12 Bar reopens as bona fide 'music venue'

The new 12 Bar is up and running and ready for action in its new location, showcasing its durability last Thursday for the Punk vs Metal extravaganza and showing off a modern, spacious interior with two separate bars and two new stages.

The new setup can be found just past the bus station, around the corner from its old spot on Church Street in what used to be The Blue Moon.

The most striking feature of the new bar is the entrance, no longer is the name to be associated with a homely local that you can wander down to have a swift half every now and again. The 12 Bar is now a certified music venue, from the steps leading up to the door, to a ticket booth on your right as you walk in. No more buckets passed round to collect entrance fees then??

The inside directs you first of all into a comfortable lounge bar which it is assumed will play host to smaller gigs and open mic nights. But through the double doors is a huge second bar, large stage and DJ box the the left hand side and a second bar. The first riot night of the new beginning attracted an impressive crowd and should be a good sign for the future.

But don't take my word for it, get down there and see for yourself.