The Grand Social

You'll find this sprawling venue spread across three floors of a gorgeous Victorian building just off the quays. The ground floor pulls a proper crowd with its long bar and industrial-chic decor, while upstairs transforms into an intimate music venue that hosts everything from indie bands to electronic nights. The cocktail menu is surprisingly solid for a place that doubles as a gig venue – their Old Fashioneds are properly made and the staff actually know what they're doing behind the bar. The beer selection leans heavily into craft, though you can still get a decent pint if that's your thing. It's the kind of place where you might pop in for a quick drink after work and end up staying until closing because there's a brilliant DJ set happening upstairs. The crowd skews younger but not annoyingly so, and the acoustics are actually decent when bands are playing.