Bar Utopia

Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' described a utopia of the future – where a rigid caste system, hypnomedia and tranquillising narcotics have created a calm and well behaved race, with no desire to rebel but no passion for life either. Similarly, this fairly new addition to the town centre pushes all the right buttons in attracting today's automatons – the professional set. Looking like a show home that's been kitted out by The Next Directory, it's pleasant enough and the food is nicely presented. And it's fairly busy even at lunchtimes, with about 30 hand–pumps scattered around the bar. Pity there only appears to be one barman. Thinking about it though, I've been here three times and the most memorable thing about it was that I once dropped my mobile into a pint of Guinness.

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