I'd be the first to admit that Zoo isn't really my scene, but it happens to be plenty of peoples', and it's not my job to judge. Oh wait, yes it is! Still, I can't let my narrow opinion get the better of me, and Zoo deserves a fair trial, much as I can't stand the neon pink, the music, the VIP/celeb aspirations and the literal interpretation of its name. Nothing spells 'caged animal' more than a wannabe WAG attempting to traverse the red rope now.
The decor's so modern it's gone all the way round to being tacky, but at least they have some bare brick walls, always a favourite of mine. I don't know if the zebra print is trendy or yet another nod to its name but we'll bear with that for the time being. It's very much attempting to reach the dizzy yet not exactly wonderful heights of Movida in London or Panacea in Manchester, but its cocktail and shooter menu just screams, grunts, yells Baa Bar. Toffee Tini? Chococo? Brain Damage? There's even a fricking Tinky Winky! Now I KNOW I've seen that one in Baa Bar.
It's all a bit blonde, perma-tanned and six-packed for me, but if you like a bit of celeb spotting, a bit of house electro whatever, a gargantuan fish bowl cocktail, a Jagerbomb, animal print as far as the eye can see or indeed all of the above, then Zoo is worth checking out. read more