Whilst the intimacy of a small bar holds a certain appeal for many of us, Bar 2012 is perhaps just a little bit too cosy to warrant rushing there for a night out.

The Venue
Bar 2012 is situated on Brick Lane – the Bethnal Green end. It’s pretty tiny, but does have a downstairs with a small stage for live music and DJs. There’s a definite cool feel to the venue - not pretentious but definitely funky with a black marble-looking bar to the right and a couple of leather sofas to the left. This is all there is room for, however, and downstairs is another small bar with a stage, but no seating area.

There is a discounted entrance with fliers that are given out on Brick Lane (£3 instead of £4) but this is a bit of a cheek in itself. The bar is nice enough but it is incredibly small, and just doesn’t justify an entrance fee, especially when you consider the other bigger neighbouring venues don’t charge as much.

The Atmosphere
There doesn’t really appear to be a theme to Bar 2012, which is handy if you like to avoid places that perpetuate the Shoreditch scene. However, it doesn’t get particularly lively – the atmosphere here can be described as just a few people in a small bar, although it does get better once the music starts downstairs. The real bonus here is the bar and door staff are very friendly, and there is a distinct lack of any attitude or trouble.

The Music
The music is totally eclectic at Bar 2012, and wholly dependent on when you attend. Their Push night is appreciated with dubstep, drum and bass, breaks and hip hop on offer. That said, you're as likely to catch an indie or electro set here. Some nights, however, are something of a disappointment with commercial tracks - including some pop - being blasted through the speakers.

The Drink
Bar 2012 offers a relatively well-stocked bar, although there is no draught beer, only bottled. A bottle of beer will set you back around £3. Interestingly, however, they do serve tea here although it’s not the best quality. Unfortunately, some of the drink prices are overly expensive - a double vodka and Red Bull with a beer will set you back over a tenner.

The Last Word
Bar 2012 is a nice bar with no pretentious air or overbearing gimmick, which is refreshing. However, most people would resent paying the £4 to get into such a small place when there are better offerings in nearby Shoreditch.

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