Syllabub.net

So, you have all your music on your PC, probably have an iPod, and now want to be able to listen to your music anywhere in your house - on your HiFi in the living room, in the kitchen, in the bathroom and in the bedroom, maybe even out in the garden.

As is usually the case you have a few options and it depends slightly on budget and also whether you might also want to watch movies/TV shows around the house. The following assumes you have a PC with your music on it and wireless networking in the house.

The first one we’re going to look at is the Sonos - the daddy - this is the most sophisticated and powerful of the systems here, and also by far the most expensive. You attach the ’server’ to your router and then you can place up to 24 ‘clients’ around your house creating zones. You also get a beautiful remote control which allows you to pick the music you’d like to listen to and where you’d like to listen to it. Each client needs to be attached to either an amp/TV or a set of speakers. Entry level pricing is £699 for one server and two clients - one with a built-in amp (just connect speakers) and one which needs to be attached to an amplifier or TV. For more information go to http://www.sonos.com

AppleTV - assuming you own an iPod and have iTunes running on either a Mac or PC then why not have iTunes running on your telly - this is essentially what AppleTV gives you - it has a really slick interface and is easiest described as an iPod in your living room. You can either stream music from your PC or sync it onto your AppleTV (40-160Gb) and play stuff locally - the advantage of this is that you don’t need to leave your PC on all the time. Apple’s selling point is that as well as music you can also download podcasts, movies, TV shows, watch YouTube and watch movie trailers, which is pretty cool. Costs £199 for 40Gb http://www.apple.com/appletv/tour

AirPort Express (£65 from Apple) - a wireless gizmo which you can attach speakers to and play music from iTunes - it couldn’t be simpler or easier to use - you can attach cheap portable speakers, such as the excellent T40’s from Creative (£65 from Amazon) or attach it to a proper hi-fi setup, or even (and this makes a lot of sense) a DAB radio so you have the best of both worlds - I really like the PURE Oasis (£80 from Amazon).

UPDATE The only downside with Airport Express used to be that you had no way of controlling the music, but now you can use your iPod Touch/iPhone as a remote control this solution is now pretty compelling.

Squeezebox - this is a wireless streaming client which can be used to play music and internet radio - it’s a great looking device, has a clear display and has received many favourable reviews. Its outputs can be attached to a HiFi or TV speakers. It costs £185 - for more information go to http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_squeezebox.html

Marquis of Granby
4 West Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7RG map
Benefitting from a recent facelift and an overhaul of the outside space this is now a really nice place to drink.

Cricketers
Stamford Green Rd, Epsom KT18 7SR map
Nice, friendly pub, decent beer, good food (excellent pies!), perfect in summer - overlooking duck pond and common

Symond Wells
30 South Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7PF map
Traditional pub, friendly, screens for footie, spacious partly because it doesn’t seem to get that busy, real ale (Deuchars IPA)

The Salt House
41 - 43 High Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8DD map
Used to be a bank on the High Street. Has been transformed into a fabulous bar. Fantastic lighting, cool seating - far classier than anything else in the area. Serves food, which I haven’t tried myself

The Jolly Coopers
84 Wheelers Lane, KT17 7SD - map
Widely touted by locals as the best pub in the world - it’s not for the faint hearted - the banter is often lively and colourful - it’s a proper pub - they serve bar snacks, a good pint of Harveys - have a pool table, a few TVs and a projector for big games. Even a couple of tables out front. Possibly the friendliest pub I’ve ever been to.

List of all pubs in Epsom can be found here.