Imperial College Union Bars, South Kensington (FiveSixEight;Union Bar)

This is a club, which means that the bar may be only open to members.

The Union provides the main bars for students at the Imperial College main campus and offers them good value for money. Union membership is also available to alumini and, during the Proms season at the nearby Albert Hall, on a temporary basis for concert-goers. Situated at the northern end of the Beit Quad (accessed through the archway on Prince Consort Road) the two main bars, FiveSixEight and the Union Bar, are in adjacent rooms. Across the entrance hall is the (keg only) Metric nightclub.

Opening hours given are for the main FiveSixEight bar. This is a large modernised room with painted brick walls and a concrete-topped bar, believed to be the longest in any student union in the UK. "FiveSixEight"? Well, (of course), it's the number millilitres in a pint and reflects the progress from Imperial to SI units that this learned institution will have helped promote!

The adjacent Union Bar is open from 5pm but is used primarily for college Club and Society events. It is light oak floored and panelled and behind the oak bar is the Union's pewter tankard collection: each tankard belongs to a senior elected role within the Union and is engraved with the names of the various post-holders over the years.

Real ales are supplied through a contract with Molson Coors. During the Christmas and Easter university vacations, the bars will often reduce the range, serving only one cask beer, or just keg.

Food is just what you might expect to suit students, but again offers good value. The bar website lists various deals.