Rochelle Canteen, Arnold Circus.
We asked our conceptual coffee company friends Vic and Rob over at DunneFrankowski to tell us about what they thought made a good bar experience. And they came back with some interesting, broad answers….
What is it that makes a good bar experience? We all have our own individual reasons and opinions on what it is we like about a place. These are the things which drive us most.
A few years back we did a presentation based around the experience of a bar, during which we highlighted that the definition of a ‘Bar’ is to act as a barrier, a divide, something which puts distance between one thing and another. This is however, everything that a bar offering a good experience should NOT be. There are five individual areas that we personally look at regarding any quality business. These are the 5 P’s – Personality – Passion – Pride – Product – Place.
The bar of today should break down these barriers, break the routine, upset how you approach service and make you think. Technically it has no reference to the type of product being sold or how it is sold for that matter.
Even though we are coffee based, we enjoy nothing more than acknowledging those from another niche industry who do what they do very well. At the end of the day, whether it is coffee you love, tea, beer or cocktails, it’s actually all the same thing. It’s hospitality, it’s taste and more importantly it should be an enhancing experience.
The List:
Explore the world of Exceptional Teas with Tea Smith. This bar has been hugely influential in how we look at bar service. Clean, clear and simple. Luxurious products are served elegantly on an extremely inviting bar counter within a calming environment. This is a place to sit in silence, or engage in deep conversations about the tea you are gently sipping and savouring. You can easily lose a couple of hours here at a time over a delightful cup of tea. You’ll certainly walk away feeling recharged and relaxed.
TeaSmith
6 Lamb Street
London
E1 6EA
T. 020 7247 1333
This is truly a unique place to walk in to. Visually it is a retail space, which brews tea to order. But these teas are truly exquisite, with ten years spent tasting and investigating tea plantations in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, China, India, and Sri Lanka, Timothy d’Offay knows his product. He is one of the most passionate people we know within this sector, and has influenced and inspired so many people. If you’re lucky you will get a personal presentation of the tea you choose in the form of a story and the journey of that tea. There are not many bars that will give each customer individual time and attention and allow you try and taste some serious incredibly products.
Postcard Teas Ltd
9 Dering St, London W1S 1AG
020 7629 3654
The Cock Tavern is a relatively new addition to east London’s ever-growing pub scene. Retaining its old rustic aesthetics, this bar houses up to sixteen individual pumps, six of which are for proper cider whilst also including their own on-site micro-brewery “Howling Hops”. This is a perfect mix between old and new, the staff are highly informed about any given beverage on tap and are more than willing to discuss them over the bar.
The Cock Tavern
315 Mare Street E8 1EJ
This feels like a secret, a gift, a tiny gem hidden away from the hustling of Redchurch Street and Shoreditch High Street. Converted from the old school bike shed, Rochelle Canteen is set within a beautiful grassy playground, where the tops of the trees of Arnold Circus can be appreciated in serenity. Amazing food, and casual informal service at this space never disappoints. A little sister to that of St Johns, if you have not been, it is a must visit. Not all at once though, we like it quiet.
Rochelle School
Arnold Circus London E2 7ES
Canteen 020 7729 5677
This one is special. This is what we see as a real bar. Real people, real passion, pride and knowledge. Do not enter here thinking it as just another cocktail bar. It is more like Cheers, the best seats are on the bar and within a drink or two as any good bartender should do, they will get your name. They are not afraid to refuse customers, they are honest and they are extremely busy whilst always managing to withhold high standards. The slogan is “Great Cocktails, No Wallies” and they mean it. We highly recommend a visit on a quieter night, like a Sunday and ordering yourself an old fashioned.
In the basement, 8-9 Hoxton Square
In order to experience any good bar, one must engage with the bar, only then will your run of the mill experiences step up to a new level.
