125 Stoke Newington Church Street,
Stoke Newington,
London,
N16 0UH
(020) 3556 3350
The ViewLondon Review
With beautiful decor and expertly made cocktails, this new Stokey venue is sure to be a success on the increasingly fashionable Church Street.
The Venue
Located on up and coming Church Street, alongside a multitude of stylish bars, cafes and shops, this newly renovated space has been brought to life by the owners of The Bathhouse – a converted Victorian bathhouse near Liverpool Street. It takes the spot where Gold Bar was (the venue that was destroyed by a fire last year) and the church-style doors and large glass windows stand out, but fit perfectly alongside its buzzy neighbours.
Inspired by the Victorian era – and many of the original features at the Liverpool Street Bathhouse – the interior is undoubtedly over the top, but beautiful all the same. Entering the dimly-lit venue, it’s hard to know what to take in first. The ground floor features a black and white porcelain floor, bespoke seating, draping curtains, candles in birdcages on dark wooden tables and church-pew-style seating, as well as a dark velour fabric on the ceiling. The top section is home to a stunning bar, where bottles sit on top of antique furniture and water can be dispensed by a chic device. There’s also a basement nightclub and cocktail bar, where you’ll find a very interesting custom-made birdcage. A garden terrace is due to open later in the year – again, it’s set to feature the trademark birdcages – and a kitchen will be up and running for food, too.
The Atmosphere
The venue is a chilled café-bar by day and lively bar/club by night, so the atmosphere can vary considerably. Expect to find the typical affluent twenty-and-thirtysomething Church Street types chatting over coffees in the day and sipping cocktails at night. It’s generally relaxed and laid-back and, while the general feel of the venue is over-the-top, it manages to be that way without being pretentious at all. Staff are friendly and just as fashionable as the clientele.
The Music
This varies depending on the night that’s on and you really can hear everything from the latest electro, house and funk beats to old classics. The resident DJs include Nathan Gregory Wilkins who DJs at the Electric Stew and Boombox club nights. You can also expect to see cabaret acts, live performances and comedy sketches alongside burlesque-style glamour pusses.
The Drink
There’s a reasonable selection of wines and beers on offer and you’ll pay around £18 for a decent bottle of wine (£5 a glass). The 5-7pm happy hour brings the drinks down to a decent price as it’s 2-4-1 on beers and cocktails. The cocktails really make the venue stand out, however. These aren’t cheap (you can pay up to £9.50), but they’re expertly made and great for a treat (and, of course, not really any more expensive than anywhere else on Church Street). The Sour Pout is a good choice if you like whisky sours. Whyte and Mackay whisky is muddled perfectly with lemon juice and gomme syrup to give a sweet yet zesty easy-to-drink cocktail. If you want something with a bit more kick, the Los Muretas (served in a sugar-rimmed glass) will probably satisfy. Another concoction, the El Jimador, blends tequila and passion fruit puree together, giving a strong and punchy drink.
The Last Word
Stylish, decadent and extravagant – this over-the-top venue might not be for everyone, but it’s sure to attract a swathe of Stokey residents and party people from across East London.
The Baby Bathhouse has been reviewed by 14 users