Some bars you walk into and you know theyére going to work. Not only work, but rake it in. Prohibition is just such a bar. Ités part of the Knutsford-based Living Ventures group, headed by Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts, a couple of northern likely lads with a Midas touch for bars.

Their biggest success to date has been with the Living Room concept, which, despite bland décor and the frankly bizarre Richard Clayderman-esque pianists, cracks it every time.

The new Prohibition bars are much better. Following from Lounge Ten and the basement at the Rossetti Hotel, it has eschewed glass, steel and chrome for opulent drapes, rococo chairs and a sparkle of glittering chandeliers set off by black and gold. Ités an interior with sophisticated slut appeal - very louche, very decadent. As Living Ventures are trendsetters for much larger bar chains, expect everywhere down Peter Street to be glistening by this time next year.

The snacky food is exactly what youéd expect. There are sandwiches and platters to share and lots of gooey desserts. The mushroom and rosemary soup (é2.95) I tried was good, but the cheese and ham omelette é5.75) was poor, with the cheese resembling Polyfilla in texture. Above all, my advice would be to replace the fries with proper chips. Fries are a pointless invention like Tara Palmer-Tomkinson or a Smart car.

The drinks are the main focus here - the cocktail list (with the vodka variants and so on) makes for a slightly longer read than War and Peace. Among the many special offers, the weirdest is where a gang of friends get a five-litre punchbowl for é45 or take the challenge.

Populated by exactly the same type of crowd as the Living Room, there remains one big question mark over Prohibition: who will be the first United player to visit? My guess is Rio - heés not got much on this summer.

The complete review was published in City Life edition 539.

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