I like to surround myself with lovely things. I like to drink in a place with a lovely atmosphere and a decent carpet, I'm a fan of low level lighting and elitism. Sodabar is a place that I like purely based on aesthetics. It's a bit, poser-ish yes but it's also warm and chic and provides a haven from those horrible city centre bars because it has all of this lovely wood and plush seating. On a weekend, it's filled with annoying people and on a week day it's slightly dead so the clientele can leave something to be desired. I visited with my good friend, an ex bartender (who had worked in some of the nicest bars) to see what all the fuss was about. There's a membership fee which allows for reduced entry, I don't really see the point, you still have to pay at least £3 even if you're a member and I think for non members the starting fee is a fiver, depending on what's on. The girls on the dance floor were a bit orange and screechy, the boys on the perimeter were a bit orange and pervy. The drinks were mediocre and the tonic for the gin wasn't as cold as it should have been. Still, it looked pretty, until my friend moved a table on a white rug and revealed a huge white ring underneath it. I wonder how often they hoover... Sodabar is nice, it's alright, the setting is lovely, just don't look too closely. read more