Bar Via, Eastbourne

As I approached this place I thought that it was more of a café than bar as most of the tables along the glass frontage were being used by people drinking coffee whilst using their laptops. I was grateful to see that there were some draught products, albeit very limited. There are two floors with an old school staircase at the rear of the building connecting the two. The downstairs bar is nice enough, but it is not the most intimate due to the café feel. The upstairs bar wasn't being used, but the remnants of a raucous night could be spotted. The toilets are also located upstairs with the gents being a bit grim and the wife informed me that the ladies smelt like a farm. There was a live band setting up as we left and I got the feeling that this place could turn into some sort of cattle market at the weekend, but I could be way off the mark. I can't see myself returning here as I do like a traditional pub, but the staff were nice and I couldn't fault much as they don't pretend to be anything they are not.