In an area dominated by old pubs, Madisons is a modern spacious bar joined to the comedy club upstairs.

The Venue
Just off the main drag, Madisons is part of the Hyena Comedy Club. It's upstairs and you can get to it from the bar or via its own entrance outside. Opened initially in 2001, it’s been through a couple of refurbs since then and is in the process of going through yet another. It’s a pretty spacious and open venue with plenty of standing and dancing room. It has a stone tiled and wooden floor and a large square central bar.

There’s exposed brickwork, plasma screens and mirrors on the walls and blinds on the windows, as well as wire mesh-style metal lamps hanging over the bar and bulbous yellow lights elsewhere. The back area is illuminated with floor lamps and there’s a low square latticed woodwork, as well as metallic piping, in the ceiling.

The DJ booth is at one end and the music is chill-out ambient sounds, a la Buddha Bar and Cafe Del Mar. Things start to get pumped up later in the evening and with new developments going up in the area, including student accommodation, Madisons look set to benefit from the increase in business and residential trade. Its owner, the amiable Mohammed Ajaid, is set to open a bar next door too.

The People
Used as a place to have some drinks before going to the comedy club, Madisons attracts a mixed crowd and it’s usually a fun crowd too, made up of a healthy mix of students and native city dwellers. It has moved a little upmarket of late, attracting more mature professional folk.

The Food and Drink
Amstel, Foster’s, John Smith’s, Beck’s, Heineken are all on tap and there’s Magner’s, Beck’s, Budweiser, Heineken, Corona and Foster’s in bottles. They intend to start stocking some world beers, such as Erdinger and Staropramen, soon. All cocktails are £2.40 each and vodka and Red Bull is £10.50 a jug. House trebles are £2.95 till 10.30pm. There’s no food at the moment but plans are afoot to introduce a menu.

The Last Word
A modern bar which is moving with the times, Madison’s fills in a niche in this part of town.

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