While All Bar One’s sleek metal and angled charm was thrustingly modern in the ‘90s you can’t help but feel it’s starting to lose its allure.

The Venue
All Bar One is the busiest of the bars in this chain-bar triangle on Brindsley Square, which is strategically set above the Gas Street Basin waterway flowing below. The patio is busy in the summer months and indoors it’s open plan and spacious. There are booths down the side of the room with alcoves looking out on the terrace, gold-topped tables, steel tubing in the ceiling, as well as tall tables and high chairs.

There are plants and more banquette seating on the left and, in general, it still sports the same white walled and shiny metal contemporary chic as when the brand was created, but now its form of minimalism has been pretty much copied and is widespread. And things have, if anything, moved towards colourful flamboyance.

The People
It’s very popular here and attracts a mainstream crowd of office workers in their designer and High Street gear, as well as the more sober suited types. It's a chain bar so don't expect too much atmosphere but it's a reliable bar for an after work or pre-club drink.

The Food and Drink
Wine is a very popular choice at all All Bar One outlets and this is no exception. There’s a new well chosen list which includes over a dozen bottles each of red and whites ranging from £12 to £25.

There are three roses too, so why not try their refreshing rose petal pink Cotes Du Rhone at £3.50 for a 175ml glass or £14 a bottle. On draught you’ve got Paulaner, Guinness, Peroni, Schneider Weisse and Fuller’s Chiswick, as well as the usual selection in bottles. On the food front they do sandwiches, salads, burgers and skewers (a posh word for kebabs) which feature all sorts of things, including marinated swordfish to halloumi and peppers which costs £8.50 with a choice of salad. They also do lots of tapas dishes for £2 to £5.

The Last Word
Its metallic slick finish is still pulling in the punters and All Bar One continues to pack them in.

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