You'll rememeber Merlin was a magician at
the court of King Arthur. Well, a night in Merlins could end you up
in a court for being drunk and disorderly, I suppose. I can't count
the number of times I've walked past the queues to get into this place
on a weekend with my eyes fastened firmly to the pavement. Rough as
a badger's arse. Like the place across the road, Macmillans,
it's a theme pub masquerading as a nightclub and I could easily give
it a similar review. The clientelle are similar, as are the offers on
booze, the DJ's, the bouncers, the music that would nip your head. The
major difference is that MacMillans is painted salmon pink and Merlins
a vomit inducing yellow. I think that the clock is ticking on both of
them. They still seem to be popular enough at the weekend, but do they
attract anyone during the week, even with their Eighties Nights, Ladies
Nights, Pound for a Pint nights etc. etc.? Both pubs could be great
for getting smashed out your face, inspiring memories of your stag/hen
week in Ibiza, pulling a twelve year old (or alternatively a fifty year
old) or having a "let's laugh at the working class" student
night, but I wouldn't know. I wouldn't know anyone who'd drink here,
to be honest.
