A gay-friendly bar that isn't in your face about its sexual preferences, it's just clean, modern and airy.

The Venue
With its bright blue awning over the patio and it’s bright white exterior, Bar Icon looks for all the world like a smart, upmarket venue. There are a few tables and chairs outside too and the entrance is bordered by potted plants venue. Inside it’s light and airy and fairly minimalist in style sporting beiges and off-whites and abstract canvasses on the walls.

The bar is on the right and there’s seating at the front below spotlights at small round cocktail tables and down the side. There’s a semi-railed off lower area at the back with diamond patterned alcoves. Playing in the background is eclectic chart music and Bar Icon serves as a pre-club hang-out at the weekends when it shuts at 1am on Friday and 2am on Saturday.

The People
Set within the gay triangle, Bar Icon is indeed a gay bar although you wouldn’t really know it by day when it serves the local area. The office crowd come here for lunch and again for an after work drink. It becomes gayer at the weekend when they have DJs and the cocktails start flowing. Beware though, the service can be a little too nonchalant for its own good.

The Food
Bangers and mash with onion gravy is £5.10 and the fish cakes are a bit more potato than fish, but are nicely browned and work well with the sweet chilli dipping sauce and the salad is fresh and well dressed. Soup of the day is £2.45 plus there's sandwiches, salads and jacket potatoes for £3.95 each. There's also a two course set menu available from noon to 4pm for £6.95 and a two course Sunday lunch, also £6.95.

The Drink
On tap there's Stella, Carling, Strongbow and Tetley’s and in bottles there’s Sol, Peroni, Budweiser and Beck’s. There’s a choice of 12 cocktails all at around £3.95 or £4.25 a glass including tried-and-tested classics like Cosmopolitan and Harvey Wallbanger.

The Last Word
A light, airy and modern place to sit and sip a cocktail or get a bite to eat at lunch.