None of which stops me loving the Yardbird. (It has a MySpace page here for all you trendy Skins-watching types)

The pub was formerly the Stage, and before that, the Grapevine - which featured heavily in the closing stages of Jonathan Coe's The Rotters' Club. But its latest incarnation is the funkiest yet, with various bands of all sorts on pretty much every night, or so it seems.

I've found myself going pretty much twice a week in recent times, mainly for jazz night on Thursdays (nice), and the body-rocking funk/soul blowouts on Saturdays. Seen some fantastic bands, sat through some interminably noodling solos, and usually have a great time.

As for the ale... erm, erm, here's the confession: I know they serve it but never tried it, and can't even remember what's on. Isn't that terrible of me? I know they've had Timothy Taylor Landlord, which is a lovely pint, but perhaps better saved for a lunchtime session. Which by the way, I've never done, but always thought it looked like it might be fun, with tasty-sounding sandwiches and the like on offer.

As for the evenings, I'm usually on the G&Ts, which I'm assured by the girl sitting opposite me now is a thoroughly manly drink. It's right in town, drink prices are reasonable, and it's less crowded that the nearby Broad Street fleshpots. And I usually come back with a few memories, often involving dodgy dancing, luckily less often involving me.

So go to the Yardbird for a fun night out, or in the afternoon for a slightly trendier brand of drinking. Just remember, Saturday nights for air bass and pretending to be Bootsy Collins, Thursday nights for scatting and that drum thing they do where it goes tssst-tst-tst-tsst-tst-tst on and on...