With the shortage of licenses for new venues, testing out a "new" bar in Barcelona is rather like going on a date with Ana Obregón: you can be sure that you'll have seen the place before and that it'll since have had a nip and tuck or two. You just won't know whether the change has been for the better or worse.

Why, since summer alone we've already seen the lush wine lounge ànima3 reopen as studenty skater-den Nevermind, undergoing what can best be described as a chemical peel gone wrong - though developing a much friendlier personality en route.

On the other side of Ramblas, meanwhile, Pepino had a much easier task. Opening earlier this month, they've transformed the storm-ridden Donegal pub into a restaurant-cum-cocktail bar. Just keep it down - the previous owner is facing up to ten years for noise infringements.