Storefront City London

Archive for the category “Drink It!”

29 Nov 2021

Friendship Adventure Brewery

WHAT: Friendship Adventure Brewery
WHERE: Unit G1, Coldharbour Works, 245a Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8RR
PRICE: £2.50–6 (Beer) £6–14 (Food)
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Credit: Friendship Adventure Ltd

When is it not the perfect day for a pint? We headed over to Friendship Adventure Brewery this week to try some local beer brewed in Brixton, and felt right at home in this pub!

We love the atmosphere this brewery and taproom creates. The space reflects its name and its obvious Friendship Adventure cares about the community it’s based in. Right around the corner from Loughborough Station, this spacious railway arch-esque pub has tons of seating, with fun high bar stools and some spots right next to their brewing equipment, which was definitely a unique experience.

The brewery’s community spirit is reflected in everything it offers, as they showcase small businesses in they food the serve, the pints they pour, and the charities they partner with. The staff are super friendly and invite you to hang out as long as you’d like without nagging you to buy another pint, and they offer water and popcorn to boot!

Credit: Friendship Adventure Ltd

Taking a seat next to their brewery equipment, we had to try a few of their home-brewed beers, although they do host several guest beers from other local businesses as well as a few varieties of wine. We tried a few half pints so we could get a better selection of what they offer, and we particularly enjoyed their Caper (modern pilsner lager) and their Headliner (big, bold, juicy New England IPA).

Did we mention this is a dog friendly pub? There were so many dogs that visited throughout the night, and it was obvious this was a place well-frequented by locals, as there was a very warm and welcoming atmosphere during our entire stay.

Credit: Friendship Adventure Ltd

Final Thoughts: We definitely can’t wait to go back to Friendship Adventure. We’ve heard they have great comedy nights so we’re keeping our eyes peeled on their event page, and we’re more than ready to come back for some nibbles too. There are some fantastic local restaurants that rotate at the brewery, including Banh Banh, Baz & Fred, Black Bear Burger, and Rudie’s Jerk Shack, all reasonably priced, so we’ll definitely return for some great beer, some local food and a show!

P.S.: Looking for another Brixton pub to frequent? Why not try Hope & Anchor for a different pub experience — still a warm and social atmosphere but with a different style.

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It! and tagged , , , , ,
20 Oct 2021

Festival of the Dead — Halloween Returns

WHAT: Festival of the Dead — Halloween Returns
WHEN: 23 October 2021
WHERE: Troxy (490 Commercial Rd, London E1 0HX)
PRICE: £32–45.20

OUR SNEAK PEEK RATING: Do It!

Credit: Festival of the Dead

You’ll find us first in the queue for anything horrific and whimsical, but unfortunately due to schedule conflicts we’ve not been able to attend a Festival of the Dead event while living in the UK. But this year we’re in for a treat and can finally make it to Europe’s biggest touring Halloween show!

This event promises to be extremely unique — a mashup of circus, clubbing, and carnival in an imaginative immersive setting with giant skeleton puppets, huge fire shows, and aerialist performers. Art and death collide in this surreal world of the spirits and creatures of the night.

Credit: Festival of the Dead

We’ve seen a lot of upcoming parties pair their event with garage or hip hop, but thank goodness this high octane night will bring rock, metal, and of course our favourite electronic and house music.

We’re equally excited to make our way to the Troxy again — having not been for a few years since a past Secret Cinema performance. We can’t wait to see this massive event space kitted out as a breathtaking carnival for the dead.

Credit: Festival of the Dead

A mix of hauntingly stylish and terrifyingly theatrical, this experiential clubbing phenomenon promises to be a night to remember, and we can’t wait to spend the night dancing with other lost souls in London’s Underworld.

Head on over here to get your tickets today and look out for our full review post event.

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Festivals, Music and Concerts, Nightlife, See It! and tagged , , , , ,
14 Oct 2021

Hope & Anchor

WHAT: Hope & Anchor
WHERE: 123 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, SW2 5UA
PRICE: Entrées £7–14, Draft Pint £5.30–6.50, Cocktails £10
OUTDOORS: Yes

OUR RATING: Do It!

Credit: Hope & Anchor

It’s been awhile, we know, but after a year-long hiatus the Storefront City team is back in action and making the most of life. We’ll be honest: it’s been super hard to stay indoors all this time and we were itching to get back out into the big wide world and share our latest and greatest experiences with you. To that end, and to highlight venues that are a tad bit safer pandemic-wise, we’ve created a new rating category above showcasing whether the adventure reviewed is outdoors. We hope that this will give you the confidence to dive back in and explore new locations where you’ll feel safer.

For our first foray we hit up the Hope & Anchor in Brixton, a beautiful cocktail bar complete with an opulent garden dripping with style. Hammocks, private cabins, and neon accents create a stunning environment to grab a few drinks and soak up a warm evening with friends.

Credit: Hope & Anchor

Adam: Whilst the name might make you think this is a run-of-the-mill pub, the Hope & Anchor (indeed established as a pub in 1815) is most certainly NOT your grandfather’s pub. After ducking through the indoor area, you are greeted by an array of leafy trees, festooned in twinkling lights. To top this off, you can opt to sit in one of the many cabanas that dot the perimeter, creating your own oasis of privacy and yet still benefiting from the trendy vibe of those around you.

Ordering is easy tableside via the app, although we’d recommend you download this beforehand to avoid the hassle of signing up there and then. I opted for a pint of refreshing Beavertown Neck Oil, a Session IPA that matched the light and airy feel of the evening. Bracing and bursting with taste, this is a citrus-hoppy beer with a somewhat flowery aspect that I would definitely recommend. A perfect complement to a perfect night.

Credit: Hope & Anchor

Alicia: The Hope & Anchor seems like such a small and stuffy mini-pub when you first walk in the door, until you start getting into their backyard and suddenly you’re in a Wonderland. I’m such a sucker for unique outdoor dining experiences that give you fun lights and set elements to look at when you’re in the midst of a refreshing pint. I went for my go-to Guinness as the options for drinks were quite minimal — only Aperol Spritz and espresso martinis were available out of anything on offer, so if you’re a cocktail person this probably isn’t the place for you.

Unfortunately, I can’t say this is the best place for dining either — we splurged on some loaded fries that sounded good on paper: slow cooked ox cheek, plum ketchup, soy yoghurt, jalapeños. Alas, the fries were a bit cold and definitely mushy, albeit flavourful. We weren’t impressed enough by the chips to go in for some more food — it just didn’t seem like the kind of pub to offer some really great meals, but we were more than happy to drink up and enjoy the ambience instead!

Credit: Hope & Anchor

Final Thoughts: Brixton has a few lovely outdoor pubs, but we’ve got to admit the Hope & Anchor is one of the more fun-for-the-eyes spots. Definitely a go-to for an after-dinner pint. Weather is obviously an important factor if you’re enjoying an outdoor beer garden, so go now if the sun is shining or the night is warm and get cozy in some beach huts under twinkling lights.

PS: Enjoy outdoor drinking with intricate theming? Don’t miss the rooftop bar at Queen of Hoxton!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , ,
20 Nov 2019

The Emerald City Rooftop Bar

WHAT: The Emerald City Rooftop Bar
WHEN: 24 October 2019 – May 2020 (4:00pm on)
WHERE: Queen of Hoxton (1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX)
PRICE: Free Entry

OUR RATING: Do It!

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

Travel down the yellow brick road to The Queen of Hoxton’s newest rooftop retreat – a cozy winter escape and hidden bar far far away from Kansas. We had the fortunate opportunity to attend this immersive event’s launch a few weeks ago, but luckily for our readers this emerald realm is open for free all the way to May 2020.

After entering the venue we climbed the themed yellow brick road all the way to the rooftop, where we were met with a snug and spellbinding viridescent hideout with Dorothy’s house dropped upon the evil witch herself all inside QoH’s famous rooftop WigWam. Afterwards, we found ourselves in the outdoor and bar spaces, complete with fire pits, beautiful lights, and entertaining roaming witch characters.

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

We immediately headed to the bar area, excited to try some hot alcoholic drinks to keep the cold away. For those less adventurous the venue offers familiar drinks – pumpkin spiced mulled cider and mulled berry wine, both of which can be spiked with additional liquor. We instead opted to try two of their spiked hot chocolates. While we were slightly underwhelmed by their Bad *itch Hot Chocolate (dark hot chocolate, chocolate liqueur, activated charcoal), we thought the Wicked Hot Chocolate (white hot chocolate, chocolate liqueur, matcha powder) was a unique and very smooth drink. Our favourite drink, by far, was the hot buttered rum (mulled with cinnamon, peppercorns, butter, rum, and fudge), which we had a really hard time not ordering again and again. Just thinking about it gives us fond warm memories!

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

If hot alcoholic drinks aren’t your thing (what??), they also serve up some cold green drinks, such as the Green Lady (egg white, gin, lemon, orange liqueur) and the Emerald Bellini (vodka, passion fruit, orange, Prosecco, salted caramel and popping candy rim). We weren’t a huge fan of the latter drink, but thought the fun and flavourful rim was well worth it.

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

We also tried some of the Kansas-inspired food QoH had to offer, including meat and vegan burgers with black charcoal buns, and beef or pumpkin pot roasts with collard greens & cornbread. We weren’t overly impressed with the burgers and chips, but thought the pot roasts were quite yummy and perfect for a cold night, albeit a bit pricey.

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

For the remainder of this Autumn/Winter, QoH will be celebrating the season of the witch with a variety of free events on this emerald rooftop, including witch academy classes, feminist witch storytelling, a winter witch craft market, and green eco-events such as pickling workshops and a clothes swap.

Final Thoughts: We can’t wait to return to The Emerald City with some mates and sit down in the gorgeous green glen of their WigWam sipping mug after mug of hot buttered rum. We might skip the food this time, but for a free immersive bar experience, this is sure to keep you warm this winter. And don’t forget to get some of their marshmallows to toast over their open fire pits – a nostalgic and perfect addition to your night out.

P.S. For better burgers, head over to The Old Bengal Bar for some fun and juicy ones!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , ,
21 Oct 2019

The Mansion Halloween Ball

WHAT: The Mansion Halloween Ball
WHEN: 26 October, 2019 (9pm-3am)
WHERE: Secret Location
PRICE: £24-150

OUR SNEAK PEEK RATING: Do It!

Credit: The Mansion London

As the nights darken and autumn breezes chill the bone, an array of ghoulish events present themselves to adorn your ever-filling nocturnal calendar. There are haunted houses, hayrides, and your more typical club nights. And then there’s the Halloween Ball, devilishly conceived by the exquisite minds at The Mansion London.

The location is top secret until 48 hours beforehand, but given the extravagance of The Mansion London’s previous events, we’re sure that it will be suitably one of a kind. With three dance floors, an art room, two lounges, and VIP areas, this is one huge setup! Each dance floor will feature a different genre of music, including chart toppers, house, electro, and Latin from the likes of DJ Amin Sane, DJ Fabrizia, and DJ Carlitos, whilst live musicians on sax and djembe will make this experience truly unique.

Credit: The Mansion London

What sets the Halloween Ball apart from other events though is the sheer variety of unique entertainment throughout the space. Live fire shows, a seriously spooky graveyard, a ravenous werewolf, a mysterious clairvoyant ready to read your destiny…the list of acts is endless!

Credit: The Mansion London

Get dressed up for this one – fancy dress is mandatory and there’s a chance to win flights to New York for the best costume. And, of course, no costume would be complete without a nightmarish makeover, with makeup artists on hand to give you that final spooky touch.

Watch this space for our upcoming full review after the event!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , ,
22 Apr 2019

London Marathon Freebies

On Sunday, 28th April, runners will take to the streets of London once again for the London Marathon. After such a lot of calories burnt, we thought you might need a few places to recharge for free! So bring along your medal and tuck into your well earned rewards.

WHAT: Free Wild Bowls
WHEN: Lunchtime, 29 April, 2019
WHERE: Mac & Wild Fitzrovia and Mac & Wild Devonshire Square
(65 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PS, & 9A Devonshire Square,
EC2M 4YN)
PRICE: Free (with Marathon medal)
OUR RATING: Do It!


Mac & Wild have to have some of the best Scottish restaurants in the whole of London. Even better, on the 29th April they’re offering all Marathon medal holders the newly introduced Wild Bowl completely free. Choose from the Wild Salmon Bowl (a Scottish classic, of course), the Wild Vegan Pulse Bowl, and the Wild Venison Bowl. All are utterly delicious and will definitely jack up your protein levels. Just show your medal and you’re good to go.

WHAT: Free Drink
WHEN: 28 April, 2019
WHERE: Bluebird Chelsea
(350 Kings Road, SW3 5UU)
PRICE: Free (with Marathon medal)
OUR RATING: Do It!

After all that running, you’re likely to be darn thirsty. That’s where Bluebird Chelsea comes in. With a quick flash of your prized medal, you could be sipping on one of their Signature Cocktails, including the King’s Road Cocktail (a delicious medley of Cointreau, rose syrup, lemon juice, and champagne), the Fast Lane (which will definitely keep you running with Hennnessy VS cognac, Dalmore 12 whisky, Ron Zacapa 23 rum, Grand Marnier, orange bitters, and absinthe), or the Last Thyme We Met (a refreshing mix of Hendricks, thyme infused yellow Chartreuse, raspberry, honey, and lemonade). This also an outdoor terrace, so that you can make the most of the beautiful weather we’ve been having.

WHAT: Free Negroni
WHEN: 28 April, 2019
WHERE: Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration
(1A Bedford Street, WC2E 9HH)
PRICE: Free (with Marathon medal)
OUR RATING: Do It!

Now this is quite a spectacle. If you drop by the iconic Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration (and that’s Phileas Fogg of Jules Verne fame), you can experience the mechanised wonder of the Mechanical Mixology Machine as it pours you the perfect Negroni. Whirring to life at the touch of a button, there’s nothing quite like it anywhere in London. Talk about automation of jobs!

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It!, Mixology, Nab It! and tagged , , ,

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