Soak, The

Oh how I hark back to the days when this was a cockroach–infested, extortionately priced Chinese restaurant. Alas these are modern times and the old place has given way to a smart, relatively trendy bar that breaks away from the Selly Oak norm. Although impressive and swarthy, it's still in its infancy, but the early signs are promising. The layout of this place is akin to the Crystal Maze, there's the trendy modern – industrial – zone, the kind of soft chairs and brickwork – medieval – zone, and the arty farty – I can't think what any of the other areas were but you get the tenuous drift – zone with particularly painful modern art on the walls and a quite cool projected clock –apparently known in the business as a 'gobo'. There's a PlayStation II and three pool tables – pick from red, purple or green baize – to keep you amused, and an ever–changing list of nights.

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