The team behind acclaimed Paris bar Sherry Butt (pictured) are to open a bar specialising in “beautifully made cocktails”, rare spirits and “cutting-edge DJs” in the former site of The Player in London.
The new late-night bar, to be called Basement Sate, will be launched in Broadwick Street, Soho, in early September by Dublin-born Cathleen McGarry, co-owner of the Paris bar.
It replaces cocktail bar The Player, which was originally opened by leading bartender Dick Bradsell in 1998 and sold unexpectedly by its most recent owner, Jonathan Downey of Rushmore Group in May.
Cathleen was attracted by the diversity of the drinking and nightlife scene in London but wanted to introduce something entirely new to the Soho area: “Somewhere people can dance and drink quality cocktails in a cool and dynamic atmosphere.”
The 120-capacity basement bar’s interiors will be “polished and tasteful”, combining raw brickwork with rich furnishings to bring a “sleek yet intimate” feel to the venue.
With dark wood-panelled snugs, low lighting, copper-topped tables, green leather seating and furniture designed by Fleming & Howland, the owners want the bar to be “reminiscent of a lovingly-designed living room”.
With a long bar counter, booths and separate seating, Basement Sate will be suitable for groups both big and small. The bar will take reservations and provide table service.
A 12-strong cocktail list is being designed by Byly Tran of L’Entrée des Artistes and Prescription Cocktail Club in Paris. It will be made up of “inventive house creations, twists on classics and a range of carefully selected quality spirits” that will be “sophisticated without being overcomplicated”.
Signature cocktails such as the Brandy Crusta will champion the boutique premium spirits being used, while other drinks will feature unusual ingredients such as seaweed and salted caramel and experiment with traditional ingredients such as beetroot and homemade syrups.
Announcing details of the new bar, the owners said: “Focusing on the fundamental techniques and the highest-quality ingredients, the key to Basement Sate’s drinks is balance and harmony.
“This extends to the bespoke glassware, the regularly changing organic wines and craft bottled beers. Basement Sate is serious about its drinks, without being stuffy or ostentatious.”
Basement Sate will offer food designed to complement the cocktails, created by an in-house chef in an open kitchen, consisting of light small plates ideal for sharing.
With a Martin Audio sound system and residencies from London and Paris’s hottest DJs, Basement Sate intends to be a “haven for true music lovers who are looking for diverse sounds away from the mainstream”.
Throughout the week, jazz, electronic hip hop and instrumental will provide a chilled-out vibe, and at the weekend, guest and resident DJs will play a mix of soulful and deep house “as the bar takes on a high-octane party atmosphere”.
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