Venus Bar

Venus Bar is a difficult place to assess, and by this I mean that it’s hard to know where it’s coming from… With a name like Planet Venus you’d probably expect it to be all pink and frilly, frequented by nail technicians and hairdressers, serving overly dressed cocktails at ridiculously inflated prices. But the reality couldn’t be further from the image that the name conjures up. True, in recent years the place has had a facelift. Gone is the peeling ultra pink and black paintjob and dilapidated signage. In its stead is a snazzy black sign with the words Venus Bar in silver. The rest is painted in black gloss; a look that suggests twenty something male, single, with a slick car, bachelor pad, and a firm footing on the career ladder. But, step inside, and you enter an entirely different world.
As far as I can tell, not much has been done to the interior since the revamp. It’s still dark with a Spartan, and slightly dingy appearance. Being an old building, I’m sure that it’d be difficult to make the inside look as modern as the front, unless an inordinate amount of money was spent. Judging by the estimated level of business the place has generated over the last few years, this would neither be warranted or feasible. I’ve never seen Venus looking particularly busy.
Venus is frequented by a staunch bunch of regulars, who all know each other pretty well, and like to have a good laugh. They are friendly enough, and so don’t make the place feel exclusive.
They drink moderately priced large and watch sport on large screens… often quite noisily. Despite the dour appearance, this is a lively place that borrows most of its charm from the clientele.
This is a perplexing review to write. Having drawn all of the key features quite accurately, I know I still don’t have a ‘fit’. Venus… blackness… boxing on tele… blokes in casual attire… not a woman in sight… could this be a gay bar? It’s hard to tell. There’s not the slightest suggestion of campness that usually gives a gay bar away within a nano second… Perhaps you’d like to go there and let me know what you think?