Clutch - Climpson's Arch - Rita's Bar & Dining - Skylodge - Farr's School of Dancing

Saturday 7th December - Time to catch up on the busy run up to Christmas, starting with a rambling evening out in East London, centred around a trip to Platterform's new Skylodge space in London Fields.  Tim was keen to push on with his Team List account after spending many months away in Paris this year, so we packed in as much as we could.

Our original plan was to start at the Wigwambam on the roof of the Queen of Hoxton, but it was sadly closed for a private event.  The rooftop installation is Nordic themed this year. I was a huge fan of the wigwam last year, so I will make an effort to get back there soon for some hot drinks, spoon carving and their open grill in a cosy setting.  

Just round the corner is the attractive Shoreditch Food Village, a striking red tent with several street food vendors inside including Yalla Yalla,  We popped our heads in as Tim's tummy was rumbling, but we decided to push on for the moment.

Top Left Clockwise - Craft Beer Social Club, Wigwambam (x2) and Yalla Yalla at Shoreditch Food Village

We powered our way up Shoreditch High Street (passing by Martin Morales' new Andina restaurant) and down the Hackney Road before cutting off right down Ravenscroft Road to find new free range chicken joint, Clutch.

Clutch have quirkily set up shop in an old estate pub, in a quiet area in between Hackney Road & Columbia Road. They have transformed the space beautifully, with a stylish dining room (with incredible giant lightbulbs) and a trendy bar at the back.

Clutch Chicken

We were only making a flying visit en route to bars in London Fields, so we ordered a half bucket of Peanut & Chilli Crust fried chicken to go.  While we were waiting we sampled a couple of their interesting bottled beers from Moncada and Kernel, and had a nice chat with the barmen.  They serve a range of £9.00 "Clutchtails" with names like The Sour Grouse and Cackling Goose Cosmo.

Before too long our chicken arrived, with a Roasted Garlic & Creme Fraiche dip on the side, and we were on our way.  It wasn't the easiest thing to eat on a bus, but we enjoyed the jealous glances from fellow travellers.  It was truly delicious and I would highly recommend heading there for a sit down meal.

Peanut & Chilli Crust chicken at Clutch

They also run a very tempting brunch at the weekend (11-3 Sat, 9-3 Sun) with the likes of Dozy Drake (Duck Egg & Caramelized Onion on Sourdough) for £4.50.  

Dozy Drake for brunch at Clutch

Once we had disposed of our takeaway box, we made our way over to Climpson's Arch, a stunning little archway coffee roastery which doubles as a bar and food space near London Fields.  Trust Google Maps as you are sent down a seemingly abandoned road.  The beautiful Christmas tree told us we were in the right place, and we popped inside for some Camden Pale Ale.

Climpson's Arch at Christmas

They often have special food events running (e.g. Licky Chop and Wunderbar East last year) so check ahead before you go, but you are normally able to pop in for just a drink anyway.  Every Thursday in February they will be running a Winter BBQ Supper Club - read more here. Sunday Roast at the Roastery also sounds great.

Climpson's Arch

As we left we were joined by East Londoner Tom who hadn't been to London Fields Brewery, so we walked round the corner to have a quick drink in their cosy tap room.  Read more here from my last visit in July. 

We went for a 3 x 1/3 beer flight with Black Frost Stout, American Black and Shoreditch Triangle IPA - all tasty, but tough to judge after only a 1/3.  They also had a lovely tree, but it was 2nd best to Climpson's Arch.

London Fields Brewery at Christmas

After a bizarre episode with a friendly chap who seemed to think Tim was a doorman for London Fields Brewery, we were back on the road. Next stop: Rita's Bar and Dining

After some hugely popular popups at Birthdays and Feast, Rita's has found a permanent home on Mare Street.  They instantly received some great reviews, including 4 stars from Fay Maschler.  1/2 Fried Chicken with Warm Warm Honey and Sausage Gravy appealed even after a bucket of Clutch chicken, but we were just here for a quick drink on this occasion.  Returning here for food is very high on my to do list.

Photo Credit : Benjamin McMahon

We instead propped up the tiny bar (getting in the way of pretty much everyone) and had a couple of drinks. I went for a moreish Hard Cidre for only £5.50 (Kraken Rum, Cidre Breton, Vanilla, Apple) whilst Tim had a Palermo at £7 (Gran Centenario Plata Tequila, Campari, Grapefruit, House Soda).

We then started working our way through tasters of their top shelf concoctions, including some infused rums (e.g. Cinnamon & Honey, Vanilla) and a deadly bottle of Whiskey infused with very hot pickles which left us all in tears.

With our mouths still burning, we finally made our way to Skylodge, Platterform's latest rooftop residency after the fantastic Skyroom that I was a big fan of last year.  They have temporarily taken over the Hothouse roopftop that Coppa Bar & BBQ inhabited in the summer.  The theme is just about to change (more info on that later), but when we popped in it was a cosy lumberjack lodge.  I was very sad to miss the Thanksgiving launch party which involved chasing a terrifying looking turkey from Broadway Market to the Hothouse.

On arrival, we were warmly greeted by Julian who wasted no time in blowtorching some marshmallows for us.  They haven't wasted an inch of space in the lodge - keep your eyes peeled for Bigfoot's footsteps, a moose head made by the people behind Spitting Image, and some underwear on a tree stump!

To start, we sampled a range of beers from the Strawman Brewery which lives just below the Hothouse. The Amber, Saison and Munich were all equally impressive - I hope to see more of these guys this year.  I also took home a potent Imperial Stout which went down very easily at Christmas.

Strawman Brewery beers

We took our beers for a walk, taking in all the delightful decor.  The cosy snug complete with blankets and a fake fire seemed to be the most popular spot, along with the fun little huts down one side - head to the Lumberjack Love Shack if you dare.  One end had a small stage set up for Campfire Sessions and there was also a projector screen for their Bigfoot Film Club.

We made our way over to the Lumberjack Diner for some "Lumbersnacks" and hot cocktails.  Tasty wings, ribs, sloppy joes and pancakes all disappeared very quickly along with heartwarming drinks with silly names like the Hands-on Gretel.  Special mention must go to Aria for superb service in the diner.

As we were finishing up our food, we were drawn back to the main area by a game of "Moosical Logs" which was being taken very seriously by punters and a couple of Skylodge staff dressed up in Bigfoot / Lion onesies.

Feeling left out, we decided to take part in the (free) Lumberjack Olympics, starting with Pin the Beard on the Lumberjack.  As you can see below, Tom definitely cheated his way to the top in the first discipline.

Next up was "Deer Hunter" darts which Tim narrowly won.  Finally, we took on "Hammer Time" - who can hammer a nail into a tree stump with the fewest hits? Not me, apparently.  In fact, I may well have set the all time record high.  Tom stormed to victory and took the prize, a bottle of Beavertown Brewery's Stingy Jack.

Lumberjack Olympics at Skylodge

As I mentioned though, the Lumberjack theme is making way for a 15 week adventure on the high seas. The space has now been transformed into a Shanty Shack where you expect "Rum Rations", "Captain's Choice" cocktails and "Shanty Shots".  You can book in advance for food here - 4 courses and an after dinner drink for £30.  I'm certain it will be just as much fun as the Skylodge, especially as they are promising "music, drinks and games with the Captain after dinner".  Go and check it out soon before everyone discovers it!

Olympic Champion Tom decided to call it a night, but Tim and I squeezed in one more place before catching the last Overground home.  A speedy bus trip took us to Dalston Junction where we popped into Antic's latest pub, Farr's School of Dancing.  Antic London are responsible for some of my favourite South London pubs - Balham Bowls Club, Effra Social, Hagen & Hyde, Tooting Tram & Social - so I knew what to expect.

Their new site takes its name from a dance school that occupied the building in the late 30s.  At present, there is just one main room, but they plan to open a basement bar and an upstairs kitchen soon.  The décor is kooky as usual - look out for the motorbike hanging from the ceiling.  They had some interesting beers from Clarence & Fredericks which I haven't seen before, plus a couple from Wild Card Brewery.  

Antic have got it right again, this time right in the heart of hipster-land, right opposite Dalston Junction station - expect it to be busy!  

Farr's School of Dancing

Tim picks up a hard earned 5 points and moves up to 5th place on the Team List Leaderboard. Tom gets 3 points but has work to do to make it into the Top 20.

Brixton Brewery - Florence Brewpub - Courtesan - Effra Social

Saturday 26th October -  When I was kindly invited to sample the delights on offer at The Courtesan Dim Sum Bar in Brixton, I decided to make a day of it.  I started by paying a visit to the Brixton Brewery which officially launched on October 16th down the road at Craft Beer Co. They are operating out of a railway arch (much like the Bermondsey breweries) on Brixton Station Road, and are currently producing three beers - Reliance Pale Ale, Effra Ale and Electric IPA.  There is apparently a Stout on the horizon as well.

The guys were very friendly, handing out tasters of all 3 beers and even giving impromptu mini tours around the brewery.  It is hard to pick out a favourite as they were all delicious and dangerously drinkable, and I bought more than one of each to take home for closer inspection. The Reliance Pale Ale (4.2%) and the Effra Ale (4.5%) are both excellent session beers, and the 6.5% Electric IPA hides the extra 2% very well! They aren't planning to open a brewery tap bar on site, but they do hope to open most Saturdays for off sales. 

Bottled beers almost always have great artwork these days, but the Brixton bottles are particularly striking.  I may struggle to throw them away after emptying them of their contents. Go and get your hands on some!

Weighed down by my new bottles, I went to meet Lauren and Morgan for a wander around Brixton Village.  Despite there being numerous delightful places to stop for a drink or a bite to eat, we always seem to end up at Seven as their ever-changing £5 cocktail menu is hard to beat.  This time around I went for a Gringo Bebida made with Monte Alban Mezcal and Wild Turkey Honey, with a drunk Weevil Larva floating on the surface. Monte Alban Mezcal bottles apparently comes with weevil larvae inside, and a small jar of spares to use in whatever way you see fit! Seven is also a tapas bar and an exhibition space for local artists - check out some attractive images here.

After our slightly unnecessary 4pm cocktail, Lauren and I hopped on a bus to Herne Hill to check out the popular Florence Brewpub opposite Brockwell Park.  Two separate ranges of ales are brewed here by Peter Haydon, a former explosives engineer who spent 10 years working for the Meantime Brewing Company in Greenwich.  The Florence Ales (Weasel, Stoat, Bonobo, Beaver) are only available at Capital Pubs, whilst the quirky Head in a Hat beers can be found all over London.  I went for a pint of Beaver, a malty wheat beer with a hint of orange. You can opt for Sparkling Beaver if you like your beers fizzy.

A Head in a Hat Brewing

There is plenty to enjoy here besides the beer too, though I'm never sure if wine on tap is a good idea! The pub is has a cosy village feel to it, with a food menu to match.  There is a retro arcade table and a table football table to keep you entertained, and I'm sure there are some board games tucked away.  It is also a family friendly pub with a dedicated kids play room next to the family area.  Nearby you also have The Lido Restaurant and Bar, the superb Sesami delicatessen and café, and The Prince Regent pub which rotates interesting ales - plenty of reasons to visit Herne Hill.  Brockwell Park is also home to Lambeth Council's free "four seasons" themed fireworks display taking place on November 5th next week - read more here.

Lauren and I had different evening plans so we made our way back to Brixton together before going our separate ways.  I found Flatmate Maggie in Craft Beer Co and we wandered over to The Courtesan for an evening of cocktails and dim sum with the owner Hammant Patel Villa and professional drinker Su-Lin (who was also responsible for my recent trip to CoLD Bar - read more here).

The Courtesan herself

The courtesans that Hammant is referring to here are the ancient Chinese ladies of the court who often had the ear of the Emperor or equivalent power, and were, as a result, incredibly influential.  The courtesan concept runs tastefully through both the menu and the decor without it being a "themed" restaurant.  Empty birdcages represent the fact that whilst the courtesans seemed to be caged, it was actually those that stared at them and sought their company who were in fact trapped.  In the dining room, a picture of one troubled courtesan is centre stage, surrounded by wallpaper covered with her tears.  This is one good looking place.  We had the perfect view of the stunning bar area from our cosy corner table, and it was hard to put the camera away.  

Hammant, who has an industrial design background, joined us shortly after we arrived, and encouraged us to get a drink so that he could start telling all the stories behind his labour of love.  We duly obliged, starting with a Courtier, a Yang Yuhuan and a Treacherous Heart.  

Yang Yuhuan (often known as Yang Guifei - so beautiful, flowers are put to shame) is one of four great beauties from ancient Chinese history who make it on to the cocktail menu. The other three are Wang Zhaojun (birds fall from heaven), Xi Shi (fish forget to swim) and Diaochan (who eclipses the moon).  They apparently brought kingdoms to their knees, and their lives ended in tragedy or under mysterious circumstances. My superb Courtier (made with two whiskies, chilli, fig liqueur and lapsang-souchon tea) represents the last cigar that you might be offered after being rejected in court by one of the courtesans.  The Treacherous Heart doesn't need a back story, especially once you taste the thick blood red concoction made with plum wine, cognac, Sangiovese, chilli and red bean paste.

With a drink in hand, we wandered downstairs to take a look at the dark, attractive boudoir which can be privately booked.  They have a 5am license here but that is saved for special occasions - I hope I get a call when they have a lock in here as the atmosphere downstairs would be fantastic.

We made our way back upstairs for more cocktails and some dimsum, chosen for us to match our drinks.  We were mainly here to imbibe though, so I won't go into great detail on the food front.  We moved away from their house drinks temporarily, going for a Whisky Sour Sour (created in response to their Whisky Sour not being sour enough) and a Courtesan's Mojito (with St.Germain Elderflower liqueur).  They use elegant glassware here, and I particularly liked their enormous coppa style glasses.

All sorts of food turned up and disappeared equally quickly.  We had their house prawn crackers (simple but delicious), taro croquettes (a masterclass in frying), mushroom & duck puffs (a welcome change from the traditional pork filling), pickled vegetables (Hammant's nod to home cooking), Szechuan style ribs (messy but worth it), deep fried squid (perfect with chilli oil) and special vegetable spring rolls (more interesting than they sound!).  We will need to return for a full dinner soon to put the rest of the menu to the test - Stormy Seaweed, Wagyu & Ribeye Sliders, Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab and Chocolate Spank (no idea) are among the many things on my wishlist for next time.  

It is rare to have such high-quality dimsum outside of Central London and many that come here may think that it is bought in, but it is all created on site by a very experienced and adventurous chef.  The dim sum style of small sharing dishes originated as meals for the Royal Court where chefs would experiment to produce exciting treats for the great Emperors, "so exquisite as to touch their hearts", says Hammant.

We moved on to one final round of drinks, and Hammant was eager for one of us to finish with a Courtesan's Ghost (Wyborowa Vodka, Rose Liqueur, Lychee, Rose Peony).  This cocktail is always presented to guests on their birthday at The Courtesan with a slightly spooky message - life is fleeting, and you will one day be a ghost like the courtesan who haunts this place, so appreciate and embrace your life whilst you are still living!  On that note, why not head there tonight for a ghostly All Hallows Eve?

Hammant's passion for The Courtesan was infectious, and we had a wonderful time eating and drinking in his charming establishment.  Both the drinks and food are reasonably priced (you will want both) and the atmosphere is hard to beat.  I would head straight to the tables which have been raised to bar level so that you can have space to eat your food but still chat to the bar staff whilst they are mixing you up something special.  With food available til 10.30pm and the bar open til 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, The Courtesan is a fantastic alternative to the overcrowded Brixton Village at the weekends.  Book ahead by emailing courtesan@thecourtesan.co.uk - be sure to be courteous or you might find yourself having your last cigar!

The night was still fairly young when we left The Courtesan, so we decided to squeeze in a quick trip to nearby Effra Social.  Team List visited here a couple of months ago, but a comedy night was well under way downstairs so we didn't get to see the main room.  I'm glad I made a return visit as we had a grand old time dancing away to obscure soul music & drinking pints of Truman Lazarus and bottles of Beavertown 8-Ball, with sheet music hanging above our heads on washing lines.  There seemed to be 4 DJs all working at once having an absolute blast on the small stage, which added to the already very relaxed atmosphere.  It almost has a wedding / student union type feel to it which is infinitely preferable to going clubbing in my opinion.  There's dancing, it's open late, it's free to get in, you get pints rather than £6 bottles of Sol, you can still have a conversation and there is space for all of your friends! What's not to love?

Effra is another cracking Antic London pub (Balham Bowls Club, Tooting Tram and Social, Battersea Mess and Music Hall) with a social club feel - it was previously the local Conservative Club which shut in November 2012.  It is hard to keep up with Antic who seem to open a new place in South London every week.  That said, Farr's School of Dancing will be opening soon in Dalston Junction, taking its name from a dance school that occupied the building in the 1930s.  It will be spread over 3 floors and will apparently have a "speakeasy events space in the basement".  Stay up to date on with their other new sites by checking the Antic website regularly, or by following them on twitter.

Whilst we're on the subject of Brixton, a new cocktail bar / club / restaurant called Sorry, No Vacancies is set to open on Saturday 2nd November, with drinks from Soul Shakers and gourmet hot dogs in The Dog House.  Read more on Brixton Buzz here.

Want more ideas for going out in Brixton? Check out my posts on my last two trips there:

Crown & Anchor - Gremio de Brixton - Honest Burgers - Seven

Craft Beer Co - Kaff Bar - Wishbone - Effra Social