London Cocktail Week, it’s a real thing I promise. While it sounds like a great excuse for a bender, it’s actually an important event in the hospitality calendar just take a look at the #LCW17 hashtag on Instagram. Hey, what’s this got to do with interiors I hear you cry? Well, if you haven’t already figured it out, London bars have some of the coolest interiors you’ll ever see.
London Cocktail Week is a seven-day festival celebrating the city’s cocktail scene. Over 250 bars across London take part, and there is a whole cocktail village in Old Spitalfields Market. So where do I recommend to get a good dose of gorgeous design with your delicious cocktail?
HAM YARD HOTEL
As part of London Cocktail Week, Ham Yard Hotel will host a series of pop-ups on its private Roof Terrace. If you’ve never been before it is well worth a visit as you’ll have views over the Soho skyline – which you don’t get to see from many vantage points. It also has a leafy rooftop garden including beehives plus it’s styled in impeccable Kit Kemp style. Each night, the experts will take you through flavour inspired by home-grown ingredients such as lavender, jasmine and honey. You’ll need to purchase your ticket in advance here.
GILBERT SCOTT
Kings Cross might not be part of your night out plans, but the bar at Gilbert Scott is rather gorgeous. Design by David Collins Studio it’s interior is inspired by historical grand railway stations, and it certainly transports you to a bygone age. The ceiling is my very favourite part…. oh and the drinks menu.
7 TALES
In the basement of Jason Atherton’s Sosharu restaurant and you’ll find 7 Tales. It’s one hell of a bar, incredibly playful with neon, Tokyo street signs and very cool black and white wallpaper with manga illustrations. Designed by Neri & Hu, based out of Shanghai they layered subculture references throughout the space. You’ll definitely have to photograph the cheeky neon that says ‘Drink Sake Stay Soba’. It’s not as grand as some of the others on this list but its a well-designed space and has a really interesting cocktail list.
DANDELYAN
Dandelyan at the Mondrian is a slinky, sexy space with plush fabrics and a strikingly bold colour scheme. It’s also the winner of the Worlds best cocktail bar 2017. Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio supposedly referenced art deco as the inspiration. I don’t see much of it myself, but the pink leather sofas, green walls and parquet flooring are all so very delicious. With cocktails divided between cereal, vegetable, mineral and floral categories, these are cocktails like you’ve never had before. Don’t forget to check out the hotel’s rooftop bar, Rumpus Room before you head for home.
THE CONNAUGHT BAR
Hotel bars do like to make a point of being cosy yet sexy, and there is no doubt that the Connaught bar falls into this category. The people watching is second to none, and the decor features panelled walls which I just love. It’s another design by David Collins Studio, and it regularly features in best bars of the world lists. It has art deco references throughout the space that are so authentic you’d expect Jay Gatsby to walk through the door.
GIBSON
You’re a little bit spoilt for choice around Old Street and Shoreditch for cocktail bars. I, however, have a little soft spot for the Gibson‘s vaguely 1920’s inspired. It’s nowhere near as glossy as others on this list but it serves great cocktails and I’ve always had a good time there. Plus it’s in a great location to add a few others into a bit of a bar crawl……
Great cocktails should be on everyone’s list next week then. Cheers to a good weekend
images from Ham Yard hotel, Dandelyan, 7 Tales, David Collins studio for The Connaught Bar