Going out to bars in Murcia is great fun if you're English. If you like you can do the 'Brit' thing (Go out at 6.00p.m. and be home in bed at 1.00a.m. the worse for

wear) it doesn't really work that well over here. Most places in Murcia City don't liven up until around 1.30a.m. so you'll miss a lot of action if that's the way you choose to go.

Here's a useful tip: To do justice to your evening in Murcia City adjust your body timer to a Murcian night out by simply changing your watch by a couple of hours. Don't consider going to a "real" Murcia bar before 11pm. Before that, if you want to be out and about why not have a coffee in Plaza Cardenal Belluga (next to the Cathedral) and admire the beautiful floodlit Cathedral. from the terrace. You could then stroll to the Hotel Rincon de pepe (Apostoles, 34) for a snifter in the "La Muralla" cocktail bar, one of the few places in Murcia where you can still see the remains of the city's original Arab walls.

Here's a few of some of the best bars in Murcia City.

Icaro (Plaza Beato A Hiberm'n.) Situated near the University, so expect a lot of students during term time. Again Icaro is a good place for an early evening drink.

El Albergue (19 Calle Vara de Rey.) Opens until 3, serves cocktails and has real music on Tuesdays. Youngersters love it and it really bounces at the weekend.

Drexco (26 Traper'a.) Nice place near the Cathedral serving coffee and non-alcoholic drinks. They claim to have the biggest variety of coffee in Murcia City with beans from all over the world. It's open till 1am, playing relaxed music.

Josepe (9 Arquitecto Emilio Pi?ero.) This is an excellent tapas bar that stays open all day long. There are lots of nostalgic past paintings and photographs of the City around the place. You could try a sherry and pan con tomate in the early evening for a change before your meal. The first bar in Murcia I call in..

Zanzibar (3 Calle Andres Baquero.) Here we have a busy small bar where you can get just about every kind of drink you could ask for. Inside you'll find punters relaxing with anything from a harvey wallbanger to a milkshake. Happy hour is on Wednesdays from 9-11pm where b.o.g.o.f. applies.

B12 (17 Calle Trinidade.) A nice place but doesn't liven up until later. Start your night here with a quiet drink.

Hermanos Rubio (3 Plaza Santa Isabel.) A traditional tapas bar near the cathedral in the heart of the Old Town. If you order a sherry here they'll think you're a local.

El Bolo (29 Calle Vara del Rey.) This is a chilled out bar in the centre of the Old Town right in the middle of the party zone. You can see live gigs on Tuesdays and also cocktail offers on Fridays and Saturdays. A decent place to start your evening, then return for a drink later chill out.

Mestizo (14 Doctor Fleming.) Chilled-out caf? during the day but at night it turns into a lively pub. Buzzing atmosphere later as opposed to chilled out earlier..

Itaca (7 Calle Mariano Vergara. Tel. 968 934 922) Near the Uni. This is one of the more unusual bars in Murcia in that it's both bookshop and a bar. You'll meet lots of local students having coffee during the daytime, the mood then changes in the evening as a more mature crowd come in to blast away at the cocktails. Mojitos are the most popular drink.

La Bulla (Calle Montijo.) One of a few Cuban bars specialisiing in Cocktails. Open till 3.30.

Guan?bana Jam (6 Plaza Cer?mica.) This is a newish night club with stage and bars primarilly offering live jazz, blues and soul. On Tues & Wed it's open till 1.30, while Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays It carries on on later till 3....

That just about covers it for the first installment of bars in Murcia City. There's plenty to be going on with anyway.. Should you visit any other Murcia bars that you think deserve a mention then get in touch and let me have the lowdown. Cheers!!