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For the best guide to what•s happening in Norwich 9
• • LCR disco admission will rise by_ 25% this week as Union oHicers announce P.,lans for revamP.. UNION officers last week defended their decision to raise admission prices for the weekly LCR disco to £2.50 from the start of the year.
RECOGNISE this? lt's not the local Harvester restaurant. .. rather, lt's your newly refurbished Pub, which opened Its doors to UEA last Saturday. The popular campus outlet was refitted by local contractors Apple Interiors at a cost of just under £50,000 using cash provided by the Union's commercial activities. Following suggestions by Bars Manager, Tom Balls, much of the fixed seating that used to characterise The Pub has been removed, in favour of more open
space utilising moveable tables and chairs. New wood finishes, carpets, lighting and a brighter colour scheme finish off the design, completed just in time for the start of the new academic year. "£50,000 might seem like a lot, but ifs been seven years since it was last refurbished", said Union Finance Officer, John Holmes. "If you were here last year, you could see it really needed it. • And he added, "If you know what's best, come and buy a pint. •
They say the 25 per cent increase is justified because of planned changes to be made to the popular student night, which regularly attracted over 1,300 people during 1994-5. These are to include extending opening hours until 2am and purchasing a new sound system and additional lighting. Said Union Finance Officer, John Holmes, "We feel that £2.50 is truly justified for this - it's value for what you get. "We're looking to cover costs and are investing in new equipment, in addition to the fact that it's going on one hour longer." The Union's Management Committee - comprising of the four sabbaticals and senior managers - originally considered raising the entry charge to £3 in discussions over the summer. But this was opposed by two of the sabbs, and the level was fixed at £2.50 early last week. John added that the extra staffing costs incurred by closing later would be met through the increased price - the first rise since September 1992. Then, this was justified by the Union due to the purchase of six top-spec 'lntellabeam' disco lights for total cost of £15,000.
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.....---By--Staff Reporter
But now, in addition to new lighting, the Union intend to purchase their own sound system which could cost in the region of over £50,000, rather then hiring one in specially, as has been the case in the past. "Although people may not know the difference between a strobe and an lntellabeam", said John, "we think we can make a bit more of The Hive and the LCR than at present - we're investing in the venue in the same way as in the recent refurbishment." He thought that the new LCR package would prove popular with students, despite the fact that the Union's membership was not consulted about the plans either this year or when the last decision was made in 1992. "If people don't come, however, then we'll have to look at the policy", he said, adding that he felt the Union was not making an insensitive commercial decision at a time of increased pressure on student finances and significant rises in campus rents. 'The LCR isn't a necessity it's just a good night out."