Maybe The Lord Of The Rings has been getting to me but it looks as though the forces of evil are pitching up for a square go with the forces of good in Edinburgh.
OK, evil and good are putting it a bit strong. But judging by their names, two bars in Edinburgh's West End look set to battle it out for customers' hearts, souls and more importantly wallets.
On the side of the angels is Halo, the stylish cocktail bar we reviewed here last year.
Over in the dark corner with a devilish grin on its face is the more recently opened Vice.
Like being asked if you would like your tea, Vice isn't the first thing you associate with Edinburgh. As the oncegenteel George Street has let down its hair and become party central, Vice hopes to make the West End naughty but nice.
In keeping with its sinful name, Vice is a basement bar that lurks just out of sight on Shandwick Place a mere pitchfork-toss from Halo.
The first thing that strikes you as you go venture down the stairs to the entrance is that the place seems to glow with a cold blue light.
A bank of ultra violet lamps by the door cast a chilly gleam on everything. While it might look very inviting on a hot summer's night, it doesn't scream welcome in the depths of a Scottish winter.
It certainly seemed to have scared off most would-be sinners as there was only one other couple in apart from us at the back of eight on a Tuesday night.
Vice is the sort of place that needs a crowd to work.
Traditional bars can get away with a couple of old men and their dogs dotted about the joint. Vice can't.
It is clinically modern butwithout a scrum of punters giving it some va-va-voom it can be a bit like looking into an empty fridge.
It is basically split into two main areas. In front of the bar is a series of concrete and leather benches and tables. It's all very functional and trendy but looks rather cold and bare thanks to the UV lights.
To the side of the bar is a warmer, feeling area with a red wall and cube seats arranged around a large table. In between the two spaces are the DJ box and a sort of No Man's Land cum mini-dancefloor that is criss-crossed by red searchlights.
It is very bold and striking, but unless there's a crowd in you can't help but feel a bit isolated like you've been stuck in solitary in some prison.
So it was a relief when about 40 people all piled in shortly afterwards and injected a huge dose of atmosphere.
Fast forward to a Friday night, a few more drinks and a few more punters and you could see how people might get a taste for Vice.
The bar is owned by a local musician who goes under the single name of Raff. DJs play around the weekends, but even the CD that was on when we were there proved that the Devil has the best tunes.
The cocktails read a bit like the seven deadly sins.
The Bling champagne cocktail could be pride. The Rich Bitch rum pitchers would be envy and avarice is represented by the Moneyshot shooters. Sloth is what you feel the next day after too many Last Chance tequila cocktails.
As to whether Halo or Vice will win out, I expect they will co-exist quite happily. Halo will continue to attract a slightly older, perhaps more cash-rich crowd and Vice will pull in younger thrill seekers who like the ageing rockers AC/DC reckoned that Hell ain't a bad place to be.
Open: noon-1 am, seven days
Food: noon-8 pm, seven days
Drinks: Pint Tennents £2.70; bottled beers £2.80; glass of wine from £3.50; shooters £2.50; cocktails from £4.50
Rating: Three out of five
Details
0131 228 9147
Vice is the sort of place that needs a crowd to work.
Traditional bars can get away with a couple of old men and their dogs dotted about the joint. Vice can't.
It is clinically modern butwithout a scrum of punters giving it some va-va-voom it can be a bit like looking into an empty fridge.
It is basically split into two main areas. In front of the bar is a series of concrete and leather benches and tables. It's all very functional and trendy but looks rather cold and bare thanks to the UV lights.
To the side of the bar is a warmer, feeling area with a red wall and cube seats arranged around a large table. In between the two spaces are the DJ box and a sort of No Man's Land cum mini-dancefloor that is criss-crossed by red searchlights.
It is very bold and striking, but unless there's a crowd in you can't help but feel a bit isolated like you've been stuck in solitary in some prison.
So it was a relief when about 40 people all piled in shortly afterwards and injected a huge dose of atmosphere.
Fast forward to a Friday night, a few more drinks and a few more punters and you could see how people might get a taste for Vice.
The bar is owned by a local musician who goes under the single name of Raff. DJs play around the weekends, but even the CD that was on when we were there proved that the Devil has the best tunes.
The cocktails read a bit like the seven deadly sins.
The Bling champagne cocktail could be pride. The Rich Bitch rum pitchers would be envy and avarice is represented by the Moneyshot shooters. Sloth is what you feel the next day after too many Last Chance tequila cocktails.
As to whether Halo or Vice will win out, I expect they will co-exist quite happily. Halo will continue to attract a slightly older, perhaps more cash-rich crowd and Vice will pull in younger thrill seekers who like the ageing rockers AC/DC reckoned that Hell ain't a bad place to be.
Open: noon-1 am, seven days 
