THE SCENE
Among red brick and wood beams, perched at an upturned barrel and talking in hushed tones under dim lighting, I could be in a rough and ready bar of the Victorian docklands. That is, until my speciality cocktail arrives, complete with a slice of kiwi fruit and topped with an entire flower. And then there’s the small matter of the madly shiny Canary Wharf looming just over the canal. Part of the Museum of London, I’m in a Grade 1 listed warehouse once used as storage for, you guessed it, rum and sugar. The bartenders are down-to-earth and know their stuff, and will even grab lucky drinkers for impromptu mixology lessons. Happy hours, live music and ‘rum Wednesdays’ ensure that even the office folk in ties and heels will let their hair down – especially when there’s this much rum involved.
BEHIND THE BAR
The team holds competitions among themselves to get their own rum-based inventions on the specials menu, so there’s always a handful of completely original drinks to choose from. They could feature Chambord and chocolate syrup or Kahlua and pistachio milk – each with a healthy dash of rum, of course. These guys also promise that if you name any cocktail, they can create a rum version. I can vouch for the Cosmopoli-rum, although I may have to taste one more, just to be certain.
BILL PLEASE
Cocktails from £7.50 to £12, and fancy shots come in at five for £15.
VERDICT
If you love rum, you’ll love it here. Plus, you get to take the DLR home. Front seat. Evening made.
No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, E14 4AL West India Quay rumandsugar.co.uk
