Places to Drink in Central Norwich

[GallardoOwner]

Hi can anybody reccomend some places to have a drink on a Friday / Saturday night in Central Norwich.

Ideally within a very short walk of say the market place, dont really even want to be walking half a mile from there although guess I could taxi it.

Would be good to have some music but not so loud that you cant talk, Good age range would be slightly older clients maybe late 20's, 30's,40's professional type people etc.

Really want to avoid being in a place thats full of kids or somewhere where trouble is the norm ( ie the kinda places I would have been at 18 but there you go ! )

Welcome to hear where not to go also so im sure not to wander into the wrong place.

A friend just mentioned " the last wine bar " to me , is that OK , he seemed to think it was a gay bar though ( which is fine lol )

Edited by GallardoOwner on Friday 4th May 15:20

[KevF]

You are very safe with The Last...it is owned by a friend of mine, Ecky....

http://www.lastwinebar.co.uk/

Food is excellent and they have a really decent selection of very good wines. Atmosphere in the smallish bar area is good and it is close to the Art College and Norwich Playhouse so attracts the more 'grown up' people.

An area to avoid is Prince of Wales road area......that is unless you are after endless cheap drinks, treading in spilled kebab, blood and urine and having to deal with pissed up tts wanting to know what you are looking at......

No seriously, avoid that area if you are looking for a decent night in a decent city.

Where are you staying? St Giles House Hotel is lovely and they used to have the Bugatti Club which was a nice place to have a few drinks.

http://www.stgileshousehotel.com/restaurant

For decent beer, you can't go wrong at The Belgian Monk which is a stones throw from the market place.

http://www.thebelgianmonk.com/index2.html

If you walk towards Tombland area there are the usual HaHa bar and a few nice eateries but further than this and you'll be getting into Prince of Wales Road territory. All the night clubs and cheap drink bars are on this street if that's your thing as well as the meat market that is Chicago's....

However, if you go to The Last, ask for Ecky and he can give you more information on where esle there is to go. The Playhouse Bar is a 'arty' place to be seen as is The Dog House bar over the bridge passed the Art college.

Wherever you end up, have a great time. Norwich is a great place but spoilt, as most cities are on a Friday and Saturday night with the youff getting rat arsed in the clubs and pubs.

I am sure iluvmercs can give you a low down on the 'alternative' entertainment venues around Norwich if that floats your boat..

Kev

[iluvmercs]

So many places, where do I begin? (Click on name for a map link)

Near the market place.....
The Wine Cellar
Bedfords
The Belgian Monk
The Lamb Inn

A little walk away (less than 10 minutes):
The Ten Bells
The Bicycle Shop (although it can get a little crowded and warm, as the bar is in the basement.)
The Lawyer Pub
Bar 11
Bam Bam (This is a little different, and I have only ever started nights out here, when it hasn't been busy.)

There are a host of other pubs and bars around the area, but I think the above best suit your requirements.
Going from one place to another you'll see other places in the area. A couple of Weatherspoons places (The Bell, The Glasshouse), plus The Birdcage on Pottergate, The Hog in Armour and the Plough on St Benedicts. There's all All Bar One, Beluga, the ever popular Vodka Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba all around Tombland. Some are worth a look and tend to get rather busy. There is also a Delaney's nearby and a little beyond Tombland is Prince of Wales Road, which has the main night clubs and more bars.

HTH

Darren

Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 4th May 16:04

[iluvmercs]

I had forgotton about the the Last Winebar, Doghouse and Playhouse!
A pleasant atmosphere in all. Good recommendations, Kev

As for the "alternative" venues, Kev doesn't mean "alternative" as in goth, thrash metal, etc. Just to clarify that

Darren

[AutoAndy]

GallardoOwner said:

Hi can anybody reccomend some places to have a drink on a Friday / Saturday night in Central Norwich.

Ideally within a very short walk of say the market place...Would be good to have some music ...Good age range would be slightly older clients ....avoid being in a place thats full of kids ...

It must be The Shades! - opposite the market place, excellent blues based music, the only good budwiser I have ever tasted, (and great chilli upstairs too)...

http://www.thewalnuttreeshades.com/index.html

Also excellent to wait in when the other half is shopping on saturday afternoon

[GallardoOwner]

Thanks all very helpful !