The Villager

A typically chic bar of the sort that is appearing in all major cities up and down the country, The Villager combines Victorian-style luxury, complete with chandeliers, oversized gilt mirrors and plush sofas, with Banksy-style stencils of gramophones, rocking horses and abstract designs. This, combined with a varied and original choice of music each night, really does create the atmosphere expressed in their slogan: “For those about to lounge, we salute you”. True, the music can sometimes be louder than the advertised ‘background music’, but in general it must be said that the whole establishment exudes a relaxed and welcoming personality which encourages its patrons to drink and be merry.

Enough of the decor, let’s turn to the more exciting features: the drinks. Given the proximity of the competition nearby, the prices might seem a little surprising, and one might ponder whether any spirit and mixer is really worth £3.50, or a single (though very nice) beer, £4. Fortunately, though, the extortionate prices of these staples are compensated by the rather marvellous and quite reasonably-priced cocktails. Unique concoctions abound and are tailored to suit many personalities, from the hooray Henry to the world explorer. If you find yourself outside of these categories then the friendly staff are more than happy to help you see the light; their impressive drinks knowledge and genuine enjoyment of their job add significantly to the bar’s character, making the whole experience that little bit more pleasurable and ensuring that everyone feels like more than just a customer.

The Villager is perhaps not ideal for anyone watching the pennies, but as a chilled start to the evening it is certainly worth dropping into. It’s strange, the eyes of many have serenely slipped past The Village; a mistake which ought soon to be remedied.