Reason for cheer

Pubs and lounge bars extend Happy Hours and throw in freebies, inviting guzzlers to beat the heat of recession and rising mercury levels

On a hot evening, you'd expect the city's pubs and lounge bars to be jammed with people drinking their pints or lingering over their glasses. The snaking queues at the bar counter and the long wait for a table may be things of the past due to the downturn, but what's bringing cheer to guzzlers is the increasing number of deals and promotions that are coming their way.u00a0

Indijoe
Indijoe, on HAL Airport Road, has extended Happy Hours from 2 hours previously to 8 hours a day now. Joseph Satyanandan, manager, says, "Happy Hours now start at 12 noon and go on till 8 pm. This came after requests from customers."
Where: Indijoe, Carlton Towers, Old Airport Road
Call: 4111 3636

Tavern Inn
Situated on Museum Road, Tavern Inn prides itself on its 'English-pub' ambience. To woo customers, the Happy Hours have been extended from 7 pm to 8 pm every day. The special rates under the Happy Hours scheme, which were earlier applicable only to domestic brands of liquor, are now applicable to all brands. V Balakrishna, F&B executive, says. "The new marketing strategy is helping us do decent business."
Where: Tavern Inn, Museum Inn, and Museum Road
Call: 4111 3333

Couch
Located on MG Road, Couch responded to the downturn with a Recession Nights offer. Guzzlers get a 50 per cent discount on their bar bill from Monday to Friday from 12 noon to 6 pm. The offer was introduced three weeks ago, according to Keith Thyagarajan, manager. Earlier, customers would get a free drink with every drink they ordered during Happy Hours. On Wednesdays now, the 50 per cent off on liquor bills is extended till 11 pm.
Where: MG Road
Call: 4151 2898

Vaayu
Vaayu, the open-air lounge bar on the fifth floor of Eva Mall, may not have revised their Happy Hours schedule but they are dangling another bait. "Earlier, Happy Hours' rates were applicable to select drinks, but now we offer the special rates on all spirits," says Sandeep T S,u00a0 senior steward. Vaayu launched Ladies Night on Thursdays three months ago. Women get unlimited liquor free from 8 pm till 11 pm, but they have to limit their choices to certain brands.
Where: 5th Floor, Eva Mall, Brigade Road
Call: 4111 8477

The Sports Bar
The Sports Bar launched an offer called Tank Up in February. For Rs 561 (including taxes), they offer unlimited beer, unlimited domestic spirits, and two vegetarian and two non-vegetarian starters. The offer is on from 12 noon to 9 pm through the week.u00a0 A Niranjan, manager, says, "We had to respond to the recession. Since we are a new place, such an offer makes for a good marketing strategy."

They've also introduced a Privilege Card offer last month, where customers who notch up bills of more than Rs 1,000 get suprise gifts on subsequent visits.
Where: The Pavillion, MG Road
Call: 6454 1491