CityLife Rating
Baa Bar
CREDIT crunch? Not in studentville. On week nights the city centre’s bars might be dead, but in a parallel universe three miles south of town the streets are thronging.
Since opening on September 22 Fallowfield’s newest drinking hole Baa Bar has been full of 18-25 year olds confident that the best place to invest their student loan is at the bar.
Beaming light out through its glass façade into the encroaching winter nights, Baa Bar is attracting lots of local attention.
It’s situated in the former Glass, a landmark site on the corner of Wilmslow Road and Wilbraham Road, and has retained the two-floored, balconied structure of its predecessor – though the interior has been completely redefined.
Riot of colour
Stylish new feature shuttering on the ground floor now hides all but glimpses of the space from view; inside, a riot of colour unfolds. Chairs and tables are sociably arranged to accommodate big groups; a full spec DJ booth is embedded in the side wall; and a recessed seating area in the back provides a bit of privacy away from the mayhem of the main floor.
Upstairs, another large bar is a quieter mid-week alternative than the buzzy ground floor; at weekends however both will be packed. Back downstairs and behind the bar, a bank of retro TVs glare out across the bartenders.
Signature shooters
They are kept busy dishing out Baa Baa’s signature shooters: £1 shot drinks which helped the brand build its party-hard reputation back when the four -strong chain was only a single venue, on Deansgate Locks.
Targeted at a crowd of people for whom the nine hour day is a far away nightmare instead of a soul crushing reality, they’re a favourite tipple.
As are two pint pitchers, priced at a budget-friendly £5. Classy this isn’t, but it’s a perfectly designed drinks offer for its target crowd.
Not that Baa Bar is all about the booze. Free WiFi and daytime opening are designed to make it a place to host sociable study sessions in the day, and filling bar food (including Scoff Sausages) adds to the appeal.
Drink of the week: French Kiss
A colourful 32-strong shooter menu glares vibrantly from the Baa Bar back bar, featuring old favourites (such as the Slippery Nipple, with Baileys and Sambuca) alongside newer names.
Though freshers' week should have seen the real thing on offer, those who missed out can console themselves by starting their night with a French Kiss: blue curacao, white chocolate liqueur and grenadine, before making their way through the rest of the bar…
Reviewed: Thu, 02 October, 2008
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