Popular bar in the trendy Division Street area of the city centre, open late and offering more pool tables than you can shake a cue at.

The Venue
The Common Room is upstairs from the Forum shopping centre (the Forum itself is a collection of small boutiques catering to snowboarders, skateboarders and students and specialises in alternative lifestyles and fashions). Once you see the Forum – found at the Devonshire Green end of Division – look for a set of steps leading into the building and take them up to the Common Room.

Once there you’ll find two large rooms – the first containing a number of seated booths and a full length bar, the second being the pool room – as well as a couple of smaller alcove type areas off to the side.

The People
The Common Room is populated by a mixture of students and trendy young professionals. The bar opens until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays making it both a popular pre-bar with clubbers and a late-night destination in its own right. Of particular note is the pool room, housing around a dozen tables which are available to hire by putting a card or deposit behind the bar.

Use of the tables is charged by time, rather than by the game, and for many people it’s the main reason for a trip to The Common Room. The music is eclectic, consisting of everything from Bruce Springsteen to Portishead to Rage Against the Machine, rather than the usual staid lounge jazz found in many similar bars.

The Food
Food is served from lunchtime until 8.30pm each day. The menu offers burgers, pizzas, wraps and barbecue ribs as well as various snack-type sides, such as fries, wedges and corn on the cob. With almost everything under £6, and many dishes substantially less than this, it’s good value for money, even if it is ultimately fast food (perhaps no surprise given the diner-style booths that provide much of the seating).

The Drink
Beers on tap include Stella, Becks, Boddingtons, Staropramen and Strongbow. A huge range of spirits are available, and cocktails are also something of a speciality. Prices are fairly typical for a city centre late bar, with pints ranging in price from £2.40 for Boddingtons up to £3.20 for a pint of Hooegarden.

Wines vary in price from £2.50 to £5 depending on variety and glass size. There is a Common Hour between 5pm and 8pm Monday to Friday, when pints of Becks, Boddingtons and Strongbow are available at £1.50 and a number of other drink deals such as two-for-ones are available.

The Last Word
A great atmosphere for socialising with friends, The Common Room is relaxed and friendly, even on busy Friday and Saturday nights.

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