There’s just something gloriously decadent about cocktails – whether you’re sipping a Cosmopolitan with your friends, enjoying a mimosa before dinner or a Mojito with your other half. So it’s no wonder that last week saw the whole week dedicated to the art of making and drinking the perfect cocktail with many London hotels joining the party. It ended yesterday and below we review some of the best efforts we came across:
Getting locked in at The Courthouse
We can’t imagine the inmates of the former holding cells of the Great Marlborough Street Magistrate’s Court ever got such delectable drinks. But the cells are now the BAR of the Courthouse Hotel, which sits just off Oxford Street. During cocktail week, the venue set up its own masterclass bar, ready for mixology ‘students’ to go along to learn how to make the hotel’s “signature-themed cocktails”. Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful once stood trial here at Great Marlborough, where they denied the possession of cannabis resin. Perhaps they might be tempted back but for a cocktail this time!
Check rates at Courthouse Hotel
The cocktail hour at The Dorchester
The Dorchester prides itself on reviving London’s cocktail hour – so it was inevitable the opulent hotel would take part in the capital’s cocktail week. Here you were able to enjoy one of the creations of mixology legend Giuliano Morandin, who has been bar manager here for nearly 30 years.
Guiliano has an eye for theatre and watching him mix a cocktail is all part of the experience. Unique flavours include rhubarb and nettle cordials, Bergamot liqueurs and hand-pressed pear juice.
Out of Africa at BBar (Rubens at the Palace)
Red Carnation Hotel’s sister restaurant and bar, the South African influenced Bbar also celebrated cocktail week with a beer cocktail inspired by New York called the Caribbean Apple Pie – a tantalising mix of Goslings rum, Savannah cider, London Pride and lemon juice, along with ginger nutmeg cinnamon syrup. You could also try a Fire and Ice – a chocolate vodka served hot with a caramel vodka served cold from the main menu, or a Bushman’s delight made up of brandy, honey liquor, Savannah cider, nutmeg and thyme.
Check rates at Rubens at the Palace Hotel
The fabulous five at Renaissance St Pancras
Not content to restrict the party to just one week, The Booking Office at the Renaissance St Pancras Hotel devised a special bartenders’ choice menu for October. It features five different cocktails all based on Buffalo Trace bourbon. We tried the “Forbidden” (pic below) – a combination of Buffalo Trace, maraschino, apricot jam, lemon juice, chocolate bitter and grated nutmeg. For London Cocktail Week itself, the alchemists at its sister Gilbert Scott venue mixed a special London Dry Gin based drink.
Check rates at St Pancras Renaissance
Two in one at ME London
At the ME hotel, which sits on the corner of The Strand and Aldwych, there were two bars taking part in the cocktail week festivities. So, you could always have a drink in one before heading onto the next for a different drink. The Marconi Lounge is famous for its “see and be seen” atmosphere and has a tailor-made cocktail menu, while the Cucina Asellina London combines Italian cuisine with delicious drinks. Its cocktail menu includes the the Italian Sangria La Bianca which is a mouthwatering mix of Absolute Pear, lime, white cranberry juice, lemon and Moscato d’Asti.
We recently enjoyed a warm summer night at the same hotel.
In total 160 venues participated in London Cocktail Week and we’ve included only a few of the hotels involved. Other London hotel bars we spotted in the official London Cocktail Week guide included:
- Apero at The Ampersand
- Berners Tavern at the London Edition
- Bassoon at the Corinthia London
- Elements at Novotel Paddington
- GNH at Great Northern Hotel
We hope to see even more London hotels participating in London Cocktail Week next year!
Search for a London hotel – Book Now, Pay When You Stay
Photo credits: Courthouse Hotel, The Dorchester, Red Carnation Hotels, ambernambrose, ME London.