Amazing staff from bar to door, not only LGBT+ friendly but supportive, decent prices for the area, open later than most and great music
A discriminatory bouncer
I’ve been going to the Common Rooms for over a year now. I’m a student in the city, I regularly recommend it to friends, and go there myself. It’s one of few actively queer spaces open late in the city, and so one I usually enjoy ending a night out in. However, last night, I went with my partner and this was absolutely not the case.
On our way in, the bouncer was talking with some patrons of the bar about how it should be acceptable to make offensive jokes. This conversation stopped rather pointedly when myself and my partner arrived at the door (us both being PoC and queer). This already created an uncomfortable environment in a place i usually associated as being accepting.
The bouncer then checked our legitimate IDs and attempted to reject our entry on the basis that he thought they were fake, as he claimed to not be able to feel the raised surnames on them. We at first left, offended that both of our legitimate IDs had been rejected for seemingly no reason. We could both clearly feel the raised names, I see no way I which he couldn’t. Given the conversation we had interrupted, I am left only to assume we were rejected on the basis of discrimination, whether for our race, sexuality, or gender, I am unsure.
However, after a few minutes we returned to ask for his name. Upon our walking back, we heard him comment to other patrons “here we go”, this treatment was both patronising and rude, highly unprofessional for a bouncer. He declined to give his name, claiming he was not police and did not have to give any details (something I assume is not policy, but massively impedes accountability for someone in a role with considerable power and often dealing with vulnerable people). I then asked to speak with another member of staff. He at first declined, but luckily a member of staff was in the smoking area and so checked over our IDs. This was Georgii, who immediately could feel the raised surnames and that our IDs were legitimate. To confirm this, Georgii then got a UV light. The bouncer, upon assuming our IDs to be fake again, then loudly proclaimed “Ha!” (Something again, not only childish and unprofessional, but actively quite aggressive). The UV did in fact, however, prove that our IDs were real, and so we were allowed into the club. Georgii apologised and offered us a free shot each, handling the situation very well. However, I can’t help but feel had we not been so lucky as to have Georgii in the smoking area would have been left rejected by a bouncer, who is either actively discriminating against patrons, or utterly incapable of distinguishing a real ID from a fake one.
I can’t help but feel, even with Georgii’s excellent conflict resolution, disappointed by a bar that I had previously seen as inclusive. For the sake of accountability, while I did not get the bouncer’s name, he was working on 13/12/24, we arrived at around 2:00 am. I am shocked and actually quite hurt by the discrimination we faced last night, and will think twice before returning to the Common Rooms again.
Absolutely lovely team, welcoming and professional. Chilled place to hang out late afternoon/early evening (new Pool Table upstairs) and a vibrant, cocktail and music-orientated bar into the late hours. RECOMMENDED
Great find in Bath! Felt nicely different to the other places I visited, very quirky and unique just my vibe. There was a nice mix of music/dancing as well as seating so we were able to have a chat upstairs. The decor was very cool, staff were lovely. Drinks were reasonably priced for a Saturday night. The DJ was amazing too! I was shocked at how good he was! If I return to bath I will 100% return.
If you like to party until late, this is your place. They close the doors like at 3am, the lastest in Bath. Nice bar, affordable price taking into account that you are in the UK...