London Cocktail Club

The latest London Cocktail Club has opened for business, offering the same infectious good time vibe that has made its sister site on Goodge Street such a popular place to party.

The Venue
London Cocktail Club can be found a short stumble from Tottenham Court Road station, at the top end of one of London’s longest streets. Other than the glow of pink neon, it’s a bit blink and you’ll miss it but if you know what you’re looking for then the tattoo-style artwork and funky signage soon makes its presence well and truly know.

Inside, it's a small bar, for sure, but there’s plenty in the way of seating with lots of high stools and comfy little booths. Tattoo-style artwork covers the walls, contrasting well against the swathes of black paint. It’s a look that could easily have become a bit too edgy for the brand but it’s given a more delicate dimension thanks to a cute birdcage theme that's visible throughout on features like the candle holders.

The Atmosphere
The good time vibe of London Cocktail Club is the thing that keeps people coming back for more. The staff are always incredibly friendly and make it their business to remember the faces of regulars, with warm greetings and friendly banter. The punters are a mix of laid back local office workers and groups of mates catching up in a central location, and the party soundtrack pumping in the background keeps things upbeat, even when you’re struggling to raise a smile on a miserable school night.

The Drink
You don’t need to be Benedict Cumberbatch to work out that London Cocktail Club specialises in cocktails. And boy do they go all out. The Shaftesbury Avenue branch has a focus on rums – Navy rums and lots of them, encompassing bottles from Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Bermuda, Virgin Islands, British Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia. Even the cocktails have a quirky naval theme. Stowaways (£7.50) cover the classics, The Pantry (£8) are the sweet drinks, Mermaids (£8) are girly, Pirates (£8.50) focus on heavier rum drinks and the Officers (£9) are the premium offerings. Cute.

But what of the quality? Well, as with the other bars in this group they are consistently good and imaginative. Take the Painkiller (rum, pineapple, coconut, OJ and nutmeg), an easygoing, sweet drink that numbs the pain of a heavy day. It arrives with a skull and crossbones tattoo transfer so you can really get into the pirate spirit. Then there’s the Red Dragon (Bacardi 8 year rum, pineapple, lime juice, Chinese Five Spice syrup, bitters), which again is incredibly well mixed and not too strong if you don’t like a big kick. It comes with a fortune cookie, which is a nice little touch. The stronger drinks like the Nelson’s Blood with Tawny port and bubbly pack a stronger hit of alcohol if that’s your thing. However, the real star (if you have a sweet tooth) has to be the Cup Tail – basically, a cupcake in cocktail form. Made from vanilla, egg, lemon sugar and amaretto, it’s incredibly sweet and then they top it with a massive covering of bright blue buttercream icing. Yes, it will make you feel very sick but boy is it worth it.

The Last Word
London Cocktail Club has gone and done it again. Friendly staff, cool décor and great cocktails – this is one for the must-visit list.

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