Pretty fairylights twinkle on outdoor furniture and, inside, this bar is buzzing. Zed is a popular spot for over 25s, especially on a Saturday.

The Venue
Zed is one of the most popular in the town. This place is part of the well known Arc Inspirations chain which owns The Box, The Arc, Trio and so on. Furnishings look new or well kept, with a continuous mahogany wood theme throughout, purple walls and gentle soft lighting which gives a trendy and sophisticated feel to the place.

With built-in Wi-Fi, this place is as popular during the day as it at night. It's a reasonable-sized bar, which is great as it can get really busy. There's plenty of seating as well, from stools to soft leather sofas. The overall appearance is very contemporary and cool, with attractive metal lightshades and round tables at the side of the room with round-edged sofas.

Furniture continues outside as well where there is a wooden decking patio with lots of tables and chairs for meals and drinks on warmer days, or to please smokers. Toilets are immaculate and very clean with the continuous contemporary feel very much present, even in the bathrooms.

The People
It is immediately clear that Zed (or any of the other bars in Chapel Allerton for that matter) is a non-student hangout. Most of the people who come here are around 25 or older, possibly young professionals. However, it is also common to see a minority of older people.

The atmosphere is informal, with the general dresscode being smart-casual: jeans and trainers or something slightly fancier. The laidback atmosphere means that you can wear pretty much anything you like.

Zed is the kind of place where you go for a quiet drink and end up seeing numerous people you know. It's a mixed crowd, from couples on a date to work colleagues on a night out. There's often a lot of mingling so it’s a great place to meet friends or more.

The Food
This bar has lots of indoor and outdoor seating so Zed makes for a perfect place to enjoy lunch or dinner. The menu is large and varied, from gourmet burgers to homemade soups, with the average price tag of around £8 to £10. Main meals include traditional steak and ale pie (£9.75), Indonesian prawn curry (£10.25) and sizzling vegetable fajitas (£10.25). Gourmet burgers include halloumi and squash (£8.25) and smoked salmon and haddock open burger (£8.25).

It's all very comforting fare, and if you're suffering from the effects of the night before you can treat yourself to brunch - Zed's big breakfast is £6.95 or there's muesli for £4.25. Brunch is served until 4pm, so it's perfect for lazy days. There's various deals throughout the week, all along the lines of a meal and a selected drink for a knockdown price, and there's 50 per cent off your food bill on a Tuesday, which isn't to be sniffed at.

The Drink
The bar offers a stylish and sophisticated drinks menu which includes champagne. There is also a cocktail menu where prices are the average at around £5, and they do two for one cocktails on selected evenings. Other drinks deals include a large glass of rose for £2.95, or, if you go there on a weekday from 5pm to 8pm, you can get a small glass of wine, a pint of Amstell or a spirit and a mixer for just £1.95. There's an abundance of various types of spirits, shooters and liqueurs which are laid out neatly and temptingly across the bar.

The Last Word
Zed is clean, well kept and has a great atmosphere for a chilled out drink with friends. This is a great place for an evening meal and a drink before heading off to a club in the city centre. However, if you're after a quiet meal, be prepared at about 9pm for the place to quickly convert from a quiet restaurant to a bustling and vibrant bar.

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