Ro is an atmospheric cocktail bar with Japanese influences, introduced as one of James and Maria Close’s six new distinctive experiences at Rockliffe Hall. The bar is representative of James’ long-term admiration of Japanese techniques and ingredient obsession, as well as Maria’s year-long culinary studies in Japan.
Ro is a Japanese word for furnace, mirroring the intimate, warm-toned design of the bar. It combines nighttime elegance with inspiration from the area’s industrial heritage, creating a space ideal to enjoy an evening drink. The concept is designed to explore craft, theatre and Japanese precision through an exclusive selection of cocktails and a bespoke designed vault.
The drink choices are developed by a team of mixologists which develop innovative cocktail recipes in the hotel’s development kitchen and laboratory. James envisions the result as drinks that communicate confident craftsmanship- intentional, not over complicated. The selection of cocktails is also created to evoke nostalgia, through the use of rare and vintage spirits dating back from the 1930s to 1960s and a curated list of Japanese whiskey and sake.
Ro’s cocktails can be paired with a menu of Izakaya-style dishes including wagyu Sando, smashed cucumbers and chicken karaage with togarashi ranch dip and optional caviar. Some of the dishes can also be ordered in the room as movie night options.