A Degree in Clubbing? I'll Drink to That

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Andy Lovatt, a research student, keeps odd hours. For his masters degree at Manchester Metropolitan University, he mingles with the late-night, low-life crowd, a rich primary source for his studies of the night-time economy.

Clubbing and pubbing can become something of a chore, the Institute for Popular Culture researcher admits. But he takes the ribbing from colleagues in his stride, because he believes his work will contribute to shaping life in Britain's city centres.

Like other academics' investigations of the weird and wonderful, Mr Lovatt's studies have a serious social purpose. "In Britain, we tend to look at the cafe cultures of European cities and think …