Joiners Arms (CLOSED)

Some of the time, the Joiners Arms is a friendly gay local with regular entertainment and happy hours. On the weekends, however, it pulls a clubby crowd. At times, the atmosphere can get a bit frenetic – in fact, after hours on Saturday night it feels more club than pub, with blaring house beats, wall-to-wall bodies and a hedonistic air. And there’s often a queue for the grotty toilets. Though some of the art school crowd from the George & Dragon end up here, they’re mixed in with muscle marys, hardcore scenesters and rough boys – the latter are a fixture around the pool table. The vibe is generally friendly, but a few unsavoury characters can spoil the mood.