Dubbing itself the capital's first metrosexual venue, Freedom offers straight and gay punters a fun and lively atmosphere. However, it’s starting to look a bit rough around the edges.

The Venue
Freedom is on Wardour Street, a short walk from Piccadilly Circus. Its location on one of the busiest streets in London and huge neon green sign outside make it easy to find.

Once inside, you’ll find a dark upstairs lounge bar decked out in zebra print, mirrored walls, flickering candles, and oversized chandeliers. It’s looking a bit tired now with rips in the furniture and blocks missing from the glass tables, but retains an appearance of upmarket glamour. There’s also a downstairs club - open at the weekends - decked out in red velvet featuring a backlit tropical fish tank.

The Atmosphere
The crowd at Freedom is mixed – expect everyone from trendy hipsters on a night out to the after-work crowd and even the odd hen party, and the blend between gay and straight is pretty equal. The atmosphere is dynamic at all times of the evening and the bar staff are well-presented and chatty, offering up a smile whether coming over to offer table service or serving you at the bar.

The Food
Freedom doesn’t offer up anything special to eat, although there's a menu of bar snacks, including pizzas, chicken wings, calamari and garlic bread. The prices are cheap and the management also offer a catering service if you choose to hold a party in their basement nightclub.

The Drink
The bar in Freedom houses every spirit you can name, as well as a long list of wines and Champagnes. It’s the cocktails that stand out, however, particularly for their quality as they’re made with Bombay Sapphire gin, Ketel One and Zubrowka. Priced at £7-£8, they’re not extortionate given the Soho locale, but even better is the happy hour on weekdays where the same drinks are offered at just £5.

The Last Word
Freedom can still pack them in on a nightly basis, despite looking a bit weary, and is worth a visit to enjoy the friendly vibe and quality cocktails.

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