Phoenix Arts Centre, Upper Brown Street (tel. 01162/554854), hosts dance, music, and theatrical productions from around the world; local dancers, musicians, and actors also perform on its stage, and there's even an occasional film screening.
On weekends, the area around the Clock Tower in the center of town is alive with bustling crowds headed out to the clubs and bars on Church Gate, Silver Street, and High Street.
As you may expect of a university town, Leicester has a variety of pubs, but the one favored most by locals is the Pump and Tap, Duns Lane (tel. 01162/540324). Stop by to sample ales by Leicestershire's two home-brewers: Everards and Hoskins.
The biggest after-dark magnet is Zanzibar, Gravel Street (tel. 0116/2511442), drawing hundreds of revelers on Friday or Saturday nights. The cover charge ranges from £2 to £20 ($4-$40), depending on what's being offered. In one room you hear the sounds of pop classics, in the other hip-hop.
