Shaker & Company

Adam Freeth – head honcho at upmarket mixologists Shaker UK – is putting his money where his mouth is at Shaker & Co, his first solo cocktail joint. Cracking quaffs from just £6 should help mitigate against the bar’s difficult hinterland location, so plot a course & go for signature S&Co (Hennessy VS, house cider chai, tamarind, rose & maraschino), potato sack sour (Tanqueray, Benedictine, stone fruit, Aperol & bitters) or something from the list of classics capably crafted by knowledgeable bartenders at this mock-up of an old Louisiana-style saloon. Soul-food hits such as jambalaya, veggie gumbo & crayfish popcorn appeal, but flavour & seasoning need to be ratcheted up several notches. Top beers, live acoustic gigs, stand-up & a dimly lit basement given over to a different ‘hero’ spirit each month are further reasons to visit.