Bars & Pubs

Summer sees the Yard's courtyard buzzing with a relaxed, thirtysomething crowd of gay men supping pints beneath the evening sky. Though drinking in the open air is the draw, the setting isn't exactly bucolic: barren white brick walls, stone floors and ventilation boxes give the place an institutional feel. Inside, the ground-floor bar is a somewhat characterless affair, marred by unflattering lighting and cheesy dance music. A few lone tables offer a depressing place for a heart-to-heart, washed down by the usual suspects on tap. By contrast, the Loft, the upstairs bar, is comfy, cosy and convivial. The brown leather love seats are good for canoodling and the small balcony has an urban, fire escape vibe - think steamy summer nights and A Streetcar Named Desire.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9