IT IS the vibrant lounge in the heart of Shirley in Southampton.

Santo Lounge in Shirley Road, offers a home-from-home atmosphere contrasting the hustle and bustle of the busy high-street. 

The venue, which is one of Bristol-based bar chain - Loungers, opened its doors five years ago, and is managed by Jess Edwards who previously worked at the White Star. 

Once a month attendees can enjoy live music, the next of which will be a Flamenco evening with a singer, dancer and guitarist, who will be flying all the way from Barcelona to perform in the Shirley venue. 

On a Sunday evening visitors can also enjoy a quiz night for £1 and on a Tuesday evening diners, can compliment tapas dishes with a glass of wine for under £10. 

The venue is one of three lounges in the city, the others being Trago in Portswood and Maritimo Lounge, at Ocean Village.

“It’s the atmosphere. It doesn’t feel like its work, it just feels like people are coming to my home.”

“Each person that works here is an individual and that is what makes us different, we don’t try and conform,” said Jess.

“You don’t have to leave your personality at the door, like you do with some jobs.”

The kitchen cook’s fresh meals every day and the menu runs from morning to evening, so you can have steak at breakfast time or a full English for dinner. 

In the lounge, there are daily newspapers including the Echo which customers can read at their leisure. 

There are also board games and a book borrowing system which means people can bring in old books and trade them in for venues books – which were purchased for charity shops in Shirley. 

Fresh coffee is served well into the evening as the bar and café close at 11pm every night of the week. 

“We have a massive number of regulars and we are a very family orientated venue,” said Jess. 

In the school holidays the lounge has craft tables where children alongside adults create artistic items that they can take home. 

“We are a home from home, with the best possible service,” said the manager, who lives in Calmore

There are currently 90 loungers venues nationwide with more planned to open this year.