Vina Karaoke Bar

I came here for a girl’s birthday drinks. She enjoyed it and so did I after I’d had more drinks but you do need them. It’s q bit of a meat market (although it was Saturday night). I was disappointed as I was thinking «ooh a karaōke bar in Chinatown, what fun» expecting it to be a bit quirky. Maybe hoping for some Japanese businessmen feeling homesick and pouring their heart into an Elvis number. Some pop kitschy booths maybe. But it’s just a big black underground room and no trace of irony.
Rekorderlig was £4.50. San Miguel was £3.80.

It would be interesting to see if there has been an increase in the popularity of karaōke nights and bars in the wake of the supernova success of cleverer-​than-​it-​seems TV sing-​along dramedy Glee. There has definitely been an increase in the amount of people requesting Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing at least, on my last visit to Vina when the DJ read out the title of the song five separate groups of people stood up to sing.
We ended up singing it in the end, pretty much everyone who had come out for my friend’s birthday crowded around two microphones. It was really a lot of fun; almost everyone in the room stood up and sang along. And that’s Vina, everyone is trying to get into the spirit of it — they are at least trying to have a nice time, which is very commendable.
At the bar drinks are cheapish — with a bottles of beer for under £3 and single spirit and mixers going for about the same. The décor is death by plywood and mirror but the DJ is cheerful and the between song music bounces along to the rhythm of the chart. There is always a couple though, a young couple who will individually get up and sing Mariah Carey songs to one another, completely straight-​faced. Always-​always.

Its certainly not the best karaōke in town but it ain’t half fun in Vina some nights. Its open late — until half two every day except Fridays and Saturdays when you won’t be chucked out until half three in the mornings.
Very cheap drinks as standard in places like this — but if you’re skint, you’re skint. You should still be able to have fun (!). I’d definitely recommend this place for a great late night out, if you want somewhere a bit different. They have karaōke in both English and Chinese which is ve-​ery entertaining — come with a group and you won’t stop laughing. Plus its absolutely free to sing.
Their DJ plays the standard: RnB and Funky House to get people dancing. Not for everyone i.e. not for pretentious posers who care more about what they/​other people/​the bar looks like than having a laugh.