THE words "Micklegate" and "cutting edge" are not often seen in the same sentence.

If a laid-back night of underground beats from some of the best local DJs is your thing, York's infamous drinking run isn't the first place you would think to look.

But since October, The Bedroom has played host to Tuesday hang-out The Gasworks, a mix hip hop, breaks and drum & bass, with a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.

The Gasworks was set up with the intention of pulling in the alternative crowd before they head to Blackout Rock Night at Ziggy's, but now draws a following of its own, mostly through word of mouth.

The first half of the night is given over to hip hop, courtesy of DJ Joe Lung.

Joe, 26, has been DJing for 12 years and is a founding member of Beats entertainment, who run the monthly night Beatsiality, at Fibbers, and weekly hip hop hang-out Hustlers Lounge, at Judges Bar.

"The stuff we play is less commercial than Beatsiality," he says. "Lots of UK hip hop and things you might not have heard on the radio. I like to surprise people."

Co-conspirator in The Gasworks plot is 23-year-old Henry, who works for alternative shop Forever Changes. He handles the later end of the night, which moves from breaks into drum & bass.

"Drum & bass is very much an acquired taste of music but what we play is really ambient," says Henry.

Since the demise of The Dark Room at Toffs last year, this is sadly the only place in the city centre where you will find drum & bass being played regularly.

Henry says: "The thing that makes it special compared to house music and so on is the fact that everybody is there for the music. People come along because they want to hear it."

Such a refreshing attitude to music makes for a great mid-week atmosphere - plus a huge range of drink offers, pool tables, plasma screens showing MTV Base and even a bed to relax on.

Worth staying out on a school night for.

The Gasworks, at The Bedroom, Micklegate, Tuesdays, 7pm until midnight.

Updated: 08:49 Friday, May 14, 2004