When I last visited Louisa’s Place (St Mary's Road, Market Harborough) on Friday, I was struck by the great atmosphere and ambience. Admittedly, weekends are not always the truest measure of any bar’s enduring appeal, but this place needs checking out, any day of the week.
Working week done, office workers, local residents and a few from slightly further afield created a hum of both excitement and relaxation, eased by a steady supply of lovingly-made, delicious cocktails courtesy of Callum and his excellent, prompt staff. To top it all, regular musical act Danny G (a.k.a. Giardiello) played two sets, as he had done in Kibworth’s The Swan a fortnight ago, just before he shared a stage with this blogger at HallatonFest, over bank holiday. Accompanied this time by a percussionist, Danny tears through material ranging from The Beatles through to Ed Sheeran, via Oasis, Train, Tracey Chapman and many other, more contemporary tastes.
Meantime, as the standing area by the main bar transforms to a dance floor, a tasteful 50th party spills out from a secluded, stylish alcove nearby to groove. Suddenly, conversations, coats, cocktails and cool handbags are discarded as people rush to dance, sing along and lose themselves for a bit, as only they can to good, live music. A range of age and social groups- business people to small gaggles of friends to larger girls’ or boys’ nights out- can all enjoy this terrific venue and its buzz.
I reckon Louisa’s Place goes from strength to strength and will remain one of the town’s very top bars, satisfying anybody who desires a wide variety of fine drinks, good company, top staff and a really enjoyable experience, with live music thrown in.
Tommy Lloyd-Jones 9/9/19
