Walking into Pool Bar on Gulou Dongdajie is like being slapped with a refreshing hit of university memories and a reminder that those days have yet to fully slip from sight.

The drinks menu is plucked from the finest student union bar and thirsty patrons see a blur of 10 kuai, unless they are willing to splash out 15 yuan on a cocktail. A quick look to the left and there it sticks in its full glory. The poster that adorned the wall of every clichd (male) fresher student room "30 Reasons Why Beer Is Better Than Women".

A pool table much better quality than those of the Ball House just down the road dominates the main space and works on an informal write your name on a white board basis. Table football sits in one corner as does one of those dart boards that interfere in an entertaining and ever so slightly dangerous kind of way with the cue sports. Far more of a threat, given the charitable drink offers, is a huge tattoo parlour advert waiting to take advantage of rash spontaneity.

The second storey balcony area has an impressive collection of comfortable second-hand sofas although the use of pink neon lighting takes a bit of getting used to rather like the rogue Savage Garden album in amongst some otherwise classic tunes.

Essential ingredients for a bar that feels like a friend's lounge are affable barmen. The son and father combination of the Li family fit the bill and Li Senior's Elvis-style sideburns are a distinct bonus. Li Junior, also known as Luke, opened the bar last May after buying up a steamed bun shack and renovating it for two months. Such is his dedication to providing friends with a place to hang out, he works from 5:30am to 3:30pm five days a week at a hotel honing his English skills before running the bar until midnight.

The Pool Bar

Opening time: 2p.m.-late
Location: 106 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-84047956