Here you can see what's happening weekly, share memories, poke other people with a facebook stick and maybe make new friends. Then maybe meet them in real life for a tea and a bit of cake. (Or a beer and fag on the terrace)
Started by Doc Rob Howe (who now runs the Bicycle Shop) and the Rt Hon Jacqui MacKay (She works for Banana link now, go check them out) in 1998, the bar has evolved steadily a
nd wobbly, maintaining the spirit, the va-va-voom, the wow and flutter of the early days with an ongoing creative hotpot of artists, writers, musicians, actors and general oddbods. We have all sorts going on - interesting DJ's, Buffemporium (every Tuesday), DJ Leon, Spenny, The Anthropologist, DJ Luke, Wiqwar, Smokin Joe Jnr, I-Tombs, Chrome, Sure-D and many more; live music (Grook Presents, fundraisers and more); Book launches (Andrea Holland, Judith Lal, Helen Ivory and Sarah Laws have all launched their poetry books from the Playroom); and of course, the riverside terrace where you can smoke like a lord. We have two exhibition spaces too! If your interested hunt down Christopher Joyner at the bar and have a chat. It's free to exhibit and we don't take a cut of anything you sell. Heres what the lovely guys at SHhhh Collective have to say about us in their Beginners Guide to Norwich:
"Chances are you may have already come across this theatre/drinking establishment opposite Norwich University of the Arts. As with many places in this guide, The Playhouse is an absolute salwart of the Norwich scene. Throughout the year you can treat yourself to a wealth of comedy, arts, music and drama in the lovely 300 seat theatre with touring performance from around the globe. Of course grandiose excitrement lies in the larger venues both in the city and out, but something genuinely unique goes on in the walls of this intimate space. As well as this, there is The Playhouse Bar. We dont claim to predict the future in this guide but we can assure you that this watering hole will be your downfall. The double whammy of both summer and winter allure will guarantee your spot as a regular. Be it hours spent in the garden sipping gin with friends (and dogs) or a winter filled wth hot spiced cider and endless tea, You'll struggle to find a more popular or well-loved bar. It doesnt even end there, fantastic food of all desccriptions feature throughout the year as well as local gigs, record sales and resident DJ's. No one can drag themselves away from The Playhouse Bar, not even the staff. You can try but it just wont work. Like Narnia, weeks and months can pass by with the outside world seemingly unaffected, until you sober up that is. As soon as you take the first step into this little world, you'll be more than thankful."
