The residents of Witney share their mid-week night out secret with a wide-eyed RICHARD BELL at Fat Lil’s.

Having spent almost all of my time in Oxford partying in the city centre or clubbing at some destination along the Cowley Road, I find that visiting one of the outer lying towns like Witney can be something of a wake-up call (if for no other reason than it makes me realise I have no idea what Witney residents do for a night out...).

Getting to the city centre can be difficult, and the last bus back doesn’t really allow for the kind of hours many of us invest in venues like the Purple Turtle, the Cellar or Lava Ignite, drinking and dancing our way to the three o’clock curfew.

And this brings with it a necessity for Witney itself to provide its residents with something fun to do in the middle of the week, and in my latest foray beyond the borders of the city centre I believe I may have found something rather good.

The music and comedy club Fat Lil’s plays host every Wednesday to a night called Acoustic Lounge, where an open mic event offers anyone who decides to come along the opportunity to sit back, drink and watch the surprisingly high quality array of acts take to the stage to entertain.

Equally, if they are feeling brave, or possibly just drunk enough, they can take to the stage themselves...

The free entry only enhances this ‘all are welcome’ philosophy; an open arms approach that I’ve always responded to very well (if only I could convince the organisers to have the same attitude with their beers).

Lounge is a spot-on description for this night, as Fat Lil’s really does give the impression of being a lounge.

Sofas and attractively arranged tables help to create a wonderfully intimate atmosphere, essential for any night where performers may be feeling nervous.

Indeed, the performers and crowd are all part of the same entity, and so everyone – whether performing or not – can feel like part of this night.

It’s a lot like hanging out at a friends’ house, but a friends’ house with a fully stocked bar in it...