Students and pre-clubbers pack Hectors House out every night of the week.

The Venue
A vast one-roomed pub decorated in dark reds and creams, Hectors House is a popular student haunt, due to its town centre location and proximity to the art college. It's doubtful that many of the punters remember the classic 70s' TV show featuring Hector the dog, Zsazsa the cat and their neighbour Kiki the frog that inspired the name of the pub but it doesn't seem to be having a detrimental effect on business. As much a live music venue as a pub on Thursday evenings when it hosts live music it's a great way to start the weekend early. Pre-clubbers cram into the bar on Friday and Saturday nights when DJs mostly mix up a hip bending blend of soul and funk. There's a music quiz on Wednesday nights, film nights on Sundays, and the pub often hosts all-day music sessions at the weekend featuring local bands and DJs.

The People
Arty students in baggy jeans and paint encrusted T-shirts nod their shaggy heads to the live music, compete raucously at the music quiz and recover from hangovers during the Sunday films. Pre-clubbers inject some welcome colour on Fridays and Saturday nights, dancing hands in the air to the DJs.

The Drink
They don't serve food so line your stomach before you arrive at Hectors because you can guarantee that even if you only initially aim to have a few you're going to get stuck in. There’s a good range of beers on tap including Caffreys, Grolsch, Staropramen, Coors, Guinness and Grolsch wheat beer, as well as Stowford Press cider. In bottles there’s the full range of Brothers ciders, as well as Westons and Bulmers, and beers include Corona, Budweiser, Tiger, Becks, Grolsch and Newcastle Brown. They're not encouraging wine drinkers though - there's one bottle each of house red and house white (Ropiteau Sauvgnon Blanc and Ropiteau Cabernet Sauvignon respectively), and one rose. If you fancy keeping on your toes between pints there’s also an energy drink called Merlin which most of the punters guzzle down with gusto.

The Last Word
Hectors House is an upbeat, friendly pub which caters for students and pre-club crowds alike with its live music and events.