Under the arches of London Bridge lies this comfortable cocktail bar, offering the perfect place to kick back with some friends and take advantage of the lengthy happy hour.

The Venue
Right in the heart of London Bridge, at the top of Borough High Street, The Hidden Julep isn’t the easiest bar to find. It’s tucked away on a corner with only a dimly lit door to advertise itself. However, when you reach the bar, which is below ground level, it’s cavernous with loads of comfy leather sofas and hiding places to chill out in. The bar itself is fairly small and darkly lit, with the range of drinks backlit by bright white lights to achieve some slightly cheesy modern affect. Their seating is nicely spaced out meaning you can have intimate drinks without worrying about divulging your latest gossip to the next table. The decor is fairly minimalist with floorboards and chocolate coloured wall. However, it’s cosy and there are plenty of scatter cushions for comfort.

The Atmosphere
In the early evening, there’s a chilled atmosphere at The Hidden Julep as the place waits to fill. However, the happy hour lures you into staying for longer then you planned and the place soon fills up. When the party gets going, the music cranks up but is still rather incidental. This place is all about chat with the very friendly bar staff who have plenty of polite banter as they mix you a cocktail and the door staff, who are uncommonly friendly and helpful. Groups of gorgeous, young professional girls flock here to drink cosmos and catch up on the week’s latest gossip. Everyone is there to have a good time, and they leave satisfied.

The Drink
The Hidden Julep is predominantly a cocktail bar, with a decent menu on offer. The cocktails are mostly bar originals and are all delicious, if a little on the strong side. If you’re a cocktail connoisseur, then this is perhaps not the place for you. However, if you’re not expecting the greatest mixologists London has to offer, you’ll be happy with what is on offer. Highly recommended is the Banana Nutloaf, which is a cream based cocktail tasting of banana and nutmeg – delicious! There are also wine and beers available. The house white is a drinkable Sauvignon Blanc for little over £13. The beers are all bottled and range from Sol, Peroni and Harbin to the classic Old Speckled Hen.

The Last Word
There is nothing wildly unusual about The Hidden Julep but that doesn’t mean that it’s not worth a visit. When London is all about quirky bars and restaurants it’s sometimes nice to find some normality.

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