One of the city's loudest and proudest gay bars has made quite a name for itself sinced it arrived on the scene several years ago.

The Venue
Wedged between Audio and The R Bar is Charles Street, a seafront bar popular with the local and visiting gay community. During the day it's a place to sit out on the terrace, weather permitting, and in the evening it takes on a more pre-club vibe with the upstairs nightclub playing host to different themed nights. The decor is contemporary with its cream and purple colour scheme, leather sofas, bucket armchairs and flat panel screens showing music videos. The influence is Miami and its cocktails all the way, baby.

The People
The sleekest and best dressed of the city's gay scene come to shake their tail feathers and preen and prance in surroundings as great looking as their good selves. If you love high octane nights then chances are you'll find yourself at Charles Street most nights of the week.

The Food and Drink
There's a good range of beers and ciders on tap including Stella Artois, Budweiser, Carling, Fosters, Hoegaarden and Guinness. Bottled ciders include Brothers' Pear Cider and Strawberry Cider, Quinn's Pressed Raspberry and Blueberry, Magners and Weston's Strong Organic Cider. Cocktails cost from a throwaway £2.95 a glass or £8.50 a pitcher, including all the classics. And there's a good selection too of white, red and rose wines.

Food is served throughout the day into early evening. Gaggles of friends refuel on light snacks and platters or three-course meals and Sunday roasts.

The Last Word
A sizzling hotpot for the local gay scene, Charles Street covers all the bases fabulously.