Quick roundup of bar goings-on this week. Fubar has redesigned and looks great – the bar now stretches around in an L-shape, while the mezzanine has been extended into a balcony that snakes around the wall to meet up with the elevated platform at the back of the bar. The ceiling feels lower, the bar has a warmer, more intimate ambiance than before and when you compare it with the original look, you can’t help but feel that Fubar 2.0 is an idea fully – and very successfully – realized.

It's that time again: With the weekend fast approaching, here's your weekly check-in on what's happening in Beijing's bar scene. This week, Chad Lager tells us what's next for him, there's almost-free drinking to be done at Red House in Sanlitun, and a new bar for Shunyi suburbanites to enjoy a pint and a football game on the weekend. Raise your glasses.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of all that's going on in nightlife this weekend in Beijing. Tonight (Nov 12) sees the grand opening of Link Star, the new club-lounge in World City (north of The Place). It's a decent little spot, with a good layout. Getting taxis around that area is often a bit tough at night, but it's worth a look. The party's free and kicks off at 9pm. Over at Chaoyang Park West Gate, Suzie Wong's hosts their monthly Suzie's Night party, from 10pm. The champagne will be flowing.

Starting off with some - if it's true - morbid news, we wanted to comment on the rumored “murder in Sanlitun.” In early June, several eyewitnesses claimed to have seen a local Chinese woman brutally murdered on Sanlitun bar street. This Global Times’ article reports on the incident, but seems to cast some doubt as to whether the attack truly took place. If it did indeed happen in and around Bar Street, it seems likely no matter what time of day it took place that there would have been enough witnesses around to make sure we'd have heard a lot more gossip on the subject. If the incident took place away from the main bar strips, it may just have been possible to keep chatter to a minimum, but it's all really just speculation so long as the police continue to deny that any such incident took place. However, there does seem to have been an increase in violence - albeit mostly petty - around Sanlitun Houjie in recent months. Maybe it's just the summer heat bringing bigger crowds outside, maybe it's people getting tanked on ten-kuai drinks full of suspect alcohol, but it's a while since we've heard of fights going on with such regularity. Stay cool, people.

Welcome to this week's roundup of all things drink. Beginning with news of another new opening; Little Britain is almost ready to open its doors in Lido and will be firing on all cylinders come Friday. With a food menu featuring traditional hearty British fare like fish and chips, bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes to any non-UK readers) and, of course, the great British breakfast, complemented by RMB 50 Guinness and daily happy hours, Little Britain will serve as a welcome alternative for the Lido drinking set.