23/8 - updated with soft launch details.
Searcy's have a few champagne bars across town. But now they're aiming for a stronger tipple with the imminent opening of Gin Joint in the Barbican Centre.
Gin Joint will be a brasserie and bar - with the latter having a specific focus on "mother's ruin" aiming to have one of the biggest selection of gins in the capital. And not only will they have 40 varieties, but they'll be the first in London to offer chilled Brokers gin on tap. These will, of course, be backed up with plenty of gin cocktails including Peppercorn (Beefeater with grapefruit juice, rose syrup and black pepper), Lambeth lemonade (Beefeater 24 with Lillet Blanc, raspberry syrup and lemonade), and Gincognito (Plymouth gin, fresh lime, coriander, cane syrup and Peychaud’s bitters and tonic). And, of course, there will be champagne, artisan wines and craft beers available too.
Looking after the British-inspired menu will be executive Chef Oliver Tobias (who was previously at the Royal Opera House and Maze). Promised dishes include:
- Chilled cucumber and Beefeater Gin gazpacho with mint scone
- Gressingham duck sausage with pickled shallots, scallop and juniper
- 35-day Aged Longhorn fillet
- Whole lobster with courgette, sugar snaps, lemon and borage;
- Grilled pork collar, leek, sage and apple bake
- Cauliflower cheese ‘rarebit’ with herb and pine nut crust and picked vegetable salad
- Plum and almond crumble, star anise and orange custard
- Beefeater Gin and tonic granité.
The 88-seat restaurant, which overlooks the Barbican Lakeside, also has a private dining room for up to 16. And we like the sound of Gin Democracy - an early bird gin offering which every evening from 7pm-9pm gives punters the chance to try any of the 40 London Dry gins for the price of a regular house gin (£8.50).They'll also be launching a Gin Club with "gin influenced" dinners, tastings and more.
Gin Joint opens fully on September 9 at Level 2, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. There's a soft launch from Thursday 29th to Tuesday 3rd September with 50% off food (plus a gin & tonic on arrival). To book, call them on 020-7588 3008.
For more info, follow them on Twitter - @GinJoint_London
