AsiaLIFE

Despite its name Revolution is not a lair for insurgents, but a chilled-out bar attracting a mix of laid-back expats and travellers with its cheap drinks and various activities.

“I always try to do things a bit differently, because there’s a lot of bars that all do the same,” says owner Alex Hales. “Though whether I succeed or not is, of course, another question.” Alex, who also owns the Drunken Frog at Lakeside, opened the bar in December 2007, just around the corner from ‘golden’ Street 278 on Street 51.

Set on two floors, Revolution is certainly a drinking den, but it also offers space for social occasions including regular darts, pool, poker, and board game nights. “I’m quite happy to let people use the space, for free, for things they like to do, like rehearsals for plays,” says Alex. Thus while the ground floor is a regular bar decorated by Alex himself, the upstairs is a plainer space more akin to a games room. Until recently, live music was also on the menu, but this has been stopped following complaints from neighbours.

According to Alex, the main characteristic of his clientele is that most patrons are drunk at the end of the night. This is no great surprise with offers such as draught Anchor for 75 cents per glass or US$3.50 per jug during the daily 4pm to 8pm happy hours, and additional gin-tonics weighing in at US$1.75. On Saturdays, all drinks are two-for-one. “We’re not a party bar, in the sense of a night club, but you can come and have a good and enjoyable time here,” says Alex. “For me, owning a bar is not about making money. It’s a place to meet my friends, meet new people and enjoy the social scene. I have a number of day jobs, so the bar really is more a hobby than anything else.”

Alex also has a secret weapon on the horizon – food. So far, customers have been welcome to order food from other restaurants, but in the future Alex hopes to offer a home-cooked alternative. Keeping it simple, the idea is to serve just one dish per night, but to make sure it is done well. Food samples suggest the Revolution team are on the right track. Like many other establishments, the walls of Revolution are adorned with a photo exhibition.

Just as with social events, Alex welcomes artists to contact him about displaying their work. “In fact, I invite anybody who has a good idea, provided it doesn’t involve breaking the law or doing something ridiculously stupid, to use my place to show themselves off in any way,” Alex says. Self-exhibitionists get in touch!

Revolution, 96 Street 51. Open from 4pm to when the last customer leaves.