Nuria Haering

Went to an intimate gig here and loved it. It's a cosy little tucked-away space with affordable drinks, carpeted throughout and rustic with REAL fireplaces... Really cool, basically!

Life Bar surprised me. I went there for an art & music night and felt sceptical at first, as the top floor is a trendy Japanese restaurant. However, once you descend down to the basement, the vibe changes.

There's two rooms, one which is used as a lounge/coat-check/exhibition space, and one which comprises the bar, DJ decks, dance floor and a few sofas. It's very intimate and somewhat exclusive in the sense that people only tend to go if they know the organisers, artists or DJs. If this is the case though, it's a cool little place and a nice setting to get drunk in/have a laugh/dance but still get home at a decent hour.

The one drawback is that the drinks are charged at restaurant prices, so expect to pay about £4.50 for bottled beer or a single spirit plus mixer.

I went there last weekend and liked the actual venue enough - although it's not as dark or seedy as people have made it out to be. The decor on the wall is artsy, the lighting atmospheric and there's a nice array of sofas and tables. Even the bathrooms are in a very decent state. You know On the Rocks where they used to host Trailer Trash? Now THAT was dark and seedy and I was disappointed fo find that the Russian doesn't have that vibe.

When I went the basement room was lamentably closed. I paid 5 quid for a record label showcase, so I felt cheated. The DJs were pumping out fairly decent tech-house, but the main room lacks the kind of underground feel that incites you to dance. My butt stayed firmly planted on a couch most of the night, which is a shame because that's not my intent when I go out late on a Saturday.

Lastly, I expected a more 'East London' crowd - instead, there were lots of Eastern Europeans, who were all chummy with the Eastern European bar staff - it felt like a regulars' club rather than a dirty Shoreditch techno night. I can't say if this was due to a few of the featured DJs being Polish or if this is the Russian's standard (pun intended!). Yes, there were a few random, strung-out types, which would've been fine if the rest of the crowd had been more mixed; on this occasion, though, they only just exacerbated what was already a weird atmosphere. Overall, my friend and I (unassuming girls in our mid-20s dressed in trainers, jeans and t-shirts) felt a little out of place.

I'm willing to give this place a try again - but I'm not parting with any money at the door!