Near to central shopping location Oxford Street, Bourne and Hollinsworth is one of my favourite cocktail joints that seeks to evoke the 1920’s prohibition era hang-outs of the 1920’s (aka secretive locations, girls dancing the charlston and all-round hedonistic partying). This is one of the more intimate and chilled out prohibition-style bars I’ve been to, and is well worth a visit if you’re looking for somewhere to catch an intimate drink mid-week (it can get busy on Thurs-Sat so booking is recommended) whilst soaking up some vintage chic decor and creative cocktail mixes.
It’s not the easiest place to find, but that’s part of the fun! Look out for a large black and white image of an old shop front on the corner of Rathbourne Place and Percy Street, and the stairs right by it is where to head. As you descend from Rathbourne Place, you’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time as the floral wall paper and shabby-chic furniture comes into view. You will be forgiven for thinking that this could well be your grandma’s living room, a piece of living history, complete with quirky old pictures on the wall, fringed lampshades, decoupaged chairs and all. That’s until you see the fireplace filled with Champagne bottles, tune into the music (always eclectic and interesting) and start unfolding the bar menu. It’s quite a treasure-trove of original cocktails including some classic “British” flavours like their Earl Grey tea syrup and orange zest, berry mixes, peach liqueur and mints, all served up “made-do-and-mend” style in quaint tea cups, mugs and jam jars.
There are a good number of cocktail choices (around 20) so there’s something for everyone, whatever your taste, and beer drinkers haven’t been neglected – the chic mahogany bar hosts a lone tap of Asahi.
This place is great fun, well designed but unpretentious, and sure to satisfy your taste buds. It’s small (only seven tables and a bit of standing room) so it’s always worth calling ahead if you’re planning to visit at the weekend. It’ll give any of you vintage lovers a lite introduction to London’s burgeoning 1920s prohibition party scene!
