Foreign affair for trendy bars as tastes change

Foreign vodkas are top of the hit list for customers in the UK's most fashionable bars, according to new research.

A team at Newcastle University found more discerning customers had dropped lager in favour of imported spirits.

The traditional post-pub kebab was also out, with Mediterranean meze, a selection of small dishes served with bread, the most popular food choice among trendy pub-goers.

Clothing is also important and the team found that in many cases doorstaff were turning people away if they did not wear the appropriate brand of clothing. The most popular brand was Dolce & Gabbana.

The study, backed by £117,000 of funding from the government's Economic and Social Research Council, compared changes in the bar scene in Leeds, Newcastle and Bristol.

It concluded that, in Leeds in particular, doorstaff made quick choices about who gets in by looking for certain brands of shoes, coats, and sportswear.

Dr Paul Chatterton, of the centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University, said: "Leeds' expanse of style bars and cafés reflects recent rises in female employment and the boom in city centre living and office development."

The city has seen an influx of national operators, with Chorion's Tiger Tiger among the most recent openings. Leeds has pioneered staggered licensing hours, and the city centre has almost 50 late licences.

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