Bath is not a place where the bar scene provides the top of sophistication and that’s why Pulp is able to leave a mark.

The Venue
Pulp isn't going to make your jaw drop with its designs. It's a fairly staid-looking bar but it has a great cocktail range and a central location that almost guarantees trade.

Dark wooden slabs cover the ceiling, and there's a mosaic floor, straw lamps, bamboo bead curtains covering the back wall and some indoor plants. It looks a little bit Polynesian. Furniture continues the theme, so there are woven straw chairs, stools and couch as well as a tall wall bench covering the back wall. Orange and red panels light the bar, and although Pulp is far from cutting-edge cool it does the job.

The People
Pulp is part of Las Iguanas, the Latin American chain restaurant which occupies the floor above. Cottoning on to the fact that Bath could do with a few more bars Las Iguanas decided to offer their diners somewhere to relax after scoffing their burritos. And while the restaurant is popular with an older crowd, Pulp attracts the young and well-heeled.

Late twenties, early thirties dominate, but being so close to the theatre Pulp does get a regular invasion from the post-show crowd. It's music and atmosphere is relaxed and lounge like and soft electronic beats pulse in the background, allowing conversations to maintain a bit more decorum than most late-night bars.

The Food
Pulp sells tapas (£4.20 to £5.50 each, £12.60 for three or £21 for five) but don't expect to fill up on these as they're only for nibbling. Once again the dishes are all Latin American, so there's nachos, quesadilla and hongos fundidos (melting pot of shitake, oyster, Portobello and button mushrooms in cheese served with tortilla for rolling). The seviche (lobster, seared yellowfin tuna and crayfish in mango, ginger and citrus marinade served with salad and fresh pomegranate seeds) is particularly tasty and so are the bolinhos (Brazilian-style fish, potato and parsley fritters with hot chilli salsa). Bread, nibbles and side orders complete the flavourful lot.

The Drink
Cocktails are one of the main attractions and, as you'd expect, they are all vaguely inspired by Latin America. Mojito and Caipirnha lovers have several creative versions of these classics to choose from - there's Mojito Especial topped with Cava, the Spiced Mojito or the New Pomegranate Cahipirinha with pomegranate seeds (all £5 to £5.90). Within the classics (£4.20 to £6) you can pick Sangria, Passionfruit Margarita, Pisco Sour and many others including three sparkling cocktails made bubbly with Cava (£6 to £6.20).

For something simpler, they sell an excellent variety of Spanish beers including Cusquena, Brahma, Corona, Negra Modelo and San Miguel (£3 to £3.30). The wine list is just as exotic (£13 to £17.50 a bottle or £3.10 to £3.80 for a small glass, £4.40 to £5.40 for a large one). Apart from a couple of Champagnes, everything else comes from Argentina, Chile, Spain and the less common Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico. You better sample these unusual bottles here because nobody else stocks them!

The Last Word
Pulp's food and drink menus will surprise and satisfy you, and the venue looks elegant, perhaps a bit exotic. A welcome change from the usual pint in a pub.

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