B LOUNGE has taken over the old premises of The Bridge, but it's been such a subtle conversion that you'd be forgiven for not noticing the difference. The name 'The Bridge' is still up outside, and the inside looks almost identical, too, complete with homely candle sticks, heavy wood and leather furniture, and plenty of old fashioned pub mirrors too.

Under former chef-cum-boss Robert Owen Brown, the kind of people who ate and drank at the Bridge were an older set, the types who perhaps go to theatre more than once a decade, and enjoy the odd single malt.

This demographic seems to have shifted slightly since the rebranding, and when I dropped in with the girls on Saturday night, we felt a bit young but not out of place. The place had a trendier feel. Overseeing the show was Gary Ballinger, the flamboyant bar manager, who seemed to be on the look-out for faces to cheer up.

We ordered some shots, vodka and cokes and the house special - B Lounge Classic (£3.10) - a take on that alcoholic's breakfast tipple, the Bloody Mary. There was nothing wrong with it at all but, having just had my tea, I couldn't face half a pint of tomato juice spiced up with sherry and vodka on top. My mistake, really.

Apologies

Nipping outside for a breath of fresh air, Ballinger spotted my unfinished drink through the window and rushed back in, all questions and apologies. He insisted on giving me my money back for not finishing the cocktail, which is exceptional service by anyone's standards.

While you couldn't call their drinks selection exceptional, they've got a solid range in stock. Wines and lagers are diverse with sauvignon blanc and Chablis in the fridge, and Kronenberg Blanc on tap, as well as Courage Director's, Theakston's Best and Old Peculier real ales on draught. The spirit cupboard stars Smirnoff, Famous Grouse and Morgan's Spiced rum, while bottles include Magners and Sirrus ciders, Budvar and Corona.

In fact, the only aspect of my B Lounge experience that seemed to jar was the jowl-shakingly loud house music. Drinkers seemed to cower from the all too prolific speakers, and swapping the bonkers beats for Will Young would increase custom ten fold, I reckon.

The B Lounge, 60 Bridge Street, 0161 8340242. Open: 11.30am-11pm weekdays and 11.30am-midnight Fri-Sat.