Annies is a prodigal lounge bar that sits on the long stretch of Kentish Town High Street.

The Venue
Billed as contemporary-meets-Louis XVI, the description of Annies is as gaudy as its interior, although it’s bound to be pleasing on the eyes of those that enjoy the occasion of a lounge bar. However, with regards to originality or risk, it is as impotent as Louis XVI's own rumoured condition. It is undoubtedly attempting to throw out a little Parisian panache, but the walls are flooded with creams that tend to sicken rather than soothe and the furnishings feel like they were dumped rather than placed, leaving it feeling a lot like nothing is in the right place.

Continuing with the Louis XVI theme, the walls are decked with paintings and a huge brass framed mirror that itself mirrors the excess of Marie Antoinette's own lavish lifestyle. The small matter of a beige grand piano completes the upstairs bar. A bare, battered, second hand piano would have added so much more character to a bar that is obviously crying out for some authenticity. There is a ground floor bar that can be hired out for large parties and functions and it has a capacity of around 70.

The Atmosphere
Annies Bar wins on atmosphere. The decor may not be for everybody, but what it creates is a giddiness that runs through the bar. Tottering shop girls and excitable matriarchs giggle as they sip Champagne, whilst the rugged North London male mixes with 'the money' at the bar. Its expensive-looking interior encourages patrons to attempt to reciprocate with their own carefully planned exterior. Those who are there for a treat clutch flutes with 'am I doing this right' dramatic caution; those who regularly attend such abodes sip with the nonchalance that craves being noticed. People watching is fun at Annies and whether or not you find the bar too showy, it does act as a fairly flamboyant setting for this beady pursuit.

The Music
Annies Bar is sure to play a careful soundtrack to accompany its environment. The piano enlivens nights and adds authenticity to the French court chic that the bar craves. A live pianist is also be a pulling point for those that don't regularly venture as far north as Kentish Town.

The Drink
Annies Bar sweeps aside the matter of beer, it hardly seems worth investing in as you might feel a little dowdy at the bar with a pint in clutch, unless it was perhaps served in a goblet. Annies Bar merely serves the brands that you'd expect in any high street bar, although it’s a definite attraction that there’s draught on offer. Similar bars so regularly fall short as they forget the perennial beer drinker who is irked by the asking price of a bottle - as they well should.

Here the concept of the bar sells itself on its Champagne stock. Bottles start at £14.99 (and this Prossecco is a more than capable substitute for the vintage bubbles you'd find in a pricier vessel). There are other new Champagnes, but as this bar embraces opulence so wholeheartedly, its vintage range deserves a fanfare. For those with access to a Coutts account, there is the Dom Perignon 2000. At the pinnacle of its vintage cellar is the Krug Grand Cuvee, which is priced at £164.99. There is a wine list that has six or seven reds and whites, with rose also covered. The white Oyster Bay is sure to be a hit, as its popularity shows no signs of slipping. The staff will have to get used to spinning and shaking up a list of fifteen cocktails, with Rocket Science and Heatwave, standing out with interesting and original ingredients.

The Last Word
Annies Bar certainly needs its walls to take some scrapes, and a little battering of its chez lounges wouldn't go amiss. Its lack of new ideas is a little disappointing, but it does maintain some understandable appeal. The look of the bar will turn the stomachs of some, but excite many. Its interior certainly provides escape from the grey mundanity of outside and it has the necessary fittings to attract.

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