O Bar

Went there on Wednesday for the Smokehouse (upstairs) and their Half Hog Wednesday deal which is a great deal. The service was a little slow, which I expect is because they’ve just started doing their Wednesday deal, but given that they take reservations and therefore should know how many people will show up I’m knocking a star off of what would definitely be a five star review otherwise.
The food was delicious, the brisket and burger were both very good, although impossible to eat with your hands, knife and fork required. The coleslaw was light and crisp, but the mashed potatoes were just amazing and a generous portion. Definitely get the mashed potatoes.
The venue is comfortable and well decorated, with a nice variety of art on the walls and the upstairs seating gives you plenty of light and a view of the street. I’ll definitely be coming back and hopefully checking out the actual bar and their enticing sounding cocktails as well.

This place has changed name and ownership so many times and has yet to find a formula that works.
The crowd tends to be a younger chavy crowd. The floor area sticks and one half of the place has a strange stench.
It is too hot for a night venue, i guess its just their way of making people drink more or add to the already bad smell.
The plus for this place is they used to have a good dj so the two times I have been their I have enjoyed the mix of music. They have a more RnB/​Hiphop room downstairs but its waaay too small and attracts the retarded customers.
Would not recommend it has a place to go, but seems because it is on the main strip of clubs in bham people use this as a last resort.

Not an intended stop, although the great choice of music and the lovely, if overpierced, barmaid made it worth a look
Just Greene King IPA though so everyone wheeled out their usual backup choices. Which means I must have had a cider or lager of some sort. I forget.

Cosy and comfortable seems to sum up Obar. It’s not the biggest venue, but like most places on Braunstone Gate size isn’t everything. The bar area is narrow, so don’t be surprised if you struggle to get served during busy times. Get there early if you want a seat. The music is sometimes hit and miss, but aside from that there is no dancefloor! If you fancy chilling out you can take a stroll upstairs for more seating (old school leather couches and funky wallpaper) and a little relaxing. Smoking area is outside aka the street. Not the coolest of places but it is well known and worth a visit if you don’t fancy the hassle of going out in town.

The best time to visit this place is on a weekday evening, when it’s not too rammed (seriously, try getting around without bumping into half a dozen people on Friday or Saturday night), and when they have cheap cocktails! The décor is pretty impressive too — there’s a great cosy little nook upstairs that will prise you to it as long as you don’t need to go to the bar/​loo (and sometimes even if you do).
The only drawback is that they have no smoking area — you have to go outside the doors and come back in again — but some would say that’s the price you pay for being a dirty smoker (not me though, I do love my fags, for shame.)
But for lending the Narb a much needed touch of class, bravo, oh O Bar.

The O Bar will split a group: half my mates love it and the other half refuse to go into the place (though they do prefer the Black Horse down the road). Townie it may be, but the cocktails are good and it’s pretty friendly — just avoid the place after 9pm at the weekend when it gets rammed.

It may seem impossible for a place to be homely and sophisticated at the same time, but trust me this palce manages it, and that’s what makes it so special. O bar has a wide spread reputation for its amazing cocktails, but even though it is in a student area, they are definatley not student-​friendly priced.
It is set out like an old parlour, with lots of lamps and armchairs. Upstairs is my favourite bit as it is wonderfully decorated with lots of pieces of beautiful photography on the walls — there are large windows which look out onto Braunstone Gate, and a big corner settee.
Apart from Friday or Saturday night, it is always quiet and a perfect place to go for a quiet drink with a few friends or on your own.