Bar

A new bar is heading to Soho, taking over the space that used to hold 68 & Boston on Greek Street. From the same people behind the Records bars (Venn St, Northcote and Eastcheap) Louche is looking to be inspired by the Soho of the 1920s and beyond. 

What does that mean in practice? Lots of wood panelling for a start, but also apparently "hidden peep shows" (it is old school Soho they're

Optimism seems to be in the air if you consider the number of new bar openings in the Mayfair/Marylebone area. Anywhere that doesn’t require driving to/petrol will certainly hit the spot this week, at least. Hot on the heels of its sister hotel’s new bar, Claridge’s The Painter’s Room Bar, which we recently visited,

Claridge's has magicked up a brand new - and spectacular-looking - cocktail bar. We went down to take a look at this surprise opening. 

This new West London bar is a colourful conversion from a pub on Ladbroke Grove, to an all singing and dancing fast-service cocktail bar.

The people behind Kricket are getting ready to open something new, and quite different from before. This time it's a standalone basement bar in Soho, called SOMA, taking over the building right next door to Kricket Soho (which used to be a club and karaoke bar). 

SOMA will still carry on the Indian influences that you'll see in Kricket, and more besides with drinks

Updated 4/6/21 with The Night Owl opening date

It's all happening at Finsbury Park. As part of the station's massive redevelopment, there's plenty to look out for with a large new M&S food store, Picturehouse Cinema and Honest Burgers all coming to the station environs.

But that's not all. It looks as though this part of N4 is going to get two new bars, both of which

The original Four Quarters in Peckham Rye was a game-changer - a bar meets gaming arcade. Five years ago they opened their second bar, this time in Stratford, and now they're expanding again.

Their latest bar will be in the huge new Elephant Park development in Elephant & Castle. It's going to be the group's biggest opening to date with over 30 retro arcade machines, eight vintage console booths and two

The Garden Bar has been a big hit in its Elephant & Castle location - so much so that they're getting ready to open a second Garden Bar in Bromley. 

As with the original, it's all about alfresco dining - but on the very large side. This new Garden Bar will seat 400 on a multi-level terrace - and there will be a rooftop bar too. It'll all open in stages over the coming

London's bars are reopening fully and from mezcalarias to natural wine bars we've got a hot list of drinking establishments you should know about.

With alfresco spaces in London being a premium right now, you can count on us to bring you news of any new places opening. And the new roof venue at The Standard hotel in King's Cross sounds (and looks) worth checking out.

The Standard Rooftop is the hotel's latest space to launch and they say the aim of the 11th-floor bar - just upstairs from their Decimo restaurant - is to bring "the vibe of New York’s

Tacos, cocktails, a play list and even incense for the atmosphere - we get Nine Lives bar delivered to our home.

This is VERY poor timing. As London spends its first evening in lockdown once again, one of our bars has just been named best in the world.

The Connaught Bar nabbed the top spot at the hugely competitive The World's 50 Best Bars 2020 which revealed its list today. It was a "deserving winner" said the judges "for the work that is put in and the level of artistry applied to the cocktail craft."

London was the best

With all that happening in and to the world of hospitality, folk in that industry could be forgiven for wanting to just hunker down, let the maelstrom pass them by and hope for better times ahead.

That's certainly one way of dealing with being in Tier 2 in the middle of a pandemic. Alternatively you could do what restaurateur Jackson Boxer has done and add more to your to-do list by opening a brand new bar.

Not just any bar though.

Where is it? On Heddon Street, underneath Momo

Who's in charge? Running things here is Eric Lorincz who previously headed up the American Bar at The Savoy which he took to the top slot in the World's Best Bars list.

What's the vibe? Think subtle tropical meets clubby drawing room - so the chairs are studded Chesterfields while the plants and decor are a bit tiki.

Why is it

You may be wondering does Hackney really need another pizza place? Certainly, the team behind Nebula, which opened at the weekend, are very much hoping it does.

This new pizza, beer and cocktail joint has taken over a space just off Hackney Road near to ABQ Bar and Mama Shelter. It's a large site - with room for 200 pizza lovers. And the fact that it also has a large courtyard won't hurt it at all in the current times.

The team behind it are