by Chloe Hay
- Don’t be fooled into thinking the only chilli in this cocktail is the one balancing primly on its rim – this thing is hot! Be warned!
Come rain or shine London has a whole host of unique bars and drinking spots to celebrate Olympic victories (or down your sorrows as the case may be) this summer.
If you are lucky enough to have the weather on side then the best way to make the most of a hot summers evening is to head to the capital’s coolest new al fresco bar: the floating cocktail lounge at London’s Pleasure Gardens. [Underground stop: Pontoon Dock on the DLR]
- A teeny tiny bar and walls that look like they haven’t been decorated in centuries – off putting? No way! This ‘rustic’ look is all part of Ruby’s charm
This fabulous attraction is open for the summer months only and is expected to attract thousands of visitors eager to experience the sophistication of sipping mojitos on the Thames itself. Boasting a 24 hour license and set in spectacular surroundings this niche little bar is set to take London by storm this summer. If London’s Paradise Gardens of the centuries previous are anything to go by, you certainly won’t want to miss the opportunity to enjoy the Pleasure Gardens this year!
Of course Britain has an international reputation for constantly raining and so far this summer it’s certainly doing its best to
- The iconic 1940s milk bottle. To get your drink in one of these you need to order either the blackberry mojito or the strawberries and cream. Either are a million times better than a glass of milk!
uphold its standing! But there is no need to worry because London is prepared for all weathers. An ultra-cool, underground speakeasy sound intriguing enough for you? Ruby’s [Underground stop: Dalston Junction on the Overground Line] is a basement bar laden with antique furniture, paint stripped brick-bare walls, that serves blackberry mojitos in 1940s milk bottles. Places this cool don’t need to draw attention to themselves and so Ruby’s doesn’t. This is another one of London’s little secrets that you have to know is there to ever know that it is there. There is no name displayed out the front of this bar but instead there is an old-fashioned cinema sign. The message on the sign does vary slightly but invariably says something like “There ain’t nothing to see here” – which of course is an absolute lie; there is a lot to see at Ruby’s!
With a cocktail list only seven lines long and just a small choice of beers, quantity is not the motto of this speakeasy but quality certainly is. Each cocktail is treated like a work of art and each one is tasted to make sure that it is absolutely perfect.
If you’re not much of a cocktail drinker then don’t despair, the beers may not come in old-fashioned milk bottles but they do come in old-school labelling and are all named after London’s most happening districts – Shoreditch Blonde Ale anyone?
Table service is the norm at Ruby’s so call ahead to make a reservation to avoid disappointment; this place may not draw attention to itself but the crowds still come regardless!
A toast to an amazing Olympic Games in London this summer (whatever the weather) – cheers!
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