Salford Quays can be a stunning place to wander on a summer's evening. Admittedly it's something…read moreI've never really done until a friend of mine moved here recently but I'm glad I did. It was whilst on one of these walks I discovered Reflexion Shisha Lounge. The lounge is extremely well run and the interior is immaculate. A posher version of Rusholme's Shisha cafe offerings is how I'd probably describe it. The Scene Indian kitchen shisha terrace probably gives it a run for its money but I think Reflexion wins out, just! The quality of the shisha is very good and despite it being a tad more expensive, given the waterside views is worthwhile. As well as Shisha they also have an extensive F&B menu although it's diffficult to see anyone venturing here for that alone if you're not into shisha. This place has definately given me more of a reason to explore what this locale has to offer.

Te service was amazing with amazing staff and one of my best lounges to go to. Khalaf was very…read morehelpful and overall a great experience

I must admit that Palm Sugar wouldn't normally be the sort of place I would naturally be drawn to…read more(bit too bling compared to my usual tastes) but when I did venture in I was pleasantly surprised. A friend had mentioned that there was an acoustic Live Lounge type session there every Sunday evening so, loving live music as I do, I thought I'd check it out. The bar was pretty busy but my two friends and I were able to bag a section of one of the very comfy booths. I was just about to head to the bar when a very friendly and polite waitress came over to take our drinks order - table service! Nice touch! The cocktail menu is extensive containing traditional ones like your classic Cosmo or Singapore Sling and more unusual offerings, many of them Thai inspired like the Absolut Mandarin based 'Bangkok Nights' or the 'Chaophraya Jungle'. The atmosphere was great and the live music didn't disappoint. There were three live acts, all with differing styles but equally excellent. The music went on from 5pm to gone 7.30 and made for a really chilled out and classy atmosphere. I believe Palm Sugar can get pretty packed on a Friday and Saturday night with DJs playing fairly standard house/party music (which is not really my cup of tea!) but I would certainly head back on a Sunday evening when I think you can better enjoy the excellent service and very pleasant ambience of this place. And brilliant live performances from very talented musicians thrown into the bargain - winner!

Nice decor... not so nice people…read more If wall to wall fake boobies, bright white nails, neon stilettos, shaven heads, aspiring gangsters, Ben Sherman shirts and the like are your sort of thing, by all means, head hither. But if you tend to avoid VIP sections, bodycon dresses and hair extensions in favour of something a little more tatty and real then you might want to heed my warning. I was invited to an event at Palm Sugar, and... well, I had the same problem as I did with 50 Dover Street, Movida and even the dreaded Opus. It's just so... pretentious. I can deal with arty pretentiousness. That's cool. It's sexy. But when every girl in the room aspires to be Jordan and every boy models himself on a head-clubbing caveman, if they love 'slebs and More magazine and Fake Bake, I don't really feel like I'm with my people. Plus, the place is made after a substance that the Western desire for which is destroying the habitat of orang-utans. What more do you need to know? Well, obviously a little because otherwise I wouldn't be putting together this review. The decor is pretty, it can't be denied - far nicer than the ominous outside, which incorporates both judgemental bouncers and one of those women with a clipboard. *Shudder* I've been told it's really pleasant during the day, or on a weeknight, so if you want to drink in the ambient surroundings and quaff some admittedly lovely cocktails in an environment devoid of the wannabe WAGs and hardmen then you should absolutely go for it. Plus in the daytime if it's sunny it's a lovely spot to sit outside and watch the world go by. In conclusion, by all means try it during the quieter times, but unless you can cope with a lot of squealing and loud gruff voices, you might want to avoid the peak hours.

A local bar by local people for local people, Santa's is definitely the next big thing. With a feel…read moreas though somebody put an unbelievably well-stocked bar in your living room, this place knocks spots off the competition. And let me linger a moment on the bar - it holds pretty much every spirit you can think of. Example: I asked for a shot of Frangelico last time I was there (tastes like Nutella in a shot) and they had it. You also don't need to spend all day dithering over the wonderful cocktail menu - simply describe to the barman the kind of drink you want and he'll whip it up in an instant. I foresee one problem though: this place is gonna be so popular there just won't be enough space to let everyone in! I wouldn't be surprised if there are queues at the weekend, and if not, there flipping well should be!! The main bar has already spilled over into a back bar, which is up the stairs on the way to the toilets. The back bar can probably only fit one bartender behind it though, so he'd better be a many-armed Hindu god to be able to deal with the demand for cocktails. I hope this place doesn't expand though, as it is likely to lose some of its charm in the process. An absolutely fantastic bar, with eclectic music (which I think runs off a laptop) - this is one place I could stay all night and not get bored. If it's your first time here, ask for a 'Flaming Lambo' and get ready to be impressed....

Oh man...this place. This place is great. I'm normally a British pub kind of guy, and after one or…read moretwo of those, I decided to stop in here not knowing anything about it, and expecting it to just be a normal bar. It wasn't. The menu is up on the walls, with all of their fancy concoctions. They also have beers and "regular" drinks, but their specialty drinks win out. I had a few of them, and they were all really delicious, creative and well made. Service was very friendly. Prices seemed quite fair for the quality and creativity. Definitely something different on the scene which was truly packed on a Friday evening, so it appears most people do appreciate something different.

The Volunteer Canteen - or The Volly as it's known locally - is a fine traditional pub in a…read moreresidential side street, a couple of blocks behind Crosby Marina and Lakes. The date above the front door is 1924, but the building dates back to 1827. This is a good place to go for a traditional pint and a chat. No sign of a jukebox or a tv. Note the interesting collection of photographs and memorabilia of Liverpool in days of old - particularly the pictures of the Liverpool Overhead Railway which served the docks and ran until 1956, or thereabouts. Note also the old Higsons etched windows and mirror in the public bar. In conclusion, the Volly is a splendid example of a good honest community local, well worth seeking out when in the Waterloo area.

Very small, very friendly, very good atmosphere and very good beer make the Volunteer or the Volly…read morea fantastic place to visit if you want that good british pub vibe. They sometimes have nice barby's in the Summer.

There was a great atmosphere at the cavern club and the live bands and musicians were great and I…read moreloved all the memorabilia of all the famous faces that have played there from Chuck Berry to The Who to Adele. There were a few things though, I have respiratory problems and the stairs were a struggle and I'm not sure there was a disabled access, if there was I didn't see it. Also drinks were served in plastic tumblers and staff were seen piling the empties into buckets and dragged along the ground which for me didn't seem very classy but I don't think it's meant to be a classy place just a good place for a few drinks and some live music.

Stopped in at The Cavern Club after our Beatles tour while in Liverpool. The vibe was chill, with a…read moremusician performing, and you're free to wander around at your own pace. Entry was £5, and I was surprised by how big it was underground, with tunnels leading into different rooms and bars. The memorabilia (though I wish there was more) added to the fun, nostalgic atmosphere. Overall, it's a must for any Beatles fan, and I'm glad to have The Cavern Club under my belt as an important part of Beatles history. Saluti

I have a sore head. It's not good but it's the price you pay for a great night out. Ruby Lounge…read moretotally exceeded expectations. Me, planning, making a decision is a rare thing. My suggestion was actually a hit. I did my indecisive alterego very proud. There are many quality club nights organised by the Lost and Found name and this was no exception. Dance off, being £1 entry, sold it for me. Doubles for £3, a range of sambucas £1.50? Messy. Dance off saw a battle between three major DJs, strangerways, good vibrations and juicy DJs playing a mix of Joy Division, The Temptations and Dr Dre. Amazing combination. Ruby Lounge is renown for it's quality club nights and live music. The venue is perfect, with an adequate dance floor, a stage to match and plenty of seating on a slightly raised level for a chill out. Another great Northern Quarter location that needs to become a regular thing for me.

I think this might be a strip club. In fact I'm pretty sure. Well, it wasn't when I was in the Ruby…read moreLounge last night for a Lost and Found gig which is why I felt comfortable to take my boyf in with me. The gig was billed as The Cribs Aftershow but it was basically just a gig- most of the spectators were either in one of the four bands, looked like they should be or were girl groupies who were way too impressed with themselves that they were getting backstage. The sofas and high backed armchairs in the main bar area were nice touches, there were a few mirror balls around too. Plus velvet curtains - hello, strip club? Then you turn to the grimy stage area with the big grill up between the bands and the crowd. That said, no one went past the pillar anyway. Too cool to stand right at the front. Alright drinks prices - get some of their cheap vodka mixers or flavoured sambucas otherwise you'll run out of money quickly. After the bands they had Gareth Brooks from Xfm DJIng but we didn't end up staying.

Very cute place, and the food was also good…read more We stopped in and most places already stopped serving breakfast, but Unico has an all day brunch they serve. We we able to get the lounge breakfast, which was a lot of food. We also tried the sweet potato waffles, and got the bacon and syrup...very good. There were a lot of people, and also a group of ladies knitting. Good atmosphere.

Nice selection of drinks and food was good. They do some decent theme nights as well.read more

I could only feel a little disappointed and perhaps dare I say it cheated when I stepped in to The…read moreMarine for a quick pint with colleagues at lunch as the outside gave the impression of an untouched local pub. I was therefore expecting loads of guest ales, traditional features and old man with his dog that nobody was sure was still alive but topped up his pint any way. Nope none of these. It was bit bland in fact. I imagine that on a sunny day for anyone visiting the nearby beach this will be perfect stop on their way from the sands but there was little keep us there once we had slaked our thirst.

Looking at it from the outside, The Marine pub looks like it belongs in an episode of 'Last of the…read moreSummer Wine' or something and indeed whenever I walk past, elderly couples and friends always seem to be bussing in and out of the place. Inside, the pub is quite pleasantly decorated, with a range of seating providing a comfy setting for you to enjoy a refreshing pint after a walk on the front. During the week, The Marine also has meal deal on, offering two meals for less than ten pounds which represents great value for money. The food itself is traditional pub food and is fairly tasty but at the price you can't really argue anyway. Their selection of draught lagers and ales isn't particularly extensive but they're also not very pricey. Swings and roundabouts, really. Nevertheless, despite the issue with the beer, The Marine is a lovely place to go for a spot of lunch or a pint or two after taking in the sights walking along the marina

Officially launched in March 2010, this is a new kid on the block in Chorlton's night life…read more Although it is to the rear of The Lounge bar, the management are keen to stress that this is a separate entity, with its emphasis firmly placed on live entertainment. To this end, an independent entrance has recently been installed, so that access is now via the alley to the side of The Lounge. I discovered this place purely by accident, having gone for lunch with friends at The Lounge early in 2010 and seen workmen gutting the back room, whilst electricians installed a new sound system. February saw a total refurbishment to what had originally just been a relatively small function room, and what was a pleasant but unremarkable space has been transformed into an attractive and intimate night time venue. Checking it out upon its opening, I was pleasantly surprised. The ceiling is now swathed in deep red sheer fabric, creating the feeling of being inside a Moroccan tent, whilst recessed coloured halogen spots, twinkling icicle lights and candles provide warm illumination. Mirrors and artwork adorn all the walls, and the overall effect is both tasteful and homely. The bar's owners have clearly had the designers in. Further transformation is evidenced by the change in entertainment and the clientele. In keeping with the bijou proportions of the space, live music is predominantly acoustic or semi-acoustic. That said, it's not as small-scale as you might imagine. When I attended the first night of the newly-launched Cajun Specials session last week, no less than 12 musicians were playing, and those who couldn't fit into the performance area joined in from their seats! Similarly the following night, which is open mic, saw 13 acts onstage, and the evening ended in a big jam session. The lady next to me remarked that it was 'like having a party in your own living room.' I'm told that the owner of Baroque intends building the bar's reputation as a credible live music venue, and if the nights I've attended there over the past six weeks are anything to go by, it's well on its way to achieving that goal. The ambiance is lovely, and the friendly bar staff just don't seem to be able to do enough for you. It's a very relaxed venue, and I'm told that the aim is also to make it a gay-friendly environment, which presumably explains all the pretty design touches. Prices here are pretty good, with a large glass of wine being £3.50, or under the current offer: if you buy two glasses you get the rest of the bottle free. £7 is great value for a bottle of wine! The only slight drawback at the moment is that the gents' toilet is currently behind the stage area, so male patrons have to either walk through the musicians to get to the loo, or else wait for a change-over between performers. However, I'm told that this will be remedied soon because the re-modeling isn't finished yet. It seems that even more ambitious plans are in the works for this cute little bar, and these will be implemented before the summer. SCORES Decor: 9/10 Cleanliness: 8/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Value for money: 8/10 Live entertainment: 10/10 Variety of drinks on offer: 8/10 Food: N/A Staff: 10/10