About the venue: Salvador and Amanda

Four out of Five stars

Salvador & Amanda is a warm basement cave of Spanish revelry, bringing earthy colours and hearty cackles to the strip of Great Newport Street. For a venue that is rather smart, the door policy is pleasingly non-exclusive, and Mohammed, the genial doorman, could open a one man charm school on non-aggressive people-sifting techniques.

As well as furniture scattered round the room, there is a central section of tables grouped together and fenced round in what resembles an Arabic style gazebo, with waist-height wood walls and a roof. This is ideal for booking to eat or socialise in larger groups, and means you have some privacy within the buzz of a larger venue. Dark stone and rusty claret hues both smooth and intense lend ruggedness to the interior. Creamily dusky lighting from some great lamps gives an atmosphere of an illicit meeting room, with some bright colours penetrating from the stained window at the far end. The shades of darkness and small surreal touches like the black and white figures skittering on a TV screen, which is set into the brick wall and framed like a picture, slightly reminded me of a film set by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Unlike surrealist French cinema though, here there is plenty to eat (not including other people) and drink, which makes no end of difference to the general atmosphere. Sangria-making has been turned into an art form, featuring among others white Sangria with vodka and peach schnapps, and ‘Jamgria’ made with Coconut rum and pineapples. Cocktails and shots also abound, the most expensive drink costs £6.00. A selection of appetising tapas from £3 to £8 is on offer to eat: all stalwart stuff with a southern Spanish bent like Tortilla, mussels, Jabugo ham, squid, Moorish kebabs and Goat’s cheese.

DJ’s play from Thursdays to Saturdays, and El Gordo, the party on Saturday nights, features fabulous eclectic music supplied by the Boilerhouse Boys, who promise to get you ‘rocking like a 21st Century Balearic free spirit.’ So if you want to relax and drink or dance on the tables, you can blast the winter blues away with some Spanish heat here.

Reviewed by - Diana de Cabarrus