Previously, I've visited Boxers HK on a few occasions, and the experience was generally a positive one. The bar personnel were very friendly, and the ambiance was pleasant. However, my most recent visit, the first Saturday in May 2013 at about 11:45 pm, was a great disappointment. As opposed to my previous visits, the bar's lighting was reduced to almost nothing and the music was way too loud. Particularly in the lounge section near the entrance, there was the deafening sound of a drag queen shouting over "music" that sounded like shrill noise. My ears actually hurt. Not surprising to me, that area of the bar was completely vacant. Why did the bar make these changes? When people go out to social venues, they want to see others and be seen by others. While the lighting should not, of course, be unduly harsh or intense, it does require sufficient soft lighting. Also, soft lighting creates a warm ambiance. It creates mood. And, the music should not be painfully loud. The excessive darkness and deafening sound creates a sense of one's alienation from other patrons, since seeing others and engaging in conversation is compromised. These points are just common sense and, in the end, also make business sense. What was the bar's management thinking? So, my friend and I decided not to buy drinks, stayed only twenty minutes and then walked out. One point to note, however, is that I still found the staff to be quite friendly (as they are also at the downtown Boxers).