Life at UH

Aroma - Stevenage
Great food - and lots of it. That's the best way to describe Aroma. With an unlimited Oriental buffet for a considerably small amount of cash you can't go wrong really. Among the best of Stevenage Leisure Park's restaurants and certainly one of the best all-you-can-eat places in the area.

Bella Italia - St Albans
A great little Italian (unsurprisingly) restaurant opposite the Maltings Shopping Arcade in St Albans. The atmosphere is warm, as is the food; the service is quick and the prices are excellent for those wanting to impress a romantic interest on a student budget. Try the gnocchi.

Burger King - The Galleria
The fast food chain that needs no introduction.

Cock O' The North - Brookmans Park
Don't let its pub exterior fool you  well okay, it is technically a pub but is better well known for its superb menu. Classy pub food would be a better way to describe it and those of you who want a comfy 'sofa by an open fire' surroundings to have a drink in followed by a classy meal, this one's for you.

Darcy's - St Albans
By far one of the classiest restaurants in the area. Darcy's is almost opposite the School of Law complex in St Albans and serves exquisite meals from separate lunch and dinner menus. Be warned though, posh meals equals posh prices so make sure you're prepared to 'fork' out a tidy sum.

Deep Pan Pizza - The Galleria
The serious alternative to Pizza Hut! Too far to walk to the town centre? Out shopping in the Galleria? Fancy a pizza? Opposite Burger King.

Fatty Arbuckles - The Galleria
Burgers and ribs galore. Come and feast on some classic American cuisine at Fatty's, your number one stop before slouching in a cinema seat. Once again, popular with the students because the food is cheap, they offer discounts and they're based right in the middle of The Galleria Shopping Centre, so it's great for after you hit the shops. They have ribs and burgers and chicken and milkshakes, what more could you possibly want? Oh, a napkin.

Frankie and Benny's - Stevenage Leisure Park
One of the best restaurants in the Stevenage Leisure Park. Frankie and Benny's is a fantastic chain of Italian-American restaurants offering a wide selection on its menu; from pizzas to pastas, calzones to chicken wraps. And if you'll take my advice you'll try the Steak Ciabatta Sandwich. Unless you're vegetarian. In that case have a salad. Also worth mentioning is the language tape piped into the toilets so you can learn a little Italian while you sit on the loo.

Mai Tai - The Galleria
A Malaysian restaurant that adjoins the popular bar in the Galleria. Affordably priced quality Oriental food in a Malaysian setting and extremely friendly staff make for a great eating experience. Its menu grows daily and they have also now begun to offer a take away service - perfect for the walk home after visiting the bar!

Mama Amalfi - The Galleria
Another Italian restaurant for you to choose from, but one with more flair than most. Mama Amalfi is decorated to look like a typical, domestic, Italian eatery and is perfect for a quiet romantic meal by candlelight. The portions are sizeable and the price isn't, which means you can take that special someone on to the local UCI afterwards and still have money for popcorn.

McDonalds - The Galleria
The fast food chain that you already know about.

Pizza Express - St Albans
Quite frankly, the king of all pizza restaurants. Pizza Express strides the others like a colossus with superior freshly hand-made pizzas in as posh an environment you'd want to enjoy your favourite of Italian meals in. Choose from a wide range of traditional and more exotic topping styles as well as traditional Italian appetisers such as dough balls with garlic butter. Wash all of this down with a quality Italian lager, or indeed any other preferred beverage, and you'll be as content as the Godfather.

Pizza Hut - Hatfield
Probably the most popular pizza restaurant in the world, this place needs no introduction. Situated at the far end of the Town Centre, all you can eat buffet until 3:30 every day and always good for home delivery. Will even deliver to the Students' Union Elehouse if you ask nicely.

UH Refectories - Hatfield Campuses
Both UH refectories serve hot and cold foods until mid afternoon and they are the backbone of the student working day. With different menus every day, and ensured catering for vegetarians, the variety is more impressive than you would expect a canteen to be. Forget what you had for school dinners, eating chicken chasseur with the obligatory chips and beans is far more exciting. 

Wagamama - St Albans
There is not enough room to describe how excellent this restaurant is. THE finest Japanese food in the area is complimented by an innovative dining area and table service. The portions are huge, the taste is indescribable and the white chocolate cheesecake is just manageable following an enormous bowl of noodle soup. Hidden from the bustle of the main street in the chic Christopher Place, Wagamamas is a truly different eating experience. Go there. Now. Did I mention the food was good?

Zizzi - St Albans
Another good Italian in which to impress a gent, a lady or the parents. Zizzi is close to the old clock tower at the lower end of St Peter's Street and is usually quite busy - a good indicator that the food is worth booking a table for. Once again, a little pricey for a weekly visit but well worth it for a treat.

The Airfield - Birchwood, Hatfield
The Airfield is situated opposite the T-Mobile Headquarters on Comet Way, 10 minutes walk from the Galleria. With a large beer garden, children's play area, spacious interior and great menu selection, this pub offers a combined restaurant and chill out area famed for its Sunday roasts.

The Bell - St Albans
Having been recently refurbished, The Bell is one of the most modern looking pubs in St Albans. Located just off the Maltings Shopping Centre it's a great place to rest your feet and have a drink or something to eat. With a conservatory style rear, a small garden and its permanently busy atmosphere, The Bell has become one of the most popular pubs in town.

The Cat & Fiddle - Hatfield
Probably the closest pub to the shopping centre, which is always a good thing for thirsty shoppers with worn out credit cards. It has a pool table area, is hot on big screen sports and a reasonably long bar. The beer garden is large enough to fit a herd of elephants in. The Cat is located behind the Galleria close to Fiddlebridge Industrial Estate. 

Chicago Rock Café - Stevenage
This American themed bar & restaurant has a dance floor and a live DJ every night of the week playing only the best music from the 50's through until the early 90's. Every Tuesday night is Karaoke Night where you can belt out all your favourites, and Wednesdays 'Live at the Rock' has tribute bands on the circuit at one of the liveliest venues in Stevenage.

The Cross Keys - St Albans
One of the most popular pubs in St Albans for us students at least. The Cross Keys is part of the Wetherspoons chain and great value - you can enjoy cheap deals on food and drink all year round. No beer garden but a spacious interior makes up for it. The Cross Keys is situated on the corner of St Peters Street and at the top of Holywell Hill.

DeHavilland Sports and Social Club - Hatfield
Constructed in August 2003, the Sports and Social Club on campus was originally an exclusive members only club. However, due to popularity and demand every student is now automatically a member and can enjoy the use of the two large bars, snooker room, pool tables and the opportunity to watch sport, obviously, on the screens within.

The Eight Bells - Old Hatfield
An oddity to most students as they've probably never even heard of this pub, tucked away in the oldest part of town. Only 5 minutes walk from the train station, Old Hatfield contains several good restaurants as well as this gorgeous little inn dating back from the time when Charles Dickens mentioned it in Oliver Twist. As you can imagine it's not huge but if you want a quiet drink in an old pub setting this is the perfect place for you.

The Elehouse - UHSU Hatfield
The first of the Students' Union's two venues on campus, the Elehouse is named so due to its design by the same architect who built the Elephant House at London Zoo! Open daily from 11 to 11 this is basically the 'local pub on campus'. Inside you will find not only comfy sofas, big screen TVs pool tables and lively bar staff but also the Students' Union's Lettings office and Employment office. Food is served all day every day. Bacon and Egg rolls highly recommended.

The Font Bar - UHSU Hatfield
The jewel in the Students' Union crown; the Font Bar is a club open until 1am every night of the week with the exception of Sundays. It offers a different selection of music every night, from cheesy chart to R&B to alternative style rock and metal. The interior is understandable modern, comprising two large bars, a raised seating area, a dance floor and a dedicated sound and lighting system.

The Harrier - Hilltop, Hatfield
Probably the closest pub to the College Lane campus and also the sponsors of the UHSU Mens Rugby team. The Harrier is located at nearby Hilltop, a parade of shops and takeaways. The interior comprises of two bars in separate rooms and the new management team have created a disco night every Thursday evening until 1am. Fancy a tango with the locals?

The Hopfields - Birchwood, Hatfield
The Hopfields is almost unknown to students due to its distance from the main campus but nonetheless this is a fine drinking establishment and also my local. The interior is split into two separate bars and offers pub food until 8pm. The main pull of this pub is the free Quiz Night, hosted by the legendary Ian - one of the few unintelligible Geordie quizmasters I have ever come across. First prize is a gallon of beer and you get free sandwiches at the end. What more could you want? Oh yes, a nice beer garden out the front as well.

The Horn Reborn - St Albans
Situated on the main route into St Albans from Hatfield, The Horn has long enjoyed the reputation for being a good pub with some fantastic live music. Ranging from tribute bands to local groups trying to break into the business the selection of entertainment received from this pub is second to none in St Albans

Mai Tai - The Galleria, Hatfield
Having recently undergone a drastic interior change Mai Tai has transformed from a good place to have a few beers in the evening before moving on to a trendy looking, modern, music filled bar that you won't want to leave until they make you. A good range of deals won't leave you with your wallet empty at the end of an evening and the cocktails are far ranging and potent. Don't be confused if you hear many people refer to it as Sheila's - this was one of their previous incarnations an Aussie bar. If you're hungry too, pop next door to their adjoining Malaysian restaurant.

O'Neill's - St Albans
Very popular Irish chain pub that never fails to fill up on a weekend. Great food, great company, great craic and is open until 12am on a Saturday night  the only pub in St Albans to do so. The only drawback is you've got to get in before 10.30 or the bouncers won't let you.

The Town Inn - Hatfield
Formerly The White Hart, this extremely new pub has had an extreme makeover. Based in the middle of the town centre it's very popular during the day time and on into the evening. An impressive interior is complemented by a chilled beer garden and a good pub food menu.