Entertainment in Northern Ireland
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Anchor Bar & Skippers Restaurant
The liveliest of Portstewart's traditional pubs, famed for its Guinness and hugely popular with students from the University of Ulster, the Anchor serves decent pub grub, opens till 1am and has live bands Friday and Saturday. There's also Skippers Restaurant, which serves more sophisticated dishes such as seafood chowder, honey roast duck and vegetable stir-fry.
reviewed
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Waterside Theatre
Housed in a former factory 500m east of the River Foyle, stages drama, dance, comedy, children's theatre and live music.
reviewed
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A
Sandino's Cafe
From the posters of Ché to the Free Palestine flag to the fairtrade coffee, this relaxed cafe–bar exudes a liberal, left-wing vibe. There are live bands on Friday nights and occasionally midweek, and DJ sessions on Saturdays. On Sundays there's a traditional Irish music session at 5pm, and live jazz/soul or DJs from 9pm, plus regular theme nights and events.
reviewed
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B
Playhouse
Housed in beautifully restored former school buildings with an award-winning modern extension at the rear, this community arts centre stages music, dance and theatre by local and international performers. It's also home to the Context Gallery, which hosts exhibitions by local artists.
reviewed
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C
Peadar O’Donnell’s
A backpackers’ favourite, Peadar’s goes for traditional music sessions every night and often on weekend afternoons as well. It’s done up as a typical Irish pub-cum-grocer, down to the shelves of grocery items, shopkeepers scales on the counter and a museum’s-worth of old bric-a-brac.
reviewed
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D
Nerve Centre
The Nerve Centre was set up in 1990 as a multimedia arts centre to encourage young, local talent in the fields of music and film. The centre has a performance area (live music at weekends), a theatre, a cinema (with an art-house program), a bar and a cafe.
reviewed
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E
Millennium Forum
Ireland's biggest theatre auditorium is a major venue for dance, drama, concerts, opera and musicals.
reviewed
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F
Mason's Bar
The city that spawned the Undertones is still turning out raw, rumbustious music; Mason's Friday night sessions are the place to catch the latest offerings from local talent. There's live music from the resident band on Thursdays, and cover bands on Saturdays.
reviewed
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G
Magee College
The college hosts a variety of arts, theatre and classical-concert performances throughout the year.
reviewed
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H
Gweedore Bar
Next door to Peadar O'Donnell's and part of the same complex, the Gweedore Bar hosts live rock bands most nights, while the DJ bar upstairs is home to a regular Saturday night disco.
reviewed
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I
Earth@Café Roc
Derry's main nightclub and bar complex, close to the university, has reopened after a major refurb, with student nights on Tuesdays and dress-smart parties on Saturdays; search for 'Earth Nite Club Derry' on Facebook.
reviewed
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Derry Omniplex
This seven-screen multiplex is the place for mainstream movies.
reviewed
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Café del Mondo
A newly opened Bohemian cafe that serves excellent fairtrade coffee, at the time of research del Mondo was planning a Sunday-night music club – call in to see what’s on the program.
reviewed
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L
Badgers Bar
A fine polished-brass and stained-glass Victorian pub crammed with wood-panelled nooks and crannies, Badgers overflows at lunchtime with shoppers enjoying quality pub grub, and offers a quiet haven in the evenings when it attracts a crowd of more mature drinkers.
reviewed