New Bloomsbury Set

Great place, I like it - good to be able to sit down and chat without shouting over the music

I went here last Friday night and the place was very quiet. Its got too much of a pretentious vibe about the place. From the elaborately painted sign on the door stating its an over 21s bar in flowery lettering (who is that going to impress) to the bar staff you treat you as if you should be grateful for being allowed into the premises.

Whilst there the owner introduced himself - and I'm always suspicious of people who state there employment role in their first sentence. The fact that he is a senior bank manager by day wasn't something I want to known when I had gone out for drinks after a long week at work.

Its a real shame as the premises has been kitted out well but the attitude lets it down. I will stick to the Edge and Profile - even if it means an extra 10 minutes walk.

I loved it.

I used to live about thirty seconds from here back in the day that even the idea of a venue like this would be unimaginable. The area was full of iffy pubs, prostitutes and punters getting jiggy in car parks, hostel-style hotels and loads of wrong 'uns like me. The work the two owners of New Bloomsbury Set have put into creating this basement level bar typifies the revolutionary improvement that this corner of WC1 has witnessed in recent years.

So if you're looking for an easy going atmosphere, in an intimate, stylish, comfortable and friendly environment (gay-friendly too folks), then look no further. There's wifi if you want to work, there are two alcoves littered with cushions and with their very own TV screens so you can get a bunch of homiez together and host your own DVD screening (not those kind of DVDs though, thank you) and there is a fine range of cocktails, including their very own, bespoke, honey-laced Guilty Act alongside a whole batch of other well-crafted numbers. They'll knock up alcohol free versions or alternatively sort you out with some tea or coffee and snacks instead.

At the moment the late openings are restricted to one-off special licenses, but hopefully that will change, and it's probably still worth chancing your arm at getting hold of one of the free memberships (be quick: they've been taken up pretty sharpish by the punters).

New Bloomsbury Set has an intimate feel to it, small enough to create a relaxed atmosphere with enough seating and enough room to dance and mingle. They've got the soft warm lighting just right - not so dark that you'd need a torch to find your companions after a trip to the loo, not uncomfortably bright. One of the things that set the place apart from neighbouring bars is that they have tiny rooms through arches, where you can lounge around on cushions. I almost fell asleep in there on one occasion though, it was so cosy after a few beers. Yes, beers. Although this place is known for its cocktails, the one I sampled wasn't too hot and the drinks menu didn't offer a lot to me - I'm into fruity, traditional cocktails and their interesting, innovative concoctions were a little too sophisticated for my palette!