Places to go, things to do

London knows how to mix work and play. James Murphy offers some entertainment ideas THERE are seven Australian rules football clubs in Britain, five of which are in London. The West London Wildcats is the biggest club outside Australia and recruits both Antipodean and European players.

See the British Australian Rules Football League website at www.barfl.co.uk.

The Wildcats also have associated netball teams with more than 100 players.

There are several leagues across London, as well as those in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

The biggest league is the Croydon league, but for those who want to play closer to London, there is the Acton League and the North London League.

Check out www.

millennianetball.co.uk for a directory of all the leagues and teams in and around London, or see www.gumtree.com.

Rugby Union is the game of most London clubs.If you can't get tickets for Twickenham (020 8892 2000) try clubs such as Harlequins (020 8410 6000) or Wasps (020 8993 0236).

Sports... with a beer TAKE in the big games on TV at bars such as The Walkabout (Shepherd's Bush, Islington, Covent Garden), the new Southern Junction Bar (4-6 Glasshouse Street, W1) and Acton's Bondi Bar (76 Church Road, W3).

The Redback Tavern (264 Acton High Street, W3) is one of the most famous venues for letting your hair down.

Live music, drinks specials and a late licence combine for a mad party atmosphere. The Crown (152 Cricklewood Broadway, NW2) also has live bands, provides snakebite to the masses and is open until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Liquid Blue (31 Duke Street, W1) is tempting the Aussie crowd with free cocktails on Tuesday's ladies' night.

Providing for all tastes, you can have a meal, watch sports on the massive TV screen or, on Fridays and Saturdays, dance until 2am. The South London Irish bar, The Swan (215 Clapham Rd, SW9) is a grungier venue with tribute bands and a barbecue.

Antipodean chefs are making their mark all over London. The current favourite is Kiwi Peter Gordon who has just opened his new restaurant, Providores (109 Marylebone High Street, 020 7431 3319). His previous Food eaterie,The Sugar Club (21 Warwick Street, W1, 020 7437 7776), is still serving delights such as Thai Kangaroo salad. Both are fairly pricey. Smiths of Smithfields (67-77 Charterhouse Street, EC1, 020 7236 6666) serves the best of British cuisine with a hint of Antipodean class thanks to its Australian owner and chef,John Torode.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen (44 Northcote Road, SW11, 020 7228 3309) serves up delicious burgers. And you can find home favourites like Twisties, Tim Tams and Violet Crumbles at The Australia Shop (26 Henrietta Street, WC2). The New Zealand Shop (7 Royal Opera Arcade, SW1) sells Kiwi treats like Marmite and the soft drink, L&P.

The Antipodean club kings at Fevah Productions are taking London by storm.

They have recently relaunched at Heaven (The Arches, Villiers Street, WC2) with a Friday club night called There, and Farenhite on a Saturday. DJs Phil Reynolds, Si Fevah and Matt Clarke are regulars, playing hard house and trance for a mixed gay and straight crowd. Provocation at The Office (3-5 Rathbone Place, W1) continues the hard house and hard trance vibe into Sunday morning. Another favourite is Bagley's. Get out your flares and an afro wig on Fridays for the 70s classics at Starsky and Hutch.

Freedom on Saturdays has four rooms of hard house, UK garage, trance and Clubs nu disco. And there's a cheesy night at Schooldisco.com where the dress code is strictly school uniform only.

It's 80s music galore at the Hanover Grand (6 Hanover St, W1) on Fridays and Po Na Na Hammersmith (230 Shepherds Bush Road, W6) on Saturdays.

Weekend getaways MOST areas are well serviced by the train network (call 08457 484950 for times and fares) or bus service N ational Express (08705 808080).

Culture vultures should head to York w here York Minster is England's largest gothic cathedral and the surrounding medieval streets will take you back in time. Every hot summer's day sees London make a mass exodus for the south coast beach of Brighton. Surfers should head west to New quay in Cornwall, where Fistral beach has Britain's most famous rip curls. Until 1998 the World Surfing Championships were held there each summer. Manchester is the home of England's most famous football team, bands such as Oasis and Take That and the long-established soap opera, Coronation Street.

There's a thriving nightlife, complete with gay village, and some excellent shopping at the Arndale Centre where you'll find the country's largest Marks and Spencer. And with cheapflights up for grabs with Ryanair, easyJet and Go airlines,it's possible to leave the country and be back in time for work on Monday.

Copyright 2001
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