Must admit I've had a bit of trouble following this thread - and have barely scanned the bulk of it! Possibly because many of the issues are outside of my realm of experience, and probably my interest likewise. However it is of interest to me to know anywhere that provides a fun evening at minimal expense. And it seems a pity that the thread lost its purpose somewhere along the line.

Ian Fyvie, would it be worth cut and pasting the straightforward answers to the question posited, and copying to fresh thread? This one could always be retitled as a debate or whatever about the issues raised and could rage on independently. A thought...