It's one of Bath's few gay bars, and Mandalyns is slightly camp without being too crazy. It's friendly, and reading through their house cocktails is sure to bring a smile to your face.

The Venue
Mandalyns is kitted out like a tree house on a deserted island. The walls are covered with thin bamboo, stools and the couches are covered in leopard skin, and there are lots of fake palms. There is even a small hut with a couch with a bended bamboo frame and a roof made with straw. The inspiration is likely to be tiki, but they are missing all the statues. As it is, though, it’s quite funny, despite the theme being a bit spoilt by the Christmas lights blinking on and off and by the blue UV light.

The People
Mandalyns is very friendly and relaxed, and it's a good a place to chat. There is no discrimination towards different sexual orientations and it is not that unusual to see hetero couples in here. The average age goes from early twenties up to late thirties. The bar has regular activities including karaoke on Thursdays, appearances by drag queens and DJ nights.

While the customers are friendly, the same can't be said of the staff. They a bit standoffish and are not particularly welcoming with non regulars. Don’t bother trying to flash the bartender a smile, you'll be wasting your time.

The Drink
The ubiquitous Sex On The Beach and Screaming Orgasm are the only cocktails you'll recognise. The others are their own cheeky concoctions and they include the Camp Queen (vodka, peach schnapps, tropical juice, lemonade and grenadine), Deep Throat (pineapple, malibu, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, orange juice and lemonade) and Schlap My Mangos (mango malibu, peach schnapps, pomegranate and lemonade). All these are priced at £4 or £10 for a jug, and are possibly the cheapest in town - on Fridays there is a two for one offer.

They also serve shooters like One Nite Stand (tequila rose and sambuca) and the Slippery Dick (butterscotch with baileys). The selection of draughts, including San Miguel, Old English and others, is better than average.

The Last Word
Friendly and fun, Mandalyns is even better when it is karaoke time or when a drag queen is working the crowd. A fun and lighthearted night out.