Brains Brewery’s modern flagship bar, Yard is several steps ahead of many of its rivals.

The Venue
A tall, dark blue building, Yard stands on a site which has been a brewery since 1713 and which was taken over by Samuel Arthur Brain in 1882. The bar opened up as Brains' flagship venue in 2003 as part of the Old Brewery Quarter development. It’s a smart, contemporary space and has plenty of seating for drinkers and diners. The decor is minimalist and industrial in a reverential nod to its original use with exposed brickwork, polished chrome bars and the original copper pipes from the brewery.

The whites, greys and metals are interspersed with flashes of colour provided by the sofas and poufees in the section at the back. A big cast-iron spiral staircase in the middle of the venue leads up to the first floor which houses high tables and chairs and has its own bar. The big windows mean it’s all very light and airy and there’s outside seating too in the courtyard.

The People
Yard attracts quite a mix of drinkers but not many real party animals. During the week it's somewhere to enjoy a drink with a friend, not somewhere to start a wild night out but at the weekend it lets its hair down a bit. It’s popular with office workers for food during the daytime and gets particularly busy between midday and 3pm. At the weekend, some of the chairs and tables are moved out of the way to accommodate a bigger, slightly more up-for-it crowd which includes rugby fans given its association with the national team’s sponsors.

The Food and Drink
Refreshingly, it's not standard pub grub at the Yard. There’s a selection of salads, pastas, grilled meats and sandwiches but by far the most popular are the ‘sticks’ (kebabs to you and me), including a lamb, garlic and parsley stick with chips and salad for £9.95.

On draught you’ve got Stella, Fosters, Kronenbourg, Guinness and Carling to choose from as well as Brains Bitter, Smooth, Dark, SA and their lager, 45. There’s Peroni, Corona, Staropramen, Heineken and Bulmers in bottles and a decent wine list to boot. Cocktail pitchers are a tenner each and are a popular choice with groups who pile the tables high with the brightly coloured jugs.

The Last Word
An attractive bar both outside, the Yard is a great choice whether you fancy food or drink, by day or night.