Norman Bar

Kitsch, bohemian, contemporary and eccentric. Norman Bar is all of these and more. It's the most striking venue in Call Lane and, arguably, in the whole of Leeds.

The Venue
Take your time at Norman Bar as you'll need it to take in the eclectic design. There's a bit of everything and it's surprising how well it all goes together despite the different inspirations. On the walls there are thin slabs of black stone and sauna style wooden slats. These slats are also used to create the low tables placed in between stripy faux antique sofas and floral patterned square stools. There are also armchairs towards the back and large stools big enough to seat two around the tables.

The decor is a perfect mix of new and old styles. There's a beaded chandelier alongside funky, modern black stools inspired by space age design. There's a glass wall and separating the bar from the seating area is a white wall which has dozens of tiny, intricately crafted white statues placed around the top.

Even the toilets are a must-see. They're lined with white mosaic tiles but everything here is tinged with blue thanks to surreal monochrome lights. The final result is funky, edgy and uber cool. It's worth paying a visit to Norman Bar just to examine the eclectic decor.

The People
Norman Bar's funky looks are a huge pull and this upmarket venue is frequented by the wealthy people it was created for. A few are as eccentric as the venue and most are the well dressed sort who come here to be seen. The crowd is a real mix and during the day you'll meet people in their forties splashing their cash on drinks as well as the twenty-somethings. This lot often dress to impress and you get the feeling they can only just afford to look that good and drink here. At night the situation changes slightly as the thirty-somethings increase drastically and there are more party outfits to be seen. Everything complements the venue perfectly from the bar staff to the soundtrack to the crowd.

The Food
The menu is almost as eclectic as the decor. Pan-Asian dim sum steal the scene but a couple of burgers have made their way on to the list as well. Starting with dim sum (£2 to £3.25) is a good idea. The portions are small and you are meant to try more than one dish which you'll most definitely want to do. Chicken satay skewers, king prawns and edamame may be already known to you but what about banana gyoza served with cardamom and cinnamon syrup, prawn balls coated with Japanese crumbs and sesame seeds, the surprisingly sweet lychee and melon balls, salmon kaizu or schishimi wedges? There is more than enough room for experimenting.

Within the mains - cheaply priced at £6 to £8, especially given the glamour of this place - the dishes are more familiar. There's steamed teriyaki salmon fillet, tofu ramen, Vietnamese beef salad, Singapore noodles, Thai chicken and others. There are only a few light bites (£5 to £6) including pan-fried, corn-fed duck breast and steamed green lip mussels. If it all sounds too tempting there are three platters (£12 to £18) which will give you plenty of different dishes to try.

For those looking for a more western flavour Norman Bar offers a club sandwich (£7), a burger (£7) and a breakfast selection (£3 to £6).

The Drink
Norman Bar also offers a great drinks list. Everything is fairly priced and, taking Champagne as a benchmark, their most expensive bubbly is £115. It's obvious they don't want to attract the pretentious crowd who order Cristal and 12 glasses. They serve a handful of cocktails (all £6) and you won't find any classics only their own kooky concoctions. Try the Oriental Sweet Tart (gin, lychee and pear liqueurs, lemon and orgeat) or the Zoolander (Kahlua, chocolate and orange liqueurs and a double shot of espresso) for something truly new.

There are a dozen wines to sample too (£12 to £20 for a bottle, £3 to £4 for a small glass, £4 to £5 for a large one) but make sure you leave some space for the many great beers Norman Bar stocks. On draught you can pick from Fruli Strawberry, Maredsous, Liefmans Kriek, Erdinger Weisse and the rare Kuppers Kolsch and Lindeboom. The bottles are even better with imports like Quilmes (Argentina), Chimay Red, Vedett, Duvel, Tsing Tao, Budvar, Erdinger Dankel, Maissel,s Weisse, Redstripe, Modelo Negra, Pacifico Clara, Modelo Especial, Anchor Steam Beer, Black Sheep Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Goose Island IPA. You couldn't ask for more.

The Last Word
Norman is a must-see. If you're in Leeds for just the night this is the place to visit. You'll never forget its edginess and off the wall decor. The fact that the drinks and food are impressive is just the cherry on top.

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