The Case aims to provide an upmarket drinking and dining venue in the centre of Leicester.

It's laidback, slightly pretentious and its prices will make your wallet wince. But if you want a swanky cocktail bar you should give it a whirl and forget your finances for the evening.

The Venue
This bar is not lavishly decorated, opulent or flashy. On the contrary, it's quite discreet. But, the drink list and the prices sets it apart from your run of the mill restaurant and lounge bar.

The bar is on the ground floor with stairs up to the bright restaurant, and there is a cellar bar in the basement. Booths in light wood and petroleum green leather are dotted about and there are burgundy and white mosaic accents throughout.

A large skylight and little drops of crystal provide lots of light and make the place feel airy. Metal Champagne buckets mounted into columns provide a place to hang your coat, and they couldn't be more appropriate.

The People
People of all ages head to Case. Sophisticated youngsters who think they're a cut above the Leicester pub scene sip cocktails and look cool while fortysomethings seek refuge here from the hustle and bustle of other city centre watering holes.

Staff are friendly and respectful, although sometimes it can come across as pretentious which is a shame.

The Food
The Case does provide some nibbles to munch on but they're only available at lunch. For the evening, you are invited to make your way upstairs for a proper sit down dinner at their restaurant.

If you're there between 11.30am and 2.30pm, you can grab a sandwich or baguette (£4 to £5) with fillings like poached salmon, avocado and lemon mayo or warm brie, pepper and tomato chili jam or tuna, spring onion and red Leicester and many others.

You can also order a burger (which changes daily), a salad (£4.50 to £7) and the dressed crab and the pan-fried beef strips on rocket and tomato are particularly recommended.

Bite sized dishes including duck spring rolls, Thai king prawn wontons, battered squid in garlic mayo, brie and pesto goujons and others are priced between £2.35 and £4. Desserts (£1.25 to £4) and nibbles (£1.50 to £3) are available throughout the day so you'll be able to find something to snack on while sipping your cocktail.

The Drink
Obviously, the highlight is the Champagne and when it comes to choice, Case doesn't have a rival in Leicester. House Champagne, vintage, rose and non vintage are all available, but if you only want a glass you're forced to choose a house Champagne, all Henri Mandois priced at £4.85 to £5.25 a glass and £27 to £29 for a bottle.

The non vintage range includes bottles of Moet Et Chandon Brut Imperial, Pol Roger White Foil, Gosset, Perrier Jouet Grand Brut and several others, all are priced from £32.50 to £42.50 a bottle.

Some vintages are affordable at £23.50 to £70 but you may need a special occasion to justify splurging on the others. Prices can go from £84 to £300, and include bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2000 (almost cheap at £165), Krug Vintage 1995, Belle Epoque 1993, Bollinger Grand Annee 1999 and many others. Some of the rose are also painful on the wallet with bottles starting at £50 but rising to £400.

If you don't want to spend more than you earn in a week there are the cocktails. Priced between £5.50 and £7 the selection is mostly Champagne based. There is the unusual Strawberry and Pimms Bellini, Guinness and Champagne and the Champagne Mandarine Napoleon are the most intriguing ones. A few mocktails (£3) complete the list.

The Last Word
If you have more money than you know what to do with, Case Champagne could be your everyday hangout. But if you're a bit more down to earth, it's a good place for a celebration or for a first date, if you really want to impress them.

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