Like the old Soviet-style shops, night spots in Novgorod appear to be buried deep in the housing estates. You can’t see them during the day. The trick is to go out after dark with night-vision goggles and look for some extra bright lights reflected in the puddles, for which Novgorod is famous. People complain about Russian roads but in Novgorod you could drown on the pavements.

Anyway, I eventually stumbled upon the Atlantik Cafe.

Anyone over 40 will probably need night-vision goggles inside this club. It was only after loading pictures into the PC the next day that I discovered that the local women were quite OK. Alas, too late.

The table next to mine was preparing for a party. The funny-coloured orange juice obviously had something Russian in it. Brake-fluid? Anyway, it looked like a really good spread until the party arrived.

Table at the Atlantic at 7.30 pm

Table at the Atlantic at 10.30 pm

Novgorod Russians appear to start out on vodka and then sober up with beer and wine. Note the marked absence of coffee cups. I think this guy is only asleep because the girl next to him spent the entire evening sending SMS.