Review: 214 Bermondsey
Gin has long been my tipple of choice. Since the release of The Great Gatsby, it would appear that Gin is now the oh-so popular drink of the moment. And with gin bars popping up left right and centre, there is a lot of choice when it comes to where to enjoy the beverage.
214 Bermondsey is the newest gin bar on the scene. Open for just three months, and despite it's ever so slightly out of the way location, 214 Bermondsey already feels like it is going to be big on the gin scene.
Interestingly, the Gatsby craze is something the bar has tried to steer clear from, shying away from the Speakeasy label. Despite hints of the 20s in the form of electro swing playing in the background, in large, owner Nick and head barman Lawrence have created a bar that doesn't scream "We're jumping on the twenties hype band wagon!"
Personally I felt that the clientele were those popping in for a pre or post dinner drink before dining in Antico upstairs. But I do feel that that is something that will change. Only 12 weeks young, word about the bar's brilliant range of gins and fabulous cocktail menu (they also offer some brilliant bar snacks in the way of homemade pasta from Antico upstairs) may not have spread far. Once word gets out, I have no doubt that the small bar will be filled to the rafters with gin enthusiasts.
Beverage wise, the Gin Flight is a must. There are three choices of flight you can choose from, the International, the Renaissance or the London. Each one entails 3 gins and you have to guess which one is which from the tasting notes you are given along with the drinks.
We opted for the international so would be sampling three gins from different places around the world; Scotland, USA and Spain. If you guess correctly there is a prize up for grabs- I can't tell you what that prize is though as, sadly, my friend and I only managed to guess one. Out of the three I preferred Scotland's offering, The Botanist, which had a refreshing peppermint and chamomile taste.
We also tried the 214 Collins (made with the bars own made tonic) and a 214 bramble. For me, the 214 bramble was a delight, the blackberry jam not only turning the cocktail a fantastic colour but adding a great sweetness- making it very drinkable, yet I imagine lethal!
The love for vintage themed nights out seems to be at its peak in London. And who knows how many of the numerous gin bars will survive once the Gatsby craze has died down. But I strongly feel that 214 Bermondsey, its focus a love of gin and not a vintage evening, will be around for some time to come.
214 Bermondsey is the newest gin bar on the scene. Open for just three months, and despite it's ever so slightly out of the way location, 214 Bermondsey already feels like it is going to be big on the gin scene.
Interestingly, the Gatsby craze is something the bar has tried to steer clear from, shying away from the Speakeasy label. Despite hints of the 20s in the form of electro swing playing in the background, in large, owner Nick and head barman Lawrence have created a bar that doesn't scream "We're jumping on the twenties hype band wagon!"
Personally I felt that the clientele were those popping in for a pre or post dinner drink before dining in Antico upstairs. But I do feel that that is something that will change. Only 12 weeks young, word about the bar's brilliant range of gins and fabulous cocktail menu (they also offer some brilliant bar snacks in the way of homemade pasta from Antico upstairs) may not have spread far. Once word gets out, I have no doubt that the small bar will be filled to the rafters with gin enthusiasts.
Beverage wise, the Gin Flight is a must. There are three choices of flight you can choose from, the International, the Renaissance or the London. Each one entails 3 gins and you have to guess which one is which from the tasting notes you are given along with the drinks.
We opted for the international so would be sampling three gins from different places around the world; Scotland, USA and Spain. If you guess correctly there is a prize up for grabs- I can't tell you what that prize is though as, sadly, my friend and I only managed to guess one. Out of the three I preferred Scotland's offering, The Botanist, which had a refreshing peppermint and chamomile taste.
We also tried the 214 Collins (made with the bars own made tonic) and a 214 bramble. For me, the 214 bramble was a delight, the blackberry jam not only turning the cocktail a fantastic colour but adding a great sweetness- making it very drinkable, yet I imagine lethal!
The love for vintage themed nights out seems to be at its peak in London. And who knows how many of the numerous gin bars will survive once the Gatsby craze has died down. But I strongly feel that 214 Bermondsey, its focus a love of gin and not a vintage evening, will be around for some time to come.