Review: Spuntino, 61 Rupert Street, Soho

Spuntino

Spuntino, 61 Rupert Street, Soho
Soho is a place for many things, and Rupert Street has a lot to offer. If you aren’t careful you will certainly end up with something more than a nice set of dishes and a classic cocktail.

Walking down Rupert Street I admired the XXX DVD shop to the left of me, and then spotted my destination dimly lit and with no sign. Hoping I was about to enter a restaurant, and not somewhere more sordid.

Jensen’s Old Tom Gin

Jensen Logo

Buy Jensen’s Old Tom Gin ~ £24
70cl / 43%

This Old Tom is a product from Christian Jensen, who originally set out to recreate a traditional style of London Dry gin. He had through his work abroad in Japan had the opportunity to taste a range of older gins, some from the 1940’s and earlier. A challenge was set by the bartender that Christian should make his own gin in the older style, and he took a sample of an old gin to Thames Distillers.

Review: Purl, Marylebone, London

Purl - Negroni

We paid a visit to Purl, London the other weeks. Take a look at the review of Purl.
The venue itself feels cosy, when you walk in you might just assume it’s a tiny bar, with just two seats at the bar and a few comfy chairs. Yet go explore and you’ll find hidden away snugs, a piano, old curiosites and posters and bookshelf wallpaper.

Review: BANK, Brindley Place, Birmingham

Bank Restaurant Birmingham Front

Bank is one of the finer restaurants that exist within Brindley Place (Birmingham), it is only a stone throw away from your All Bar One, Cafe Rouge and such. Yet it delivers a totally different experience, both in the food the serve (some delightful prix fixe menus) and the range of cocktails their bar ofers.

This is a great place for a pre, and post dinner cocktail. The atmosphere is very relaxed, though from my experience they don’t offer table service (well, unless you are dining)! Also with Brindley Place being a sun trap, you can wile away the afternoon here.

Review: 69 Colebrooke Row, Islington, London

69 Colebrooke Row Interior

I can’t remember exactly how I came to know of this bar, but it’s name had floated around through my ‘research’ of nice places to drink, and there were quite a few good reviews of it. Though I was no closer to knowing what it’s called. . .surely it can’t just be called ’69 Colebrooke Row’.


I was wrong, my receipt calls the place ‘The Bar With No Name’ and even though I knew what road it was on, and what to look out for (a lantern with the number 69 on it). I still had stood outside on the street for two minutes, having to doubleback on myself before I realised that the place I had assumed was empty, had life. If you do go looking for this place, don’t expect it to jump out to you. It blends into the backstreets, which is exactly what it tries to achieve.