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One Lounge Bar satisfies the cocktail market niche in Didsbury with admirable aplomb.

The Venue
One Lounge is West Didsbury’s late-night cocktail bar. It doesn’t open till early evening and is petite, modern, stylish and uncluttered; its minimalism creates the impression of space. Basically it’s made up of two rooms with the far room comprising of a single wave-form banquette strewn with cushions along the far wall and above that a mirror and a dark green wall.

Elsewhere are little black tables and pouffes of different colours. The bar itself is lime green with a black surface and is lined with metal stools. The walls are white and grey and adorned with photos of 1930s lindy hoppers and posters of Italian drinks adverts. There’s live music on Wednesday and Sunday and DJ evenings from Thursday to Sunday. Operations Manager Johnny Furber is opening a new bar in Fallowfield in September called The Gin Club.

The People
Didsbury’s younger cash-rich crowd flock to One Lounge to spread a little love and money. Attractive made-up flouncy ladies mix it up with casually but fashionably dressed young men.

The Food and Drink
The One Lounge barmen mix up with long and short Martinis and classic cocktails for £6.25 with even a champagne cocktail, like the lychee-flavoured Eastern Sun, only costing £6.75. There’s a Dutch clean sweep of Amstel and Heineken on draught, but 12 bottles of beer and cider including Warsteiner, Cusqueña, Estrella Damm and Abbot Ale. The wines cost from around £3-£6 a glass, depending on the size and all come courtesy of that fine Didsbury establishment Reserve Wines. A glass of champagne is £5.50.

The Last Word
With The Woodstock and The Railway in the immediate vicinity, One Lounge fills in that late-night cocktail niche very nicely and is being rewarded with a busy trade.