November is that in between time of year, it isn’t quite close enough for Christmas, and Halloween’s just gone – so where are the excuses to party? Luckily, there are plenty, with several new places opening in the next few weeks – so keep a lookout for these great new venues:

Expect Volume (LG/F, 83-85 Hollywood Road, Noho 2857 7683) to be a breath of fresh air when it opens on November 3. Kitschy and gimmicky it may be, but with its Alter Ego nights every Friday from November 10, it might just prove to be a good laugh. Staff will dress up and act in their ‘alter-ego’ personas over the course of the evening and patrons are encouraged to do so as well. They also have specialty cocktails that are named after songs. If you’re at the bar and the song comes on, you can get 2 for 1 for that cocktail.

Deli Lamma (1/F, 37 D’Aguilar Street, Central, 25221292) the island watering hole is opening a branch in Central on November 3. They’ll be serving up Indian and Western cuisine, which you can enjoy outdoors on their rooftop balcony. More details are available at their website: www.lamma.com.hk/deli.

In Central, look out for Solas (G/F, 60 Wyndham Street, 3162 3710) a bar and lounge that is sure to be sizzling – solas is Irish for light, and the owners are looking to bring a splash of modern Ireland to our shores. 10 years Strawberry Café & Disco is no more - has it really been that long - the site has been taken over, renovated and reopens as Galaxy (Bsmt, 48 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, 2866 1031). Word on the grapevine is that the Bull and Bear (corner of Fenwick Street and Jaffe Road) is opening sometime in mid-November. You might not find any lawyers at this Temple Bar, but perhaps partying here will prove to be a religious experience, opening soon in Soho. Across our fragrant harbour in Kowloon, Why has just opened its doors on Minden Avenue in another addition to Kowloon’s Lan Kwai Fong.

Along with new places, we’ve got new drinks too:

Over at The Globe (39 Hollywood Road, 2543 1941), they have a large collection of beers (nearly 100) and during their November Beer Festival they are bringing more out to HK. Since the beginning of October they have had De Koninck 1833 (according to Toby the manager, the best draught beer in the world) and at the beginning of this month, they are air freighting Abbot Ale in from the UK and later we can expect to see Windhock arriving from Namibia.

Tsing Tao, China’s best-selling beer, has announced a change in packaging to reflect unity across all its markets worldwide. China, and the Western market have already received the bottles with
the beer’s new look. Both the label and the bottle have been revamped, though the unmistakable green, and of course its taste, remain the same.

If you’ve always wanted to spray yourself with champagne Formula One style – you can now do it with authenticity. The House of Mumm, the official sponsors of Formula One and the champagne of choice to spray on the Grand Prix podiums have just launched four of their champagnes in the local market: Mumm Cordon Rouge, Mumm Grand Cru, Mumm De Cramant and Mumm Rosé. It’s available at California, C Club, Drop, Edge, Lux, Mooch, Red and Sugar starting at $438 a bottle.

Some old favourites, with new promotions:

Head down to our neighbors at Devil’s Advocate to ease the effect of drink – on your wallet that is. Enjoy Coronas at $25HH/$35 or grab a bucket of 5 for you and your friends at $110HH/$155 while you watch live rugby and cricket on the big screen. Wednesday nights are their Standard Chartered Night: $20 bottled beers and house spirits from 9pm until closing time if you can pay with a twenty dollar Standard Chartered note. And if you’re super organised, they’ll take your Christmas bookings now.

If you fancy yourself a connoisseur of great malt whiskys then The Canny Man’s (Bsmt, Wharney Guangdong Hotel, 37-73 Lockhart Road, 2861 1965) whisky tasting is perfect for you. On November 15, from 7:30pm you can sample the Macallan range of 12, 18, 25 and 30 years, as well as their Macallan Inspiration 1851. $100, $50 for Whisky Club members.
JJ’s (Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, 2584 7662) are having martini and champagne promotions throughout November. On Wednesdays you can ‘buy one get one free’ on selected champagnes, and on Thursdays, lucky ladies are entitled to complimentary martinis from 9.30pm until closing.

Maya, that oasis of calm in the heart of Wanchai has their Happy Hour from 3pm to 6pm, and then ‘buy one get one free’ on selected bottle beers and house spirits from 6pm to 9pm. Relax on Sunday evenings from 7pm with live music featuring funk, soul, blues and jazz. Catch all your favourite flicks on Mondays at Movie Night, starting from 9:30pm.

The Marco Polo German Bierfest is in full swing over the next two weeks, so remember to grab your lederhosen and head down to the Marco Polo Hotel (Canton Road, TST, 2113 0088) to enjoy great bier, sausages, sauerkraut, red cabbage, pigs knuckle, pretzels, strudel, black forest gateaux... accompanied by the sounds of The Notenhoblers from 7:30pm onwards. $85 Sun- Thu, $150 Fri, Sat, PH eve and Halloween Night.

Watch out for the Xtreme! Hong Kong Pub Race on November 25. A cross between a pub crawl, Fear Factor and the Amazing Race on booze. It’s sure to be a rollicking good time. Enter your teams of 4 at www.wanchai.cn
or email info@wanchai.cn. First prize is your own Stella Artois Keg Party. Ready? Go!