There are so many great things about this stalwart of student
alcoholism that it’s hard not to be too gushing in
one’s praise. Drinks are cheap, especially if you have a
Maxwell’s club card, which gets you cocktails for £3.95
anytime you want. Sometimes, with sufficient cajoling and
flirting, it’s possible to pick up a life membership card,
allowing you the privilege of inexpensive drunkenness for the
rest of your student career. You’ll want to chuck the card
after that, for Maxwell’s is not a place for the
over-25’s. Of course that just makes it all the better for
those of us who are still under 21. Maxwell’s is fun and funky. Entry is free before 10 pm
– or free all night with a membership card. Tip: don’t
get there too late since it’s invariably packed out.
You’ll want to get your place by the bar early (upstairs is
usually quieter than downstairs), find a friendly barman and
start ordering your cocktails. This should ensure you a good
night’s boozing. Otherwise you’ll spend most of the
night trying to order your drink rather than drinking it. That of
course is the flip side of a great bar – everyone has joined
you there. The choice on the Maxwell’s cocktail menu is
good. They do the old classics and a whole bunch of new ones too.
My absolute favourites are the Apple Bomb, Sex on the Beach and
Long Island Iced Tea. At £3.95 a pop you can certainly get
significantly merry for under twenty quid. The atmosphere in Maxwell’s is fantastic. Although it can
get a little crowded, the ceilings are high enough that it never
feels claustrophobic, and it is often possible to get a seat,
with turnover fairly high. The music is fun: contemporary chart
stuff, nothing heavy and not too loud to deafen. Maxwell’s
has the added bonus of being a restaurant and bar in one. So, if
you feel a little peckish at the end of the night, you could
splurge on their delicious chicken fajitas instead of the kebab
that normally finishes a night’s drinking.ARCHIVE: 1st week TT 2004
DRINK: Maxwell’s
