Out Of The Blue is quirky, edgy and hidden in a bizarre position. It will not disappoint creative minds.

The Venue
Out Of the Blue is a full-time art gallery and a part-time night spot. As it's hidden below Pulteney Bridge, the best way for you to find it is to head to the Riverside Cafe, walk around it and look carefully and under the road you'll find the entrance to the bar/gallery.

If you expect pretty views over the river you will be disappointed. The beauty here comes from the art pieces on display. They're not the sort of boring paintings that hang in most bars, and Out Of The Blue has many works spanning from prints to ceramics to sculptures and smaller pieces of jewellery displayed in their own lit cabinets. There is a lot to look at and you can spend plenty of time here.

Right past the entrance you'll find the bar with high stools, but there's plenty more to explore and there are several dark rooms, all with vaulted ceilings. The artwork hangs from the walls, while there are tables and chairs in the middle, or couches in the back room.

The People
Individuality, eccentricity and quirkiness mingle perfectly, but it is more the place that provides them rather than the crowd. You will be served by a slightly bizarre but friendly and very knowledgeable character wearing a retro rainbow dress, black oversized sunglasses and extra-large golden hoops.

The music is contemporary, edgy and rather obscure for those who usually listen to mainstream radio. However, it hits the spot and makes Out Of The Blue a place full of party potential. If anything, this potential has yet to be fully exploited. Most people in here have stumbled upon it and there isn't a dedicated crowd of cool regulars. It's a mix of a cool indie kid in a formal stripy shirt, older couples who came in earlier to look at what the gallery sells, and a miscellaneous group of others.

Out Of The Blue will surely evolve though, and once it does, there will hardly be a better place where to drink and party for the young, art-oriented and independent-minded Bath population.

The Drink
Yes, pick up the small Lilo & Stich book. No, it is not for children - it is the drink menu. Flip a couple of pages and you'll find an impressive list of wines and cocktails, all served in artistic and colourful vintage glasses. The cocktails (£7) are all classics but there are more than two dozen to choose from.

Pick between a Margarita, Manhattan, Kir Royal, Bellini and many other familiar names. The list of spirits is also good and includes all the regulars (£3 for a shot) and a few individually sourced, more adventurous ones. They do promote a list of shooters but the staff are determined to provide you with anything you want, so just ask.

Alternatively, you can order a glass of wine. They offer more than 20 and the cheapest bottles are more reasonably priced than the expensive cocktails, but they do offer pricey wines as well.

The bottles all hail from rather classic countries and grape varieties, and range from £15 to £45, with small glasses costing £4 to £6 and large ones going for £5.50 to £8.50. Finally, you can treat yourself to a bubbly. The Prosecco costs a reasonable £20, but you can also buy the famous Cristal at £230.

You can easily find something to suit your taste but the drawback is that Out Of The Blue is a bit ambitious regarding pricing and you can't help but feel that the Cuba Libre doesn't fully deserve its £7 price tag, vintage glass or not.

The Last Word
Out of the Blue can't rely on the trade of Bath's art community alone, it needs to attract a much more diverse crowd to survive. But, it's a credible venue and it can only get better.