| Barnsley is South Yorkshire town with a | | | | The Citrus Rooms is one example. This complex |
| population of just over 70,000people. Despite a | | | | comprises a bar, cafe andmusic venue, with an |
| reputation as a run-down area, Barnsley's town | | | | extensive menu and in-house chef. The Lucorum |
| centreis home to an impressive array of | | | | isanother popular choice, comprising a café, |
| boutiques and quality restaurants. | | | | bar, Mediterraneanrestaurant, beauty salon and |
| The shopping facilities are unusually good for a | | | | hairdressers. |
| town of this size, andthe large town centre | | | | Barnsley is an idea destination for fans of Chinese |
| market is busy and popular and has been | | | | cuisine. China Moonand New Jade Palace are |
| standingsince the thirteenth-century. The town | | | | popular Chinese restaurants and takeaways, |
| centre is said to have more barsand pubs per | | | | andthe China Court Restaurant serves high quality |
| square mile than almost any other region in the | | | | Chinese food, with warmservice and a stylish |
| UK, so itgoes without saying that Barnsley has | | | | ambience. |
| plenty to offer in terms ofnightlife! | | | | Pubs/Bars |
| Barnsley might not be first choice for a relaxing | | | | Local legend has it that Barnsley is home to more |
| break in thecountryside, but historical parkland and | | | | pubs per square mile thanalmost any other region |
| ancient villages surround thetown, and there is a | | | | in the UK. Whether this is literally the case or not, |
| wealth of historical monuments and buildings, | | | | thereare certainly more than 120 bars in the town |
| somedating back to the twelfth-century. | | | | centre, catering to a widerange of tastes and |
| The town interchange is relatively small, but | | | | wallets. |
| Barnsley is wellconnected by transport links and | | | | There are stylish and up-market venues, such as |
| there are major redevelopments plannedfor the | | | | The Citrus Roomscomplex comprising a bar, cafe |
| interchange later this year. | | | | and live music venue, as well as |
| History | | | | popularworkingmen's clubs, such as The Farm |
| Barnsley's history is documented back to 1249, | | | | Road Social Club, that arebuilding new followings |
| when a Royal Charter wasgranted to allow a | | | | amongst a younger generation raised on |
| weekly market to be held in the area. Over the | | | | barfranchises and chain pubs. Tempo is a pre-club |
| nextfive hundred years, Barnsley developed into a | | | | bar, open until 4am on |
| manufacturing centre,producing vast quantities of | | | | Saturdays and presenting house music DJs, and |
| linen and glass, and attracting thousandsof visitors. | | | | the Arches is rock pub. |
| The area's economic importance declined with the | | | | There are a dozen real ale pubs in the town |
| collapseof the mining industry - an important | | | | recommended by the localbranch of CAMRA. |
| employer in the area - in the mid | | | | Nightclubs |
| 80s. Since then, Barnsley has begun rebranding | | | | Barnsley's vast selection of pubs and bars |
| itself as a sporting andleisure town, and funding | | | | generate a vibrant nightlifein the town, but there |
| has flooded in to aid this development. | | | | are only three dedicated nightclubs in Barnsley. |
| Important and exciting historical monuments and | | | | Club Hedonism has a large, out-of-town following |
| buildings are plentifulin Barnsley; and these include | | | | and presents R'n'b,chart, club classics and rock |
| the pinnacle tower of St Mary's churchand the | | | | music four nights a week. Drinks arecheap and |
| Monk Bretton Priory, both built in the | | | | the club is located above the Chicago Rock |
| twelfth-century and freeto visit. Cannon Hall was | | | | Café. |
| once an eighteenth-century family home buthas | | | | Heaven and Hell has branches in other towns and |
| now been converted into a museum and gallery, | | | | cities around the UK,and presents a variety of |
| exploring localhistory up to the Victorian period. | | | | electro house, hardstyle, hard trance, funkyand |
| The Elsecar Heritage Centre ishoused within a | | | | electro techno in its large, town centre venue. |
| former ironworks and colliery workshop, and | | | | Livingstones Club opens three nights each week |
| comprisesexhibitions of historical artefacts and | | | | and presents partyanthems, hip-hop and r'n'b in its |
| craft works. | | | | two rooms. |
| Art Galleries | | | | Other venues playing host to club nights include |
| There is only one permanent art gallery in | | | | The Citrus Rooms, withalternative, indie and rock, |
| Barnsley, and that is The Cooper Gallery on | | | | and The Lucorum, recently voted Best Club |
| Church Street, opposite the town hall. The gallery | | | | Night in the North by Galaxy 105. |
| features exhibitions ofpaintings, drawings and | | | | Shopping |
| watercolours dating from the seventeenth- tothe | | | | Barnsley town centre market is ideal for |
| twentieth-century. The gallery is frequently home | | | | bargain-hunters. The Market |
| to temporaryexhibitions of art and craft works | | | | Hall comprises more than three hundred stalls and |
| by local and national artists. | | | | opens five days aweek. There are also Meat and |
| Admission to the gallery is free. | | | | Fish Markets, Antiques and Collectors |
| The Cannon Hall Museum has a small, permanent | | | | Markets and a car boot sale. |
| display of historical artworks, including paintings | | | | Major redevelopments of the shopping facilities |
| and crafts. | | | | are planned, butcurrently, the main shopping |
| For other temporary exhibitions around Barnsley, | | | | streets in Barnsley town centre are Queen |
| J+K Wood is a framingshop with a small space | | | | Street, Cheapside, May Day Green and the |
| dedicated to exhibiting works of art, and the | | | | Arcade. The Arcade is theplace to find designer |
| Barnsley College of Creative Arts host an annual | | | | boutiques and independent retailers. |
| Celebration of | | | | The Alhambra shopping centre is based a short |
| Excellence, showcasing the work of its students. | | | | drive from the towncentre and houses around |
| Theatres | | | | thirty stores, including most of the majorretailers. |
| The Barnsley Lamproom Theatre complex is | | | | The Alhambra is open seven days a week. |
| located in an old Methodist | | | | Sports |
| Chapel on Westgate, and comprises three theatre | | | | As a result of a governmental objective to |
| groups: the Lamproom | | | | encourage sports andathletics, Barnsley (and |
| Theatre Company, the Lamproom Musical | | | | many other regions) are now home to a wealthof |
| Theatre Company, and the youththeatre. The | | | | sporting facilities. |
| Lamproom showcases a range of large-scale | | | | There are numerous leisure centres in Barnsley. |
| productions,including amateur performances, | | | | The Barnsley Metrodomeis a huge leisure |
| musical theatre, one-man shows and | | | | complex, comprising four swimming pools, |
| theever-popular Christmas pantomime. | | | | squashcourts, bowls facilities, a gym, dance studio |
| Barnsley is also home to a number of independent | | | | and health suite. |
| theatre companies,specialising in non-mainstream | | | | Athersley Leisure Centre offers gymnastics and |
| drama and performance. These include | | | | athletics facilities, aswell as football coaching on |
| Mark Mark Productions, with slapstick comedies | | | | astro-turf pitches. The Dorothy Hyman |
| and magic tricks, The | | | | Stadium boasts state of the art athletics facilities |
| Faceless Co and The Theatre. | | | | and coaching. |
| Restaurants | | | | Other leisure centres include Hoyland Leisure |
| Barnsley town centre has much to offer for | | | | Centre, Royston Leisure |
| eating-out. Alongside alarge selection of | | | | Centre and Penistone Leisure Centre. |
| takeaways and fast food restaurants, Barnsley | | | | There are a number of golf courses to be found |
| boastsa number of the contemporary restaurants | | | | in the rollingcountryside that surrounds Barnsley. |
| and live music venues that arespringing up around | | | | Wombwell Hillies is one example ofa nine-hole |
| the country and combining the dining | | | | course, open to the public. |
| experiencewith a more lively night out. | | | | |