A unique place that's been up and running, despite setbacks, for more than 15 years. Trailing controversy and a band of adoring devotees, it has become something of Oxford legend.

The Venue
It's advisable to look at a photo of the place before going, otherwise you risk walking past the shambling building which looks for all the world like a little church.

On the corner of The Cowley Road and Princes street, the community centre is in the beating heart of East Oxford, absorbing all the chaos and bohemia of the Cowley Road from the very air.

Occupying the portion of the Cowley Road nearest town, it's walkable from the city centre in around 15 minutes if you fancy a stroll. Otherwise there are frequent buses from outside Carfax tower.

The club space inside the centre amounts to what looks like a large room in someone's house. To sum up the decor, think hippy enclave and you're there - replete with mandatory naked pixie/mushroom imagery and drapes galore.

The People
A warm, slouching, glittering clutch of locals, students and dossers off the street. Either sprawled over the cushions and sofas, or boogying around. The East Oxford Community Centre, and therefore the social club, is run by the community and the barstaff are volunteers, so expect a friendly and dedicated if fairly relaxed attitude.

It's almost impossible to go there alone without being approached, or at the very least thrown a welcoming glance. The only set back to this familial scene is that it risks seeming cliquey. Newbies should expect to be asked 'aww - is this your first time?' at least twice. Like all cliques though, it will instill in you a maddening desire to get under its skin.

The Music
On Thursday nights the East Oxford Community Centre hosts the very popular Catweazle Club - arguably the jewel in the club's crown and often described as 'hippy cabaret'. And the participants do tend to lean towards the indefinably eccentric (being Oxford and all) and perform a range of music and poetry - though the bulk of the acts tend to be folky and acoustic.

The club also goes heavy on the reggae nights, with a smattering of eclectic electronica. It's also been known in the past to host the oft whispered about 'silent disco' - the Glastonbury phenomena where every dancer dances to his or her own headphone music. Weird.

The Last Word
As shabby, lovable and mysterious as your ancient pet cat. This may or may not be your thing, but you won't find anywhere even remotely like it in Oxford.

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