THE SCENE Before long there’s a shiny blue party hat upon my head and we’re blasting party poppers at strangers. There’s a Roman goddess kicking up her heels to a Blues Brothers ditty and a rhythmically challenged Santa Claus is stepping on her toes. The bar staff are deliriously happy. They gesticulate at punters and sing loudly to popular choruses. This is the case at both bars; this exposed brick cave-like venue, with oversized lightbulbs dangling on looped red rope, stretches back some way. Adventure bar is the embodiment of fun.
THE GRUB Cocktails are the forte here, not food, so line your stomach elsewhere.
BEHIND THE BAR Just name a cocktail! I get a caffeine kick first with a Tweeks Coffee – dark spiced rum, shaken with espresso, Kahlua, and maple syrup. Try the Basil Grande, a concoction of strawberries, orange liqueur, raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice and basil and black pepper – it’s intoxicating.
BILL PLEASE This is the sting in the tail. Most cocktails cost £9.20. Ouch! Get your fill in the daily 5-7pm happy hour where you get two for a tenner.
VERDICT I’m blown away by the staff, who have the ability to take several orders on the go. Knock back a few and enter the spirit of this place. It’ll wash your worries away … until the next morning, anyway. 4/5. Rebecca Kent
20 Bedford Street, WC2E 9HP
adventurebar.co.uk
Tube: Covent Garden