If being reminded of your days as a pimply teenager at school sends shivers of horror down your spine then the Old School Yard, with its youthful exuberance and schoolyard memorabilia, may be a challenge. Skip it and you’ll be missing one of the best bar experiences and definitely some of the best cocktails in London.

The Venue
The ceiling of the Old School Yard is painted with a bright blue sky, fluffy white clouds and a shining sun rising off the wall, designed to capture the excitement we all used to feel as younguns, running out of school into the playground with our faces to the sky as soon as the bell rang. Back then you probably weren’t running straight to a cocktail bar but that’s just what you’ll be doing at the Old School Yard as this is where all the action is, with flair bartenders, flaming cocktails and a killer menu.

The rest of the bar is a comfortably sparse and the retro touches like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, lockers, sports trophies and a clock set permanently to 3.30pm will have you channelling Ferris Bueller. There’s also a garden out back with a BBQ if you want to play some hopscotch or kiss chase, or if it’s raining just curl up inside and play their Wii.

The Atmosphere
The Old School Yard is a little off the beaten track so crowds can be somewhat unpredictable, but with a 12.30am last orders and 1am licence on Fridays and Saturdays, there’s plenty of fun to be had. Depending on how busy it is, you’ll either be chilling on the couch savouring a drink or downing shots of Jagermeister with the accommodating bar staff. The Old School Yard is full of people having good old fashioned fun and the classic hits soundtrack is sure to get you on the dancefloor as the night goes on.

The Drink
The cocktails at the Old School Yard are truly special. Not only are the freshest ingredients used (often sourced from the nearby Borough Market) but your drink will be delivered to you with character, flair and finesse rarely seen in busy London bars.

Take your pick from the comic-book style menu (divided into school subjects), have it customised to suit your tastes and enjoy the show as your drink is juiced, muddled, flamed and thrown through the air in a series of impressive manoeuvres by the skilled mixologists in front of you. You’ll not be disappointed once it hits your tastebuds either – their Cosmopolitan, sweetened with fresh berries, would make even Carrie swoon. A popular choice is their fresh, delicious Bloody Mary (favouring Italian Modena balsamic vinegar over Tabasco as the secret ingredient) and will leave you gasping for more. For the boys, live like Denzel Washington and try the Man on Fire, a warming whiskey cocktail infused with fresh rosemary. At this high standard, the prices are nuts - cocktails start at just £4.90, and the unique Bloody Mary and Cosmo come in at £5.90. An even crazier Happy Hour deal runs from 6-8pm daily and all night on Sunday, where you can get cocktails for £4.50, beers for £2.50 and cocktail jugs for £12.

There’s also a huge selection of spirits and some wine and bubbles to choose from. If you’re adamant you want a beer then they have Tiger, Monteith, Becks and Magners cider in bottles for £3.30.

The Last Word
Fiercely independent and fuelled by fun and frivolity, this addition to the London cocktail scene is hard to beat. As Cat Stevens sang, you’ll definitely remember your days in the Old School Yard.

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