Food, LifestyleCarl ThompsonDecember 09, 2017Virgin Experience Days, Criminali-Tea, Afternoon Tea, 1920s, Barts, Barts of London, Cocktails at BARTsComment

Criminali-Tea with Bottomless Teapot Cocktails for Two at Barts, London

Food, LifestyleCarl ThompsonDecember 09, 2017Virgin Experience Days, Criminali-Tea, Afternoon Tea, 1920s, Barts, Barts of London, Cocktails at BARTsComment

There are just some words that sound better together. London and Speakeasy, for example. Afternoon and Tea - idly saddle next to each other don't they. Whilst Bottomless and Cocktails are the kind of words you'd pay good money to see skittle around inside a Hadron Collider. Now imagine getting to experience all of those wonderful conjugations under one roof, in one afternoon.

Recently, thanks to Virgin Experience Days, I had the good fortune to visit Uncle Barts’ 1920s Speakeasy just along Sloane Avenue where my date and I were transported back to a decadent era where men were men and dames were dames. On the door we slipped Big Frank a password that was initially refused (all part of the fun and games) before being whisked inside to experience what’s being hailed as 'truly London’s worst kept secret'.

If you're a fan of books like F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, which was published during the midst of the tumultuous 20s, or maybe you've seen Baz Luhrmann’s rendition of the novel, then this place will offer you that same portal of nostalgic escapism. Personally I'm more of a The Untouchables guy. Morricone's scintillating and heartbreaking score. Costner and Garcia at their nuanced best, De Niro at his most destructive and of course Connery, in his post-Bond pomp!

"You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. THAT'S the Sccchhicago way! And that's how you get Capone".

I digress. When I heard about Uncle Barts being the Doyen of bootleg cocktails, that was the clincher. (I recommend The Alchemist from the menu). Throughout the afternoon we were suitably captivated by the gangster's moll from The Hotsie Totsies, as she tantalised us with an array of modern jazz inspired renditions. This was an exquisite way to pass a couple of hours on a chilly Saturday afternoon. A great unexpected treat for the other half as an early Christmas present. As well as the bottomless cocktails you’ll also be served up a selection of sandwiches and cakes.