Bermondsey Street’s reputation as a credible drinking destination for discerning Londoners has long reigned undisputed. Thankfully, the addition of the Hide Bar to the mix doesn’t disappoint.

The Venue
You’d hope that any bar located next door to the Wine and Spirit Education Trust would know a fair amount about what distinguishes quality liquor from cheap and cheerful booze, and whilst The Hide Bar does, it manages to avoid being condescending about it.

Bookcases are filled with tomes dedicated to the fine art of quality drinking and you’ll find several first edition cocktail books on hand for you to leaf through at your leisure. A couple of run-of-the-mill tables and chairs are set closest to the bar and appear jarringly out of place but this is a small complaint as the furniture is mainly low-slung retro sofas and booth seating so comfortable you’ll settle in for the night.

The Atmosphere
The owners of The Hide Bar are passionate about their trade and you can’t help but be swept away on the wave of their enthusiasm. Part of The Hide Bar’s charm lies in its unpredictability – during the day don’t be surprised to see students from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust sampling wines from the list with serious faces. However, come Friday night, the bar is heaving as locals and workers drink their way through the menu until the early hours.

The Food
Refreshingly, the food is of an equally high quality as the drink. Locally sourced wherever possible, cheeses from Neal’s Yard Dairy sit on the menu alongside tapas from Bridisa and Monmouth Coffee, all hailing from nearby Borough Market.

The Drink
However, The Hide Bar really dazzles when it comes to the cocktails. The library of vintage books dates back as far as 1887 - spot a drink in an old cocktail recipe book and if they have still been able to source the ingredients, they’ll make it specially for you. If vintage cocktails (fruit juice mixers are few and far between in the old recipes) are too eye-wateringly strong, their standard cocktail list is just as delicious.

If cocktails aren’t your poison, choose from tap beers from the Greenwich Meantime Brewery or the extensive wine list. The Hide’s passion for all things alcohol is incredibly infectious though, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself signing up for their Tuesday tasting sessions. Before you know it you’ll be a dab hand at mixing up a Manhattan and distinguishing between a rye and a bourbon.

The Last Word
This is a bar that really loves its liquor and it’s worth suffering the following day’s inevitable hangover to spend a night working your way through the library’s vintage cocktail recipes.

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