Royal Exchange, Basingstoke

A new evening venue, formerly called Tonic. Large inside, done-up in grey and green and trying to be sophisticated…for Basingstoke. Comes undone at the bar with a meagre offering on draft, even the Guinness is in a can. Settled for a Birra Morreti and hid outside rather than sit on my own inside a quasi-nightclub looking like the local looney.

Amazingly empty bar on a Friday evening, I wonder why it is so quiet? I guess the place does not serve real ale, the beers are basic such as Carling, Fosters, Kronenbourg etc. Typical young persons type of music, pop sort of thing. Looks quite clean and tidy, if a little bland but I quite like it here.