Heeeeeeeeeyyyyyyy that's the same time I was there too! (orientation '95 - shortfund st!)
I'll have to admit, I've done my time at those pubs, but much prefer the dance scene now too.
Went back there for 5 days over xmas and just couldn't imagine living there again, it's just way toooooooo slow and there's no decent bars. Tried out bath st, but it was just too dark and dingy and someone must have gone loose on the smoke machine 'cause I couldn't see a damb thing