If you told someone from anywhere but Britain you were going “out” but not “out out” they might look at you like you had a radish growing out of your head. But here, we all know what that means. You’re leaving your home. Maybe you’re even getting dressed up. But you’ll be back by 11pm. Midnight, at a push. It’ll be four to five drinks max. Unless, you know, someone twists your arm.
This one foot in the door, one foot out energy is enough to make you feel patriotic. We are, fundamentally, a nation of ditherers. Which is why many of us have been thrilled to discover the surge of hi-fi listening bars spreading through our cities. The spaces – low lighting, comfy chairs, hoards of records, lethal martinis, good food, state of the art speakers – sit somewhere between a vinyl store, living room and cocktail lounge. Read: they’re the perfect venue for a noncommittal nation’s new night out.
