Adventure Bar, any opinions?

[James]

Had my doubts I'll admit but went there last night with an open mind...

Oh my God. Where to start? The tacky, trying-too-hard decor. The trying-too-hard barman. The bland, thumping corporate indie playlist. The clientele: half teenagers, half suburban slappers. This is the sort of place you'd expect to find in Croydon.

The thing that mystifies me is why do we have bars like this, and yet when I'm out shopping in ED I see loads of cool, quirky, interesting looking locals who would surely love to have somewhere more laid-back and distinctive?

Sorry to be predictable but I couldn't help mourning the passing of Inside 72.

[mockney piers]

see the thread I believe you started. 11 damn pages of opinions on the place.

[James]

Yes, I recall this. I am soooo disappointed. I thought people were being a bit harsh but on re-reading these it seems they were actually being generous...

[mockney piers]

Trying too hard is a bit unfair, damned if you do, damned if you don't.

So they're enjoying their work and trying to give good service. Much as I could ironically appreciate the aloofness of the service at inside 72, it really actually boiled down to staff sitting there chatting with their mates didn't it.

And though it is a younger crowd, that's madly exacerbated at the moment by everyone being back from uni and checking out the new bar.

Yeah, it's all a bit 1995, but it does what it says on the tin, and though the cocktails aren't in any way wow factor, they are quite potable (nowhere on the lane has wow factor cocktails mind). If there's a market for it it'll do ok. If you think there's a market for too cool for school people being miserable to an 'eclectic' soundtrack of Jeff Buckley, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley ad naueseum (and I can already think of a few) then go for it.

In short, it's not really my thing, but I can happily pop in for some two-for-ones and ultimately I'm probably just a bit old for it; no reason to hate it though. Half the people here don't like the Castle, but they don't bleat on constantly about it's Pogues playlist, disturbing pictures of Robbie Keane and the cracks in the wall decor, they just avoid it.

[James]

I think you're missing the point. Namely that this bar seems a total mismatch for the local demographic.

I would be interested to know how many of its customers actually live round here.

[????]

We used to have elcletic and individual places with their own mini-cultures and quirks....they were called pubs. so called "bar culture" is shite...and so are most bars

[mockney piers]

Maybe, maybe not. Clearly it's not to the taste of your average thirty something blow-in *ahem, shifts nervously*, but it seems to be going down a storm with the late teens early twenties brigade, and I think you might be surprised at how many really are from hereabouts.

Or maybe they are from Croydon/Lewisham. Ho hum.

thumbs up to quids quote.

*edited*

[*Bob*]

I liked Inside 72 but it wasn't quite the Holly Grail of bars to which it seems to have been elevated.

It was the size of a postage stamp (barely room for the pile of German army parkas) meaning you have to 'scuse me mate' the entire bar in order to go for a piss - not that you'd get in there for at least twenty minutes anyway.. one cubicle in a bar where at least half the punters are packing a G of C is pure folly.

The sound system pumping out the ubercooltunes seemed to have it's graphic equaliser permanently set to 'communication only possible if you shout an inch from someone's ear' - akin to trying to hold a two-way conversation at a noisy football match by way of tin cans connected by string.

And a small number of the occupants seemed to delight in occaionally scrawling on the bus shelter outside whilst smoking a roll-up (naturally) outside and giving it so 'so what' to puzzled passers-by. Cool, man.

Anyway, as I say, I liked the place. But it was them who decided to up sticks and bugger off. If anyone's that cheesed-off about it, post them a dog turd in a box or something.

[James]

Bob, can you pm me the address for that dog turd?

>>Clearly it's not to the taste of your average thirty something blow-in

Um, are you referring to me? My family have lived in this area for several generations.

[*Bob*]

I thought I'd read that they'd gone to Wales or something, James.

So as long as you clearly mark said turd 'c/o Wales' it should reach them eventually.

I haven't set foot in the Adventure yet, but I'm happy to admit that the kind of bar I would have wanted to be in when I was 20 (alcoholic drinks served, outside chance of getting a random knee-trembler from anyone drunk enough to oblige) is quite different to the one I'd like to spend time in now.

[Michael Palaeologus]

I have to put my hand up and state that I didnt like Inside 72 - too small, too loud for my taste.

I was in the Adventure Bar last night with some chums. BOGOF cocktails all night, so we stayed there. Clearly the Adventure Bar is aimed at the younger market and it looked like it had succeeded last night.

As Piers notes above, there are two extremes - the likes of the Castle at one end and Adventure Bar at the other. The rest sit in the middle.

Has anybody been in Black Cherry since the extension at the back?

[Keef]

Yes, you go down some steps to an extra area at the back. It isn't massive, but it should open the place up nicely.

[Jeremy]

I went in the adventure bar once... didn't like it much. And there weren't even many girls there (of either the teenage or suburban slapper variety). But maybe it's busy at the moment because of kids back from uni, as Piers suggested.

[mockney piers]

James, the "*ahem, shifts nervously*" was rather suggesting that I was referring to myself.

I'll remember to use the tags next time

[Cityjules]

The trouble with the Adventure bar is that is adds to the growing number of chain type stores on the lane.

At least Inside 72 was original, if not a little small.

What is this need to turn everything into brand spanking new and remove all character.

Also, there are enough bloody pubs for 20-somethings to go to, and not enough for young 30-somethings like myself!

ahhhh... thanks fot the rant, been dying to say that for ages!

[mockney piers]

I'm with the detractors, I can't really see what all the fuss was about regards Inside 72.

It was alright as long as there weren't more than 2 people in there, and the playlist was ok, but repetitive and frankly not really all that; I mean I've just heard Electralane, Fort Wayne, Album Leaf and Viva Voce played in a depressingly corporate pub off Warren St this lunchtime, can't be that hard.

Best music I've heard on the lane is in Roullier White, maybe we should get them to set up a bar in the small room at the back where I can sit and look cooler than everyone else with my beret, woodbines and bum-fluff moustache.

And I reckon we do alright Cityjules, I've lived here from mid 20s to mid 30s and the transition hasn't been hard.

[Jeremy]

Plenty of good options for us 30-somethings in my opinion... EDT, Green & Blue, Hoopers, Gowlett, Plough, Magnolia... even the Bishop or Black Cherry (during the week).

[Keef]

I liked Inside 72 if I was on a day off, nice place to sit and read the paper with a beer and a steak sandwich. I never went in there when it looked busy though, the whole standing with my elbows tucked in to my sides and my beer under my chin thing just doesn't do it for me. Liked the style of the place though.

Have no real opinion on Adventure, as only popped in for 10 minutes on opening night. Don't really think it's my kind of place, but will probably try again at some stage!

Agree with Jeremy that there are plenty of places for 30 somethings and above (I'm 30, but regularly drink with mates from 22 up to 50+). I like the CPT, Plough, and Magnolia. Like the Cherry on a quieter night, and same for EDT. Bishop okay in the afternoon, but can't stand it when it's busy!

[bignumber5]

This arguement has been back and forth a few times, and my opinion is based on not much because i didn't like inside72 and i've yet to go into adventure, but i'll say this -

I am accquainted with many-a 20-something from neighbouring areas that now see LL as a place to head to for a friday night out, coming some distance. I love LL during the day midweek, but come friday evening it is full of pumped-up Gary-boys avec gel and v-neck, all looking for the ladies-who-straighten in their camo skirt and ugg boot combo that are also from Bromley. Why they have to come here to find eachother is a little beyond me. But 30-somethings live locally and are feeling the pinch of our current economic times. Darren the Estate Agent from Bromley lives with his mum, and his cash is disposable.

30-somethings tend, on the whole, to go out slightly less than their revved up 20-something equivalents, or at the very least be a different spending-potential category (pint with the papers vs. lager and shooters for the boys, small white wine or fruit based drink for the ladies). The wise business plan is attuned to that.

Also, just for a bit of info sharing, local A&E admissions from pub fights on a friday all used to come from the Red Star in Camberwell, victim from SE5. Now they come from outside the Bishop, victim from South Norwood or Beckenham.

But essentially, the chain cocktail bar looking to separate Darren from his latest comission has it's place alongside the child friendly cafe on our lane, because the demand is there. I don't go out to that part of the lane on a friday night, confident in the knowledge that my chosen absence will not affect the success of such bars.

[Annasfield]

Any establishment that has Woo-woos on the "cocktail" list and doesn't know what an old fashioned is, is not generally a place that I would count as a cocktail bar. Have been once and would consider it again, but won't hurry back.

[mockney piers]

I got a mystified look when I asked for a martini, which was quite amusing, though in fairness the rest of the staff chuckled and atught him how. It was immediately apparent a disaster was unfolding so somebody else made one immediately and left me the disaster should I feel so inclined.

It's not my demographic or my preferred destination, but it's fine every now and then frankly.

[Brendan]

Isn't it actually in Camberwell?

[????]

*Bob*

If everyone in Wales deserving of a turd through the post got sent one it would take several dozen articulated lorries....

[Jah Lush]

It's neither here nor there whether my opinion counts or not as I haven't been in the Adventure Bar yet and nor does it really appeal to me but if the young ones like it in there and the turnover is good then there is a place for it on the Lane as long as it is popular and doing the business for the owners.

I used to enjoy going to cocktail bars when I was in my teens and early 20s as they were very popular at the time and it seems they've made a bit of a comeback now we're in the Noughties. I'm more of a pub man myself though these days and have been for a long time.

There are plenty of other places to go to locally whether your destination of choice is a pub, bar, restaurant or cafe. The choice is yours.

[EDOldie]

Inside 72 was FAR TOO LOUD for us old people, so a bit of relief when the Adventure (is it a Biggles adventure?) bar opened, but they are all a bit too keen in there, proper space cadets as opposed to the studied indifference of the inside 72 staff. Music is still too loud and, ahem, dare I say, a bit Radio 2 on a 'young' night? Anyway drinks are cheap at the right time of the week and I've not seen Sean Mc in there so he can't ignore me. Might go in there again. Paranoid Oldie.