Future Inn Bristol Cabot Circus

You wouldn't expect much from a chain hotel bar, but this place has carved out its own niche in the Cabot Circus nightlife scene. The ground floor bar becomes an unexpected late-night destination, especially when you're looking for somewhere civilised to continue the evening after dinner in the shopping quarter. The crowd skews older than your typical Bond Street venue – think thirty-somethings who've outgrown queuing for clubs but still want a proper night out. Service is reliably professional (hotel training shows), and while the drinks menu won't win any creativity awards, they make a solid G&T and the wine list is better than it needs to be for a hotel bar.