Boiler & Co

A seven-course, Caribbean-inspired tasting menu with cocktail pairings will always turn heads. But when the man behind it is Great British Menu finalist Kerth Gumbs, and the setting is a brand new independent bar in Southwark, it becomes unmissable.

Those who don’t like whiskey be warned: Boiler & Co will likely change your mind. One of us was converted minutes after arriving by a standout whiskey pina colada, which unusually featured beer syrup, adding a pleasant malty flavour.

Relaxed and endlessly knowledgeable staff led us through the chic, industrial space to our table. Soon came a delicately spiced jerk beef tartare served in a prawn cracker, accompanied by a white peach and jasmine whiskey soda. This, it would turn out, would be the first of many perfect matches. A crab johnnycake was served with scotch bonnet mayo and roe, packing a punch without the delicate crab being overpowered. It was accompanied by an equally punchy lavender martini, an unusual but thought-out choice.

Roasted scallops came surrounded by an unforgettable curried lobster butter sauce, laced with turmeric and kaffir lime. A smokey, aniseedy fish stew was matched by an octopus salad, dry ice and a whiskey sour, which all tied together perfectly. Aged duck breast with tamarind felt a tad less exciting but was redeemed by a playful duck liver patty and knockout negroni.

The ducana cake with salt milk ice cream and impossibly light sweet potato whipped cream blew us away, celebrating Caribbean flavours while giving them a shake-up. Finishing with a tonka bean cold-press espresso martini, we left giddy with joy, having had a meal that was not just new, but fun. The £100 per person bill felt fully justified, and we will be back for coffee, brunch, a la carte and whatever else Boiler & Co has to offer (definitely more whiskey pina coladas).

Boiler & Co at Bankside is a gastro-centric restaurant and cocktail bar that focuses in equal measure on the craft of its mixologists and famed head chef. The menu has been created by Great British Menu star Kerth Gumbs and consists of small, eye-catching plates using contemporary cooking methods. The ingredients used are all deeply rooted in British soil, using local suppliers wherever it can, while the flavours and dishes take inspiration from across the world. Expect to sample dishes such as crab Johnny cakes served with scotch bonnet mayo, grilled ox tongue with crispy potatoes and green peppercorns as well as roasted scallops with carrot and coconut curry sauce. There is plenty of marinated meat and fish cooked over charcoal and the a la carte menu includes options for breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as a tasting menu paired with plenty of cocktails.  

There is also a full vegetarian menu, which features a burnt aubergine Johnny cake to replace the crab ones, butternut squash veloute with ginger and lemongrass and gnocchi served with bitter leaves and garlic sauce. 

The story behind the drinks stems from founders Adam Carr and Cesar Breton’s love for caramel-coloured beverages and the boilers they were initially brewed in: think beer, whiskey and coffee. Wanting to showcase just how versatile these drinks really are, the beverage program features an array of house cocktails that hero locality, sustainability, and creativity. Many of the cocktails at Boiler & Co feature whiskey in place of the usual spirit, such as Margaritas, Martinis and Daiquiris. 

The name Boiler & Co draws inspiration from the steaming boilers found in boiler houses and their connection to the processes that happen in breweries, distilleries and coffee roasters. Boiler & Co also considers itself an advocate and practitioner of sustainable and ethical business initiatives, such as offering a London living wage certification, social initiatives and a hyper-local supply chain.