Lured here by the idea of live jazz and a comfy chair, my little party of four were slightly disappointed to arrive and find neither of the former and few of the latter – but perhaps that was more a slight on our part by setting the bar (mind the pun) a little too high for a Saturday night out rather than in.
The Pelican Club is definitely a refreshing, if not a little cramped, new addition to Nottingham’s night life. It opened last year but I only got round to visiting it for the first time at the weekend with my sister who was home for her birthday and the boyfriends. I’d heard positive reviews, but was keen to sample the ‘unique’ addition to the city myself. Live jazz compared to booming dubstep is certainly more my thing – and we have such offerings aplenty in Nottingham.
We arrived around 9pm and the performers were just setting up. Two cocktails later and not a seat in sight, there was still no jazz in the air, but there was a lovely buzz about the little restaurant and the staff were exceptionally helpful, suggesting certain cocktails for certain tastes without being asked.
The drinks were well made and presented, as well as well priced, and the food looked very good too. The atmosphere was one of murmured contentment from the drinkers and the eaters alike. I’d have liked to have been greeted by a hum of mellow jazz on arrival, but the Pelican Club certainly delivers on other points, namely offering a nice alternative to the run-of-the-mill bars in the city centre. I’d compare it to Tilt, Boilermaker and Malt Cross in terms of decor – but the combo of good smelling food and delicious cocktails knocks it up a few levels from other bars in my opinion.
7.5/10.
Girl about Nottingham 