Culture in barristers chambers closeknit?

Employment barrister here, and outside of London whereas Blayze is in London, so very different sets and practices, but the answer is the same. When I was more junior I asked for advice all the time. I ask for it less frequently now, though still on occasion, and give it very regularly. This sort of thing, whether asking for advice, asking for thoughts on a particular situation, asking for views on particular opponents or experts etc is all very common. And no, no one charges anyone for anything. It's collegiate when you're dealing with other barristers. Most of it is on WhatsApp groups now. The same applies, incidentally, as and when you become a judge too. It's a much more collegiate environment that you would expect, and judges ask other judges for advice all the time too.
The actual atmosphere will vary from set to set, but it's much more relaxed for the most part than you likely expect it to be. Obviously when you start out everything can feel quite intimidating, much like any new workplace, but you'll likely quickly forge your own social group inside and outside chambers with others around your level of call and experience. And yes, there are drinks and socials. Again, it depends on the set you're in. There was a much more ingrained drinking culture in certain areas of practice and areas of the country, but that in my (admittedly quite limited) experience has fallen by the wayside recently not just because drinking heavily and regularly isn't the social draw that it used to be, but since Covid the nature of socialising has changed.

Commercial Chancery barrister here
I ask for advice basically all the time, and also get asked for advice in return too. None of us would dream of charging for it - the only real stipulation is to avoid asking people with too many specifics if there's talk that the other side might go to chambers too; you don't want to conflict anyone out of being able to act.
We do drinks quite regularly informally with whoever is around, but the organization isn't so good. We do a few set socials a year, either across the whole of chambers, or with the juniors on their own.

Have you made an dietary changes to help you thrive at the bar or do you just eat a standard diet?

Thanks so much for commenting! I can’t imagine being a barrister and drinking. Even now I don’t drink or smoke and maintain a healthy diet as I notice just how much it affects my mental clarity. Have you made an dietary changes to help you thrive at the bar or do you just eat a standard diet?
I’ve even observed my tutors on the BPC drink coke etc. if that was me I would literally have mood swings

I don't think people make dietary changes specifically to help with their work. It's not like we're elite level athletes. I have changed my diet quite drastically in the last couple of years and feel that it has certainly made me more effective and efficient in my work. But I didn't do it for work reasons. I did it for health reasons. I've always been fit and healthy, have always exercised regularly, and have always tried to take care of myself. My more recent dietary changes have just been me furthering that goal and following up to date science. It's not a barrister thing specifically. Like anything else, some barristers have healthy lifestyles and some don't, and there's a big range in between.

If you get mood swings from coke, that might be a sign of something else - I had a friend in school get them, turns out he had some sort of werid allergy to aspartine that affected his brain chemistry.
I drink far more than I should but still probably less than the average barrister from my anecdotal evidence of friends and colleagues, so that should tell you how widespread it is...