The Liquid Room

I've been to the Liquid Rooms more times than I could count, for all sorts of gigs over the years. And I still love it. Sure, your feet will always stick to the floor, but that's just part of the charm of this place. It's quite an intimate space, great for smaller acoustic gigs, but also works really well for electronica etc. There's also a balcony, with its own bar, if you fancy a higher view. For anyone from Glasgow, it's like a cross between Oran Mor and the Fruitmarket. And gets just as hot and sweaty as they do!

Here to see the mighty Brendon Burns during the Fringe, so review based on that, may not be the set up all year round, buyer beware, etc. etc. Head down Victoria Street, before you get to The Bow Bar (I navigate by pubs, btw and turn left down an alley, into a courtyard. There's the Liquid Rooms Annexe experience for you! The courtyard part is quite nice, all covered and open air so you can feel continental and drink outside, even with Edinburgh weather attempting to drop every bit of water in the country on you in one go. The bar? I've had way better to be honest. Just cans, bottles and spirits again, I'm not sure if that's just part of the Fringe set up or not, so it may just be a temporary thing. In any case, at least it's not a shockingly high price to be handed a can, but it is a bit more than you would maybe expect. Venue wise, I liked the Annexe for atmosphere. For a smaller show, this would be ideal close to the stage (perhaps a little too close to Brendon in some case for the poor folk in the front and second row! and great sound. It is warm down there though, really warm, so be careful with your hydration in case you take a turn, but other than that, it's fine. It doesn't blow me away, but it does have a little bit of something that not every place does and that's soul.

I've been to this venue for gigs many times over the last ten years or so, and on this occasion we were seeing Skid Row! Yay! Who doesn't like a bit of good-time rock? Naturally, Skid Row were awesome... but the Liquid rooms, while perfectly fine, is not the best venue around. When you come in, it isn't immediately apparent that you can choose to go upstairs or downstairs, and if you don't know where the cloak room is, you have to climb back up the stairs to ask the person on the cash desk. In my experience, there aren't too many stewards inside the venue. On this occasion, I couldn't see any, which isn't great if they are required. I don't know if it was because this gig was on a week day, or if they were hiding somewhere... The place wasn't as packed this time as it has been before, which is again maybe why they weren't around, but if an emergency arises you want to know that someone's around to take care of it. At the end of the gig, it was also apparent that the bar had been dispensing glass bottles... which as you know at any gig it's a big no-no. There were a few shattered bottles on the floor after people had cleared out. It's just lucky, with the wet floor, that nobody slipped and cut themselves. Poor show. All in, it's a fairly decent venue. I've seen many amazing bands here, but Edinburgh has better venues. The Liquid Room is just... OK.

For a place to just go and boogie, Liquid Rooms is actually pretty good! I'll admit, I had my reservations when I accidentally suggested we go here the last time I went was probably in my late teens. However, on a Friday night, the place is filled with all ages some with top banter and there's a shisha bar in the back ! At the time, I thought £10 for an hour was a total bargain and it might have been something to do with the jager bombs, but it tasted just like it does on holiday and was a really nice addition to an otherwise so so night out. It is a handy location for when you are debating where to go to finish a night out. The music was pretty standard. Can't beat a bit of impromptu karaoke to Bohemian Rhapsody with some randoms!

Poor Liquid Rooms!! It was set on fire last year, and when I heard the news I was devastated. It was one of my favourite clubs in Edinburgh because they played brilliant music, it was never too busy and you could always get served at one of the two bars. However, when the fire shut it down for several months, I didn't think it would survive. ...but it's back!! Having it's grand re-opening this week, Liquid Rooms is all set to return to its former glory. And I can't wait!! As I said, it is one of my favourite places in Edinburgh and I know it will come back with a vengeance. Watch this space!