The UK’s Best Adults-Only Soft Play Centres

Most of us have memories of soft play centres from our childhood, whether it was a rainy weekend or a birthday party but save the young parents that might get involved themselves with their own kids, it’s a world we say goodbye to forever as adults. Or is it?

We all like passing the time in restaurants and pubs, but boozy soft play bars like these are bringing back the silliness to adult life. Not only are they nostalgic, with the retro games, ball pits, slides, nets and tunnels we remember, but you also get the grown-up bonus of drinks. Suddenly those climbing walls don’t look as straightforward!

Take a look below to find your nearest adults-only soft play centre – they each offer something different, but they all offer a turn back in time.

Howlers, Newcastle

Image credit: Howlers

Howler’s is Newcastle’s only ball pit bar, but as a £1m project, it’s much more than that. There’s also karaoke, stag and hen events, bottomless brunches, corporate events, and all kinds of parties. It promises the bizarre and bonkers, and whilst we would say it rolls back the years to your childhood, this will likely be very, very different.  And if you’re worried about sharing a ball pit with that many people (many of whom will be tipsy to say the least, let’s face it), then take comfort tin Howlers’ fancy cleaning machine that gobbles up 10,000 balls over the hour and spits them out clean. On top of that, the entire pit is emptied and cleaned ready for the weekend!

Location: 28-32 Collingwood St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE11JF
Entry Fee: The Howlers Bottomless Bonkers Ball (£12+) The ChachaBuchi Bottomless Brunch (£29.99+)
Website: https://howlersnewcastle.com/

Wonderland: Adult Soft Play, London

Image credit: Wonderland: Adult Soft Play

If you’ve seen any adult soft play centres online, it’s most likely to be this TikTok hit. Situated in Palmers Green and open most weekends, it’s a three-storey mystically themed retro style soft play centre with slides, ball pits, swings, tunnels, DJs, boozy slushies as well as a fully-fledged arcade and bar games area. ‘Never Grow Up’ is the motto and the aim of the game here!

Location: 220 Green Lanes, London N13 5UD
Entry Fee: £22
Website: https://www.kbo2.co.uk/adult-events/27

Big Fun, Hull

Image credit: Big Fun, Hull

By day, Big Fun is full of children playing, but on Friday Nights, it’s Adult Night! The Bar is open all evening serving legendary drinks like the Double Vodka Slush, including BOGOF Happy Hour 8pm-9pm. There’s even private rooms for £60 if you don’t fancy waiting for the slide. It’s not a small recreation of a play centre, because it literally is one, so you get the entire colourful labyrinth to crawl, slide and jump through – and all for under a tenner.

Location: 335 National Ave, Hull HU5 4JB
Entry Fee: £8.95
Website: https://www.big-fun-hull.co.uk/adult-nights/

Ocean Adventurers, Bristol

Image credit: Ocean Adventurers

South of Bristol and east of Weston-super-Mare lies Ocean Adventurers Soft Play. This is another genuine children’s soft play that hosts adult only nights called ‘Adventurers After Dark’. Three stories of laser tag, karaoke, interactive games, and full soft-play arena await. And if you’re wondering whether everything will be too small for you, think again, because they’ve installed a giant games area where everything is oversized. There is so much to do here for £10 if you’re fancying something different from a bar or nightclub.

Location: Ocean Adventurers, Unit 11, Cheddar Business Park, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3EB
Entry Fee: £9.95
Website: https://bookings.oceanadventurers.com/book/adventurers-after-dark---adult-only-nights/327

Pirates Play, Nottingham

Image credit: Pirates Play

This Nottingham play centre is a slightly different offering. You can pre-book a private adult party with them, where their party hosts lead your group through games across the three stories of soft play. Think tag rugby and shot relay which is perfect for any competitive groups out there. Alternatively, you can be left alone to do as you wish – it’s up to you. You’ll get to blast your own playlists through the speakers too! And get this, you can even bring your own booze, snacks, and nibbles – how good is that?

Location: 41 Rowley Dr, Nottingham NG5 1GD
Entry Fee: £295 for up to 25 people / £10pp thereafter (Laser Tag added for £35)
Website: https://bookings.oceanadventurers.com/book/adventurers-after-dark---adult-only-nights/327

Ballie Ballerson, Edinburgh, London, and Cardiff

Image credit: Ballie Ballerson

With bars in England, Scotland and Wales, you’re never too far away from a chaotic ball pit with Ballie Ballerson. Their giant glowing ball pits are famous with an insane number of balls. Whilst they don’t have the slides and tunnels too, they are very much proper bars in their own right. Cocktails are served by champion bartenders, bottomless brunches, hen dos, and all kinds of entertainment are a constant. If you’re after a classic chaotic bright ‘n’ busy bar experience with a touch of fun and games, this is for you.

Locations:
London - 97-113 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3BS
Edinburgh - 14 Forrest Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2QN
Cardiff - Unit 6-7 Brewery Quarter, Cardiff CF10 1FG
Entry Fee: £4.50-£12.50 depending on date and location (more for brunch, karaoke etc.)
Website: https://ballieballerson.com/

If you’re looking for more drinks related group events, then a distillery tour is always worth looking into. Here are a few to get you started!

The Best Christmas Markets Near You in 2023

Chalets are being put up all over the UK right now, as once again, the beautiful, glittering Christmas Markets appear. It’s time to wrap up warm, cup a mulled wine, and savour a German hotdog whilst exploring the eclectic stalls.

If there’s a city you’ve been meaning to visit, then what better time to do just that than the most magical time of the year? We’ve listed some of the best Christmas Markets from across the UK below!

Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland, London

For the scale alone, we have to include Winter Wonderland. The Bavarian-style Christmas market is only part of the Wonderland, and makes up one of four gates (the Green), the other being for Cirque Berserk, the famous Ice Rink, and Santaland. Ice sculpture, ice slides, rides, a huge Disney wheel, a grotto, live music… you do need to pay an entrance fee (£5-£7.50) just to enter the market, this is London after all – but if you want loads to do, this is the place. The festive lights of Regent and Oxford Street are nearby too, as well as the best window displays in the city.

Dates: November 17, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Nearest station: Victoria and Paddington
Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch
Nearest car park: Q-Park
Website

South Bank, London

The South Bank Winter Festival, right by the London Eye, offers something a little different. There are tonnes of international dishes on offer at the stalls, the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge, and of course, that beautiful twinkling river view. Also though, there is an eclectic programme of festive shows and events in and around the area you can time your visit with.

Dates: November 17, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Nearest station: Waterloo and Southwark
Nearest tube: Waterloo, Southwark and Embankment
Nearest car park: APCOA South Bank
Website

Edinburgh Christmas Market, Edinburgh

The city of festivals hosts an iconic Christmas market, which this year has expanded from Princes Street Gardens to The Mound and a few Royal Mile spots also. With the beautiful architecture and Castle as a backdrop, this market had a huge head start already. 60,000 lights mesmerise visitors of The Street of Light, lights and laser trails decorate the Royal Botanic Gardens, lose yourself in Santa Land’s Christmas Tree maze, glide (or just remain upright) across the ice rink, and overlooking it all, the glorious big wheel. Hot Toddies await.

Dates: November 24, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Nearest station: Edinburgh Waverley
Nearest car park: Castle Terrace
Website

Winter Wonderland, Nottingham

The enchanting Christmas market, aglow with twinkling lights, stands beneath a towering Christmas tree and stunning decorations, just one facet of the grand Winter Wonderland in Old Market Square. 70 Bavarian-style market stalls offer traditional handcrafted gifts, decorations, and delectable treats, so it's the perfect place for some last-minute Christmas shopping. It’s the biggest East Midlands market, so expect a grotto, an ice rink, observation wheel, festive fairground rides, live music, and the Ice Bar. Cosy cafes and old pubs are all around the market too, so there’s no lacking in choices of where to go.

Dates: November 7, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Nearest station: Nottingham
Nearest car park: Lace Market, Trinity Square and Broad Marsh
Website

Manchester Christmas Market, Manchester

Created in 1999, Manchester has one of the most varied markets in the UK, with over 300 stalls aligning across the walkable city centre. You could start in the grand Albert Square, moving across to King Street, the Exchange Square stalls, and Cathedral Gardens before the Winter Garden at Piccadilly Gardens. In fact, there are 9 festive zones in total! Everything you can imagine is on sale, from alpaca wool slippers to Tibetan bowls. One tip, many stalls are cash only and the ATM queues get long so get cash out before!

Dates: November 11, 2023 – December 22, 2023
Nearest station: Victoria, Piccadilly, or Oxford Road Station
Nearest car park: King Street West and China Town (parking in Ancoats is quieter and cheaper, and still within walking distance)
Website

Bath Christmas Market, Bath

One thing you can’t accuse Bath Christmas Market of is being just another template market, because the 160 chalets sit between the charming Georgian streets that look like nowhere else. In the shade of the magnificent Abbey, 70% of stallholders are local, and 60% of goods are handmade in the UK, and the calibre of stalls is renowned. The whole city is a World Heritage site, so take a step back in time and explore.

Dates: November 23, 2023 – December 10, 2023
Nearest station: Bath Spa (it’s also not far from London)
Nearest car park: Manvers Street, Avon Street and Kingsmead Square
Website

Cardiff Christmas Market, Cardiff

The Times’ Number One market in the UK, it’s been running for nearly 30 years so they’re well in the swing of things by now. The focus here is on handmade craftmanship, produced mostly by local businesses – be that jewellery, exquisite glass work or ceramics. Also, artists and crafters can sell for 5- or 10-day stints, so expect new faces and gems each week. Hayes, Trinity Street, St John and Working Street – these pedestrianised areas will all be blessed with the wafts of seasonal cooking and the glint of handmade treasures.

Dates: November 9, 2023 – December 23, 2023
Nearest station: Cardiff Central and Queen Street
Nearest car park: NCP Westgate Street, NCP Cardiff Rappots
Website

Winchester Cathedral, Winchester

Winchester Cathedral’s glimmering setup is one of few UK markets to make a dent into European Top Ten lists and was also voted the 2nd best Christmas market in the UK in 2018. 100 carefully selected chalets bring this ancient Cathedral to life, offering mouth-watering food and one-of-a-kind gifts. The Cathedral Choir add to the enchantment no end too!

Dates: November 17, 2023 – December 21, 2023
Nearest station: Winchester (near Southampton, and 1hr from London)
Nearest car park: Barfied P&R and St. Catherines P&R
Website

St Nicholas Fair, York

Steeped in history and stunning buildings everywhere you look, it’s no wonder York has aced its Christmas Market. As you stroll along, you'll encounter alpine-style chalets brimming with locally made crafts, art, and delightful treats. The grand Christmas tree is one of the best, buskers fill the air, and shimmering illuminations really create a mood. York isn’t that big, so you can explore the historic centre on foot, venturing into The Shambles Market for more medieval charm. Award-winning for a reason.

Dates: November 16, 2023 – December 23, 2023
Nearest station: York
Nearest car park: Coppergate or Q-Park, but York Park & Ride is free, with £3.60 buses every 12mins.
Website

Of course, there are more Christmas markets and let’s face it, there’s rarely a bad one, but we think these stand out. Enjoy!

The Dead Rabbit, NY : The World’s Most Awarded Pub

If you walked past 30 Walter Street, New York throughout the 1830s, you’d have seen and smelt a dilapidated five-story townhouse, and you’d probably be witnessing the closing down of yet another failed business there.

People that weren’t prepared to give up on it however were The Dead Rabbit gang, who saw the potential of this Manhattan haunt and fought to own their poverty-stricken slum. Remembering the fighting spirit of their leader, boxer, businessman, politician and criminal John Morrissey, The Dead Rabbit opened in 2013 and has overcome a hurricane and a fire to expand and become known as ‘The World’s Most Awarded Pub’.

On the back of making The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant in Belfast the World’s Best Cocktail Bar in 2010, Sean Muldoon teamed up with Bar Manager Jack McGarry and regular customer Conor Allen to take on the most competitive drinking hub on the planet – New York.

Taking inspiration from the world-renowned craic and comfort of the Irish Pub, they set out to make an Irish Bar in New York... the world capital of Irish Bars. With the Dead Rabbits gang concept planned, focusing on authenticity, 19th century drinks and a hybrid of American innovation and Irish tradition, The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog finally opened in 2013, winning the Best New Cocktail Bar award. Two years later, it won the coveted World’s Best Cocktail Bar. In 2022, the new went separate ways, but The Dead Rabbit is as alluring as ever… but why?

Well, it boasts a trio of immersive experiences: The Taproom, The Parlor, and the Occasional Room. It's like having a pub for every mood swing, and that's a concept that's hard to beat.

In the Taproom, it's all about the craic. This is the place to revel in traditional Irish pub fare, top-notch cocktails, bottled punches, and, of course, the famous Irish Coffee. Every Sunday, a lively Irish seisiún awaits, making it the perfect end to the week. And whiskey lovers, brace yourselves for a back bar that's a treasure trove of choices.

Now, let's step into The Parlor, the cocktail cathedral of Downtown Manhattan that was once it’s best-kept secret. Here, 16 carefully curated cocktails reign supreme, crafted with house-made ingredients and innovative techniques. Martini, Gimlet, Whiskey Sour, Tiki, Old Fashioned… The Dead Rabbit stamp their signature all over them.

Last but not least, we ascend to The Occasional Room, where tavern traditions take hold as everything combines for a private hire space, accommodating up to 60 guests. Tailored food and drink packages await, making it ideal for swanky New York gatherings.

The Dead Rabbit stands as a testament to the spirit of Irish heritage, with a dash of New York flair, managing to stand out amongst the world’s greatest bars because it caters to whatever you want, from the best pint of Guinness in the city to the smoothest Julep cocktail, from a Sunday roast and Irish Breakfast to Guinness Braised Rib Sliders and Irish Points Oysters, it has everything. ‘Tradition, meet tomorrow’ is the perfect tagline.

30 Water Street, New York, NY, 10004
www.thedeadrabbit.com

Double Chicken Please: From Pop-Up to Best Bar

There’s nothing unusual about elegant cocktails and delicious food coming together, but there is with Double Chicken Please because of the lengths they’ve taken it to. First though, let’s turn back time to 2017 when this award-winning bar was a travelling pop-up…

More precisely, a bright yellow 1977 Volkswagen minibus, undertaking two tours of the states, notching up 10,000 miles and serving 1,200 cocktails. In the van? Faye Chen and GN Chen. They met in Taiwan working the hospitality scene, before making their own ways (Chan at NYC bar Angel’s Share, and Chen at Speak Low in Shanghai). Reconnecting when Chen arrived on American soil, they began to look for a place of their own… but with real estate at a premium in New York, they struggled.

So… they set off on a road trip, showing off their signature style – famous dishes reimagined in liquid form. Creations like Red Eyed Gravy, Beet Salad, and French Toast remain on the menu today at their Lower East Side bar. After a difficult mid-pandemic teething stage, Double Chicken Please opened with two distinct spaces; The Back Room and The Front Room.

The Front Room, a casual, industrial space offers quick-serve numbered cocktails, each listed on felt letter boards on a gallery wall: some familiar, like #1 with Aperol, passion fruit, sparkling wine, and soda, and some with more peculiar inclusions such as #9, with White Rum, Pineapple, Coconut and Curry. Signature chicken sandwiches created by highly skilled and experienced Mark Chou are also available, such as Mochi Donut with pickled pineapple, habanero, cilantro and strawberry. The menu continues like this, a whirlwind of the familiar and the unusual combined, embracing Asian flavours, cultural diversity, and experimentation.

Head to the Back Room, or The Coop, for a larger, more luxurious experience that retains the comforting warmth of every corner of Double Chicken Please. Here, drinkers can indulge in the bar’s heart and soul, with innovations like Mango Sticky Rice (rum, coconut, mango, cold-brew, coconut, sticky rice pu’er tea and wakame), Cold Pizza (tequila, Parmigiano Reggiano, burnt toast, tomato, basil, honey and egg white), and NY Beet Salad (gin, beet, pineapple, cranberry, mascarpone, yoghurt). Everywhere you look, Chan & Chen have reimagined culinary dishes with delicious cocktail outcomes.

In a city known for its bars, perhaps more than any other on Earth, Double Chicken Please has managed to stand out, earning a 6th place spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, earning the Highest New Entry Award for 2022. Despite the industrial décor, peculiar and often savoury flavour combos, food merged with drinks and two separate rooms, there is a universal warmth, and joy running through every part of Double Chicken Please. ‘The bar is designed to make people happy’ says Chan, and they’ve certainly done that.

115 Allen St, New York, NY 1000
www.doublechickenplease.com

The Best Sober Bars in the UK

A bar without booze used to be a bit of an oxymoron, but with more and more drinkers taking time out from alcohol or ditching it all together, there are now a number of fantastic venues catering to it across the UK.

From extensive alcohol-free options to completely sober bars, these are the establishments offering somewhere to kick back with friends and family without the booze.

Nottingham

Café Sobar

As the name suggests, this is more of a daytime haunt than a fully fledged bar so don’t expect endless choice but there is a great value mocktail menu featuring Savyll’s range which we adore. There’s plenty of other food and drink to enjoy on the menu too and saving the best till last... all profits are poured into alcohol and drug recovery charity ‘Double Impact’. Great stuff.

Website

Hastings

The Nest

The Nest is a really cool events venue and cafe that’s part of Eggtooth, a community-based not-for-profit in Hastings. Gigs, comedy, poetry, therapy sessions, workshops... the variety of events, activities and services hosted here is remarkable but the reason they make the list is their bar, which is predominantly alcohol-free!

Website

Derby

YADA

A super popular collective, YADA is an entirely alcohol-free bar and venue offering an alternative night out in Derby. They recreate the authentic communion that makes traditional pubs so popular and have a wonderfully enticing, lengthy and rotating bar menu. Over 10 mocktails like the Tequila Sunrise with Mockingbird and the Classic Mojito with Lyre steal the show, but there’s also wine like Chardonnay and Rosé, as well as Beers and Ciders. Their website even serves as an online shop so if you try something you love, you know just where to go to buy it in.

Website

Cardiff + Bristol + Penarth

Bar 44

Bar 44 is a stylish Tapas bar showing off local produce as well as Spain’s finest. Situated in three different Southwest locations, the largest of which is Cardiff’s former canal warehouse spot, they’re all beautifully and sophisticatedly designed. There are plenty of non-alcoholic options with 0% Vilarnau Cava, Estrella Galicia Beer and 8 Mocktails including the Tanqueray 0% G&T, perfect for sipping alongside a flurry of delicious Tapas plates.

Website

London

Club Soda Tasting Room, Covent Garden

Inventive and delicious sodas are a great way to go to enjoy a night of drinking without the next day hangxiety, and no one does it better than Club Soda – The Drinks Business’ Independent Retailer of the Year 2023. As well as being a top notch online and street shop, you can swing by, relax and taste the latest and greatest in No-Lo invention. Beer, Premixed Cocktails, Wine, Spirits, Soda, Mood Enhancers... they’ve got it all, from big names like Everleaf to new and exciting releases, many of which we’ve featured on our site before. A must for curious No-Low drinkers.

Website

Lucky Saint, Marylebone

Lovers of alcohol-free beer, you may recognise this name because Lucky Saint began as a booze free beer, and many people’s favourite at that. Well, now they’ve refurbished an historic watering hole with a third of the menu being made up of non-alcoholic drinks, as well as outstanding food.

Website

Permit Room, King’s Cross

One of the best options in the capital, The Permit Room, referencing Mumbai’s Prohibition days, is the underground bar of Dishoom in King’s Cross St. Pancras. Moody lighting, impeccable design, and a delightful Teetotal Tipples menu with mocktails that feel just as special as the cocktails. Try the booze-free Espresso Martini!

Website

Mikkeller, Exmouth Market + Hackney Road

The first UK bar of Danish brewer Mikkeller, this is definitely the place to be for trying alcohol free beer, and not only because it’s part owned by the one and only Rick Astley. Deliciously Danish interiors welcome you in to a rotating selection of 18 or so beers on tap, with guaranteed 0% options.

Website

The Connaught Bar, Mayfair

Super swanky barely covers it when it comes to The Connaught, a bar that has topped the global rankings more than once. Located within the Ritzy Connaught with Cubist-inspired wooden décor and giant mirrors, this is a bar famed for its cocktails. They’ve also committed the same expertise to mocktails however, such as the Essence of the Tropics and the British Cooler. If you want a special mocktail that is a guaranteed hit, then treat yourself at The Connaught.

Website

The Book Club, Shoreditch

This party bar in central Shoreditch is a little different, offering a great night without the hangover. The Lo and NO menu is seriously extensive options including tasty mocktails, Lucky Saints beer and alcohol-free cider like Kopparbergs. Dance the night away in this refurbished Victorian warehouse with weekend DJ sessions, or sip on the alcohol-free/CBD selection whilst watching live music, comedy, or poetry. So much happening here and a variety of sippers to keep you on your toes.

Website

Fancy a night in instead? We’re always trying No-Lo drinks here at The Three Drinkers, so check out our recommendations here!

Our Top 3 London Rooftop Bar Picks

We are in the peak of summer (and hopefully soon the weather will start to play along), so here are our top three rooftop bar picks for you and your friends to try! Whether it’s after work drinks or a date night, we’ve got you covered. While we’ve categorized each bar by it’s specialty, all these rooftop bars have a great selection of cocktails, beers and wines to choose from.

For the wine lover: Forza Wine

Situated in Peckham, opposite the Peckham Rye station, is one of our personal favourite wine bars, Forza Wine. The menu consists of over 30 different wines of different styles. The grape type, and the region that the wine was made is also listed, for all wine enthusiasts who want to know every detail about what they are drinking. The broad price range is great to accommodate every person's budget. The knowledgeable waiters will gladly bring you a few tasters if you are unsure which wine you would like to try! Forza is a north-facing bar, and has an unobstructed view of the city - the sunsets we have witnessed while drinking a glass of bubbles are simply breath-taking.

Address: The Rooftop, 133A Rye Ln, London SE15 4BQ
Website: https://forzawine.com/

For the beer lover: Kraft Dalston

Moving from South London to East London territory, you need to give Kraft Dalston a try. This impressive establishment has an on-site brewery ensuring your pint of choice is as fresh as can be. If freshly brewed beer isn’t already a good enough reason to visit KRAFT, because the beer doesn’t need to be packaged and transported, carbon emissions are reduced by 75%. They have recently opened up their rooftop bar as well just in time for summer with some amazing new cocktail choices using their own craft gin.

Address: Inside Kingsland Locke, 130a Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London E8 2LQ
Website: https://www.kraftdalston.com/

For the cocktail lover: Madison Rooftop Garden

This lively rooftop terrace is a must-see. The bar is at the top floor of the One New Change next to the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral. Sipping on your Aperol Spritz while the sun sets with St Paul in the background is quite a surreal experience. The NYC inspired bar and restaurant has all the classic cocktails, some frozen cocktails for when the weather heats up, and some glorious signature cocktails. There are regularly in-house DJs that just amplify the ambience and are guaranteed to get the party started. 

Address:  Rooftop Terrace One, New Change, London EC4M 9AF
Website: https://www.madisonlondon.net/

If you want some more London bar recommendations, read about Bandra Bhai here!

Bar Swift, Soho: Two-Storey Delight

Nestled on Old Compton Street, Swift Bar Soho stands as a testament to the creative collaboration between two renowned cocktail power couples: Nightjar founders Edmund Weil and Rosie Stimpson, and Milk & Honey's Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston. Together, they have crafted a remarkable drinking den that captures the essence of the vibrant and utterly iconic Soho scene. With a focus on elegance, efficiency, and an impressive array of libations, Swift is no stranger to awards and when you leave, you totally get why.

The bar is thoughtfully designed, divided into two distinct areas depending on your mood. Upstairs, the ambience is lively and casual, offering a perfect swing by spot for those seeking a quick but refined drink experience. With leather booths and mirrored walls galore, the Art Déco-inspired decor sets the stage for enjoying classic cocktail favourites or indulging in Swift's expansive range of unique concoctions.

Their legendary sorbet Sgroppino and wintery Irish Coffee are to die for, and other eye catchers include the Freja featuring Grey Goose vodka, Dolin blanc vermouth, lychee, lemon, and soda. Deciding exactly what to order will probably take longer than the drink, because on top of that, the talented mixologists, including Bobby Hiddleston (known for his record-breaking cocktail-making skills) ensure that you won't be waiting long!

Heading downstairs, Swift unravels into something new; a relaxed and sensual lounge, enticing guests to settle in and savour the experience. This basement den operates daily, offering live music on weekends, boasting an extensive collection of over 300 globetrotting whiskies, and providing a more complex menu inspired by influential individuals past and present.

The latest legends themed menu pays homage to remarkable figures, from artists and performers to great thinkers. It strikes a balance between sophistication and fun, with cocktails like the deep and robust Stone St, a nod to Aisha Tyler, and the whimsical Only in L.A, an Ab-Fab inspired mix of Absolut Elyx and Martini Rubino.

Cementing its place as a prominent fixture in London's forever competitive cocktail scene, Swift continues to attract a vibrant and diverse crowd, just like their menu.  

Visit the website here.

12 Old Compton St, London, W1D 4TQ

Searcy’s St Pancras: First Class

Nestled within the historic St Pancras station, Searcy’s is an iconic destination that celebrates the best of its surroundings whilst also providing a joyful escape from them.

As seen in the Ab Fab film, the longest Champagne in all of Europe sits under a mighty iron roof that was the largest in the world when first built all the way back in 1868. Whether nestled in a cosy nook, or overlooking the Victorian grandeur, the bar has a certain magic to it that’s both relaxing and exciting.

The display bar of delicious nibbles gives you a tantalising taste of what’s to come as you cross the walkway to the Brasserie – the restaurant side of Searcy’s. Industrial chic, swanky with golden warm tones and plush with greenery, you could almost forget where you are for a moment were it not for the bright blue station clock in the middle reminding you.

Inspired by early 20th century classics, British heritage, seasonal produce and of course, the gastronomic delights of the Eurostar’s main destination, the Brasserie’s changing menu under Colin Layfield is always a delight. Fresh seafood in particular takes centre stage, with the likes of light platters, smoked salmon and crab linguine, roast monkfish, caviar, oysters, posh fish and triple cooked chips enticing you in. Schnitzel, bulging burgers, succulent Lake District beef and others fill out the seasonal menu, and that’s before we even mention the drinks – there is a Champagne bar after all!

In fact, there is even a ‘Press for Champagne’ button - yes please, and you’ve got around seventy to pick from. Some of these bubblies currently star in the Searcy’s cocktail list alongside St Germain elderflower liqueur, be that the Latin Quarter with Limoncello, the French Garden with Calvados, or the Sureau Royal with rose liqueur... which I love the sound of. Spicy, sweet and refreshing; the range is always fantastic and that goes for the No/Low options too.

Whether it’s to unwind after a long commute or to get the ball rolling on a trip to the continent, Searcy’s is a truly memorable experience. Keep your eyes peeled for their events too, like Searcy’s Sunday Brunch Feast with live jazz music that you can book now from 9th July 2023 onwards.

Find their website here

St. Pancras, St Pancras International Station, London N1C 4QL