Night life

THE streets of Dieppe may look more deserted than those of Brighton when night falls. But there is a lot going on in many cafes and clubs, to suit all ages and many tastes.

For mature tastes, the Epsom bar on the seafront stays open until midnight or well after, and sometimes has live music to accompany the cocktails and snacks.

You might be lucky and hear Bryan Woy, Erik Schando and the Dilettante Jazz Singers perform; they used to enliven the Europe hotel bar, now defunct (though the hotel still functions).

For young ravers, the hottest spot in town is La Pompe, at 19 Rue St Rémy. Formerly the Brunswick, it opens from 6pm to 7am, with a live concert on Friday night. And, apart from the music, ranging from pop-rock to club music and R&B, you can dance in one of the rooms.

On the more old-fashioned club scene, you could be attracted to Dieppe’s biggest dance floor: L’Abordage at the Casino or the huge cellars of the Manhattan, in the Rue Duquesne. And the Pirate, at the end of the Quai Henri IV, rocks through the night. The longestablished

Scottish Pub in the Rue St Jacques, has rock in the cellar and, if you are a draught Guinness fan, you will find the jet black liquid at the Cambridge Arms in the Rue de l’Epée, sometimes with music.

A welcoming address is the Solo wine bar, open from 6pm to midnight Tuesday to Saturday, at the sea end of the Rue de Sygogne. Nathalie and Didier offer an eclectic musical choice from CDs, plus snacks and decent carafe wines.

After midnight, Bernard Françoise (who is a Dieppe institution) may admit you to his hidden night bar, la Boussole at 33 Rue du Boeuf, just off the Quai Duquesne. Leave quietly before daybreak.

Dieppe is no Brighton or San Francisco, but information about the gay scene is on http://www.gaynormandie.com/dieppe/