Beer fanatics form an orderly queue, please. Republic Bier Halle deserves your respect.

The Venue
This basement bar is raw and masculine, just like beer. There's a slightly industrial feel to the decor and original materials have been left on view. The floor is bare concrete, wall benches are supported by metal bars, and hunks of wood have been chopped into sturdy bar stools.

There is decoration of sorts, in the form of metal net containers filled with sharp rocks. And there are a couple of gentler touches, like the light panel of an alpine view. The place is rather hot and not particularly bright. Everywhere there are exposed bricks and the whole place feels like a cave-like bunker that is, thankfully, very enjoyable to be in.

The People
Staff are as unpretentious as the surroundings, and peeking out of their official RBH T-shirt are a few tattoos, and there's a fair number of piercings, too. Republic Bier Halle can get quite loud - you could blame it on the low ceilings but in reality this drinking den booms with exuberant alcohol-fuelled chatter.

It's an informal place, so ditch your high heels (not a good option when walking down badly lit stairs) or your freshly ironed shirt - jeans and trainers are enough here. For maximum enjoyment, bring along a group of friends who share your love of beer. This place will guarantee a spectacular night out.

The Food
They serve snacks, salads (£4.50 to £6) and tasty pizza. Nibbles include a German bratwurst hotdog (£3). It goes down particularly well with beer, as anybody can tell you.

Pizza is a good complement as well, and those of Republic Bier Halle are carefully crafted just moments after you place your order. The price range is more than acceptable at £7 to £10. And their classic Italian varieties are perfectly cooked. There are some exceptions to the rule though, like the frightening prospect of pizza with black pudding and free-range egg. They claim it's perfect with beer, but that’s for you to decide.

The Drink
Ever heard of Chimay Cinq Cents, La Chouffe, Keo from Cyprus, the Cuban Crystal, Asahi Kuronama from Japan, Dos Equos from Mexico? If you do, you're probably lying or you work at Republic Bier Halle. Here there are more beers than you can think of, and certainly more than you could drink.

There are 10 draughts and a long, geographically diverse and slightly expensive list of bottles. These are grouped not only by country but by quality as well. Prices range from £3.05 to £5.40 but there are peaks, with Chimay Cinq Cents a whopping £9.50.

The draught ales (£3.05 to £4.35) may not be as interesting but you can order it in two pint glasses, which will get you going (to the loo)for a good portion of the night. They also serve a handful of cocktails at £5, and wine is between £13 and £15 a bottle.

The Last Word
Even a beer phobic could be cured at the Republic Bier Halle, and beer lovers may find that they fall in love all over again.

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