Max’s Bar & Grill

I can only review as a bar as I ain’t eaten here…
As a bar it is decent, seems a bit rough about the edges in a dive bar type of way, but the clientele usually are ok and the atmosphere always seems pleasant enough. It’s got a lot going on, In that there is a club down stairs, food is served upstairs and there is also a lot of focus on it just being a pub.
I’ve been a good few times and it’s usually mobbed. I think that’s partly because there ain’t any other decent pubs on queen street (that I can think of) and it means everyone heads here. In other areas it might not be my first destination, but where it is it ranks quite highly amongst the places I would stop for a pint if passing. Sometimes it even has some unusual bottles of craft beer hidden in the fridges which is always a good thing.
Could be a three on anther street, but a better option on queen street, so I will go with a positive 4 stars.

Max’s Is somewhere I seem to always forget about and I think it is down to location. It sits smack bang right on the middle of Queen St. Some would say it a perfect location but I always find myself the other side of town when it comes to nights out.
It was a Friday we had a table reserved as there was a big group of us. We booked for 10 but the table provided would definitely not fit 10 people luckily we were not there for a evening meal. So yes book ahead of you want a table.
As someone the party were eating there was table service for drinks — Which was pretty decent.
In past I have always had in my head that it was an expensive bar but 2.50 for a spirit was alright.
The food looked like decent pub grub. I’d have not objections to eating in there.
Max’s has a really cool vibe to, laid back casual and good music. One to watch out for when down that end of town!

Chicken & waffles! Chicken & waffles! I needed lunch and was on Queen Street. I’d had Max’s bookmarked for ages but it’s an easy place to be put off by as I don’t think it looks all that appealing from the front. That’s until you pause to look at the menu and see chicken & waffles — then you’ll be busting down the door to get in.
I took a seat at the window which is probably the best seats in the place — you’re higher than street level so you won’t have people eyeing off your food as they walk past & it’s excellent for people watching. I checked that the chicken wasn’t on the bone (nope) and ordered that for my lunch and added bacon on for £1. It comes with BBQ and maple syrup and they boast that they have a special American waffle iron. The dish arrived quickly and it was absolutely heavenly. I can’t fault any of it — even the BBQ sauce was nice and I normally hate BBQ sauce. There was a good amount of chicken and the waffles were super delicious. I don’t love bacon (controversial) but this was some pretty delicious bacon. All up, it was an awesome lunch dish and reasonable portion for the £9.95.
I stayed on a while to get some work done. Staff were friendly and helpful and overall, I liked the vibe of this place. Overall though, this place is looking pretty run down with ripped chairs and the loos were in a bit of a state — it really needs a spruce up. I’d definitely go back though now I know how good the food is so it wouldn’t totally put me off.

This is more of a review for the club side of things than the food I’m afraid! Since Chambre 69 closed down, Make Do (which is also now closed if I’m not mistaken) and La Cheetah have been filling in the gap in the club scene, although with the Arches shutting down I think it’s definitely time for a couple of new openings!
I’ve had some great nights in La Cheetah, mostly techno nights, although they put on a wide variety of dj’s. You usually have to get tickets if it’s someone big, and pay in on the door if not. Upstairs Max’s bar provides an odd opportunity to mingle with people who are there for a quiet few drinks as you stumble to the toilet with bass still ringing in your ears! The bar up there is really swanky though, and can be a welcome respite from the dancefloor or overcrowded smoking area. The space downstairs isn’t huge and only has one bar, where the drinks are relatively cheap for a club.
The dj booth is opposite from the bar on the other side of the dancefloor, and the cloakroom is opposite the stairway as you come in, so all very easy to navigate and hard to lose people in even on crowded nights. The vibe usually starts off slowly and then gets mental around ½am for the last couple hours.
It’s a well placed club for getting home/​to the afterparty in a taxi, with ranks nearby that are somewhat less crowded than those near central station.
A really fun club with a nice, happy vibe and lots of interesting underground electronic music acts, highly recommend!