Bartenders have created a collection of theatrical cocktails to celebrate their hotel being an official partner with this year’s Olivier Awards.
The team at the May Fair Bar at the May Fair Hotel in central London have devised three drinks inspired by musicals included in the list of nominations announced yesterday (March 26).
The hotel has been named the official hotel partner for the annual theatre awards and hosted the nominees announcement that was presented by award-winning actor Ruth Wilson and musical theatre star Elaine Paige.
Pictured above (left to right) with their respective cocktails are Top Hat cast members Gavin Lee and Kristen Beth Williams, The Bodyguard’s Mark Letheren and Debbie Kurup, and A Chorus Line cast members Rebecca Herszenhorn and Ed Currie.
The Top Hat Apple Martini is inspired by Top Hat, the musical at the Aldwych Theatre based on the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie. It aims to reignite the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age, mixing Smirnoff Black vodka, or Grey Goose vodka, with muddled Granny Smith apple slices, apple juice and Marie Brizard sirop de gomme, served in a Martini glass with an apple slice garnish.
Gavin Lee, who plays the Fred Astaire role of Jerry Travers in Top Hat, said: “I wish I could chug it all but we have a matinee performance and I’d probably end up in the pit. We definitely have the classiest cocktail.”
The Bodyguard Blackcurrant Sling is a tall, dark and sweet cocktail, based on a classic Sling, and is a tribute to the musical version of the Hollywood blockbuster The Bodyguard at the Adelphi Theatre. It combines Havana Club 3 Year Old rum with fresh blackcurrant puree, sirop de vanilla and apple juice, served in a Sling glass.
A Chorus Line Colada is described as “perfect for dreamers”, inspired by the revival of the 1970s musical at the London Palladium. It combines Bacardi Light Rum with Malibu, pineapple juice, double cream and a dash of sugar, with a pineapple and cherry garnish.
“It’s delicious and a lovely bit of summertime on a freezing day,” said Ed Currie, who plays Bobby in A Chorus Line. “It’s long, lean and very fruity – just like our Chorus Line.”
The Olivier’s Collection is available from now until April 28 at The May Fair Bar, priced £11 each.
The 37th Olivier Awards, organised by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), take place at the Royal Opera House in London on April 28.
Julian Bird, chief executive of SOLT and executive producer of the awards, said: “We can think of nowhere more appropriate than London’s chic and stylish May Fair Hotel to set the scene for these exciting announcements. With its very own theatre space, the hotel’s appreciation and support of the arts is evident, and therefore was the perfect choice of location.”
