From talking with a "bar designer": Every bar should have a choke point, that is a place where customers have to squeeze past many other customers. This isn't an annoyance, but an essential part of the experience.
That's interesting. Anecdotal evidence on my part says that a party anywhere will benefit from the same thing. Basically, to get people talking you need to (a) get them drinking and (b) cause them to have close contact that busts their personal space.
Big empty rooms kill the buzz. Two different spots with a choke point in between make it rock. Think inside (doorway) outside, or lounge (doorway) kitchen. Even better when everyone has to make the pilgrammage between (ie, toilets, drinks ,etc).
I imagine it's for the same reasons. In my single days, I always stood/sat at the bar. You're guaranteed a turnover of people to talk to.
We should have such a 'bar designer' write an article on the main trick that makes designing bars different from designing other things, that'd be really interesting methinks. Is the guy you talked to a fried/acquaintance? You think you can get him to let up some more tricks ;) ?
