Tee Time: cocktails, street food and crazy golf at Swingers West End
Mark Ludmon steps into the crazy world of Swingers in London’s West End. Pictures by Luke Dyson No longer do people just go out for a drink: they are seeking “experiences”, according to the trend watchers. For the ultimate in this, visit Swingers where you can enjoy a well-crafted cocktail and some street food while …
Tall Stories: cocktails and dining at Manchester’s 20 Stories
Nearly 100 metres up, 20 Stories is a new Manchester spot for cocktails and food. Mark Ludmon reports Up on the 19th floor of Manchester’s new No 1 Spinningfields development is a stunning new restaurant and bar for enjoying cocktails while gazing out over the city. 20 Stories is the latest venture from leading operator …
Urban gothic: The Alchemist in Nottingham
The Alchemist has expanded to its 13th location with a new bar in Nottingham. Report by Mark Ludmon. Pictures by Laurence Hudghton Bar owners and designers are accustomed to hitting problems during a build. Maybe they encounter structural weaknesses, or a supplier lets them down. But at the latest site for The Alchemist in Nottingham, …
Sea change: destination hotel bar Aurum on the Essex coast
Destination bar Aurum has opened in Southend-on-Sea as part of a new boutique hotel, reports Mark Ludmon. Photography by ProfotoDesign With tourism growing year on year and its own international airport, Southend-on-Sea on the Essex coast is on the up. The latest arrival is The Seven Hotel, a luxurious 37-bedroom boutique hotel overlooking the seafront …
All the Kin’s men: Sam Baxendale and Jody Buchan’s Edinburgh bar Kin
Bartenders Sam Baxendale and Jody Buchan have opened their own bar, Kin, in Edinburgh. Photography by Till Britze When bartenders of the calibre of Jody Buchan and Sam Baxendale open a bar, you know it will be something special. After years working in other top places, they have unveiled Kin in Edinburgh’s Broughton area through …
Night moves: the new home for legendary club Annabel’s
Leading memnbers club Annabel’s in London has a bigger and even grander new home. Mark Ludmon reports After 54 years at the heart of London’s nightlife, one of its most glamorous destinations, Annabel’s, has moved two doors down in Berkeley Square to a bigger, more spectacular home. At an estimated cost of £55 million, the …
Changing perceptions: the glamorous bar at the W London hotel
Mark Ludmon explores W London hotel’s stunning bar The Perception A striking new look has transformed the bar at W London hotel off Leicester Square into a new destination for drinking and dining. The original W Lounge and late-night Wyld Bar have been knocked into one and transformed into The Perception, with seven flexible areas …
‘Ethnobotany’ inspires exotic new menu at Waeska bar
After experimentation and extensive research into ancient herbs and botanicals, the team at Waeska bar at The Mandrake hotel in London have unveiled their new cocktail menu in time for the summer. Created under bar manager Walter Pintus, the list is founded on ethnobotany – the study of a region’s plants and their practical uses …
Look east: Baba bar and restaurant brings a taste of the Levant to Edinburgh
Levantine-influenced bar and restaurant Baba has opened at The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square hotel. Pictures by Gareth Gardner, Marc Millar and Julian Franklin The flavours and styles of the eastern Mediterranean infuse the food, cocktails and design of new bar and restaurant Baba in Edinburgh. It has been created as part of the £25million transformation …
Artesian evokes life-changing moments with new menu
Key moments in people’s lives are evoked in the new cocktail menu at Artesian bar at London’s Langham hotel. The team under bar manager Anna Sebastian and head bartender Rémy Savage asked members of the public and the bartending community to share the flavours and feelings that they associated with a selection of pivotal moments …
