Cool Place of the Day: The Birdcage, Norwich

Every day, a new place to discover or explore from coolplaces.co.uk

The Birdcage, Norwich

Situated in the heart of the Norwich Lanes, this art-deco style building houses one of our favourite pubs ­in the city – which incidentally is famous for having a watering-hole for every day of the year. In an age when a lot of pubs can look the same, the Birdcage is delightfully – and uniquely – eccentric, decorated with a stripped-back 1960s vibe and furnished in a deliberately retro, mix-and-match style. It stages regular cabaret events, film screenings, poetry readings and DJ slots; there are board games for quieter occasions, wi-fi, life-drawing classes and in the Bridge and the Ballroom spaces regular regular live music and art and design exhibitions, with a focus on international street art.

But, entertainment aside, it's just a great place to drink and hang out, with a renowned spirit and cocktail offering and a good choice of ales. Apart from cupcakes to go with your coffee, they don't do food, but if you do get peckish they don't mind you nipping across the road to the excellent Grosvenor Fish Bar and bringing your fish and chips back and eating them in the bar – maybe even sharing them with the pub cat, Maraud. Why aren't more pubs like this?

Cool Places is a website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)