New Bars & Pubs
(menu)
The Star of Bethnal Green, Bethnal Green
RECENTLY OPENED (June 2008)... This ‘New East End’ pub/club hybrid is already home-from-home for a mix of local chillers and interesting club monkeys. The look is reclaimed Victoriana and recycled 60s infused with the spirit of Manchester’s legendary Hacienda club, with a surround-sound system that has already hosted acclaimed live acts including Martina Topley Bird, while club nights such as Potty Mouth Disco draw a hip crowd.
Whisky Mist at Zeta, Mayfair
RECENTLY OPENED (June 2008)... This bar from Nick House and Piers Adam – the duo behind celebrity hot-spot Mahiki – has opened on the site of what was once simply called Zeta, on the ground floor of the London Hilton. In addition to the comprehensive range of whiskies, this refurbished bar and nightclub will also offer a selection of vintage wine, Champagne and all manner of organic cocktails, alongside dishes such as smoked salmon, grilled scallops or Aberdeen Angus steak.
The Hoxton Pony, Shoreditch
Papa (Salvatore Calabrese of Bar Fifty St James’s) will be pleased with son Gerry’s new Hoxton club/diner, and the excellent drinks menu designed by current UK Bartenders Guild National champion, Andy Pearson. Syrups and compotes made from organic British produce provide the base for exotic liquors such as Spring Picnic (Tanqueray, pear, thyme, ginger liqueur and lemonade), served in witty teacups. Affordable wines include a worthy 2003 Lebanese red. Draught ales, where possible, demonstrate Calabrese’s green credentials. And bottled water is strictly eau no! East End grub fit for Mayfair palates (tarragon jellied eels and chicken and crayfish pie) is served all day.
Bourne & Hollingsworth
Named after the department store in Are you being Served?, Bourne & Hollingsworth is a new pint-sized bar in Fitzrovia. What it lacks in dimension, it more than makes up for in personality, with retro furnishings, classic cocktails and themed evenings such as the 1920s-influenced ‘Prohibition Re-Bourne’ where guests have to find alcohol hidden in flowerpots.
The Coburg, Mayfair
The Coburg is the first of the two newly refurbished bars to open at The Connaught following the Mayfair hotel's £70 million renovations (The American Bar opens later this year). As well as classic cocktails and fine wines, there are good looks courtesy of uber-designer David Collins
The East Room, Shoreditch
Currently open to non-members, City newcomer The East Room comes from the same stable as Milk and Honey and The Player. There's an impressive selection of wines, with several options by the glass, cocktails plus a generous buffet
Mephisto, Edgware Road
Mephisto is a new bar from the guys behind trendy West London hang-outs Cherry Jam and Neighbourhood. Like its siblings, the space features quirky interiors (a mix of leather, wood, flowery wallpaper and visuals projected on to the wall) and quirky cocktails (the Danish pastry is a blend of double cream, spiced rum and dark rum, flavoured with vanilla, cinnamon and butterscotch), plus house music from established DJs. 254 Edgware Road, W2, 020 7724 9436.
The Punchbowl, Mayfair
News reaches us that after months of rumours, pop diva Madonna and her film-maker hubby Guy Ritchie have purchased The Punchbowl pub on Mayfair’s Farm Street. The couple have been regulars of the 18th-century boozer for some years and, since the purchase, are deciding whether to turn it into a gastropub or a private members’ club. Surely Madonna’s most unlikely re-invention since she became a children’s writer?
Zebrano at The Establishment, Soho
Zebrano on Soho’s Ganton Street, has opened a second branch. Zebrano at The Establishment is set over three floors: there’s a laid-back balcony bar upstairs, a ground-floor restaurant with a Thai/Med menu, and a dance floor and bar area in the basement. 18 Greek Street, W1, 020 7287 2051.
Bartique, Chelsea
Creating a successful bar chain (and one with personality) is no mean feat, so we’re pleased to hear that Mike Filpi, who started up the Eclipse chain of neighbourhood boutique bars, is the force behind Chelsea’s new Bartique. It serves up swanky cocktails like the Kentucky Matcha (bourbon, vanilla liqueur, green tea syrup and white grape and pomegranate liqueur with pomegranate juice) alongside bite-size food. There's also an early evening aperitif hour with complimentary nibbles to accompany drinks.
Mustard, St Paul's
Spicing up the St Paul’s back streets, new lounge bar Mustard comes decked out in plenty of cowhide, and serves up gourmet burgers, sarnies and steaks at lunch, sharing platters in the evening and a range of classic and contemporary cocktails. Our favourite? The Mustard Chill – a heady mix of vodka, strawberry, mint and chilli. 2 Old Change Court, Peter’s Hill, EC4, 020 7236 5318.
The Beehive, Marylebone
Veteran restaurateur Claudio Pulze, who has opened over 30 restaurants in London including Aubergine and Zafferano, has moved away from the fine-dining scene with his latest venture, The Beehive, opening in mid April. Pulze is keen to stress that it’s not a ‘gastropub’, but a pub, good and proper, albeit one serving eggs Benedict, Caesar salad and an Italian take on fish and chips, made from top-notch ingredients for very fair prices. There’s also a short list of wines, beers and ales. 126 Crawford Street, W1
Corney & Barrow, Bank & Chancery Lane
Two new branches of wine bar chain Corney & Barrow are opening in July. The first (Unit 3, 25 Fenchurch Avenue, EC3) will be traditional in style with opulent furnishings and classic decor. The second (12 New Street Square, EC4) will mirror the funky, contemporary look that has proved such a success at the chain’s slinky Broadgate outpost.
Proud Camden
North-west Londoners mourned the loss of the area’s best bar when At Proud closed last year. So they should be rejoicing as it has just reopened, with the new name of Proud Camden, on premises a few hundred metres away from the original in Camden Market. The site is five times larger than before, featuring a mix of classic and quirky design, plus a vast alfresco terrace that will no doubt reinstate it as NW1’s biggest party hang-out this summer. The Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1, 020 7482 3867.
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