrott, Sheffield; Headingley Taps, Leeds; Cambridge, Liverpool; The Crescent, Salford, and The Lonsdale, Newcastle - where you must visit the Bigg Market on a Friday and Saturday. Restaurants, clubs, pubs, seething crowds - it's Ibiza-on-Tyne - with beachwear in Feb!

Heather Welford