bringing drinks to life

You know how it is when new bars open up and you know who’s behind them and you read a few reviews and you think is this place a gimmick or a great bar? Well that’s the category that we slotted Circus in Covent Garden into. I mean obviously any place that Lucy Besant is involved in is likely to be pretty good, and with Henry and the boys from Worldwide Cocktail Club setting up the bar and doing the drinks list, not to mention Dick Bradsell heading up the bar team, it wasn’t ever likely to be bad. But there are plenty of places that have themed themselves and have ended up being the sort of place you visit once but never have the urge to return to.

 

 

I can safely say that Circus isn’t one of those!

 

 

When you hear the name Circus and read that it is an ‘innovative bar, restaurant and entertainment experience’ and that the entertainment will consist of ‘surprising and intriguing acts within a bar and restaurant setting’ cue thoughts of rubber nosed clowns and ringmasters with annoyingly loud voices… actually scrap that and think Cirque du Soleil instead! Not to mention the fact that the entertainment is definitely a big part of the offering here, but it is by no means the only defining attribute.

 

 

 

Circus is a striking bar and restaurant designed by Tom Dixon; it is immediately impressive and on entering from the anonymous door on Endell Street, you are presented with a huge table designed to act not only as a surface for diners but also as the main stage for live performers. As your eyes cast down the room you see glittering walls and metallic spheres, everything is white and silver yet dimly lit and inviting at the same time. In fact sitting in the bar area there is a distinct feeling of being in a speakeasy, only modern and glamourous.

 

 

The atmosphere was buzzing on the Wednesday night that we visited. The long centre stage table was full as were most of the tables in the main dining area. There was anticipation in the air that reminded me of the pre-theatre buzz. There was a lot of talking and laughter, people at ease having a good time but also a sense that the crowd were aware that there will be something more on offer tonight.

 

 

In the meantime we set about checking out the short but very well formed drinks list. The spirits selection ticks all the right boxes and the cocktail list is full of modern twists on classics. We soon realise that making a choice is going to be hard and we might just have to stay for a few drinks to do the menu justice! Nico and Isti eased us into just the right drinks to match our desires. Starting out with a Hibiscus Margarita I was treated to a perfect balance between tequila, sharp citrus and a hint of sweet floral hibiscus syrup… from the taste of this first drink I had no doubts that the bar team knew their stuff.

 

 

From seasonal berry juleps to allspice daiquiris the drinks just went from strength to strength and as we had been in the bar long enough to get hungry it seemed foolish not to checkout the food offering too. Our friendly and attentive waitress Kamilla was quick to guide us through the pan-American inspired menu and soon our table was laden with corn bread, crispy squid, jambalaya and pulled pork. All my ‘downhome’ favourites from the US but served with a touch of refinement and class. Lifting ‘soul food’ flavours into sophisticated dishes isn’t an easy task, but the chefs at Circus have excelled at it!

 

 

Full and smiling as my sweet manhattan arrived the music changed and a hush filled the room as a performer made her way down the table. She lithely pulled herself up onto the ring suspended above and began a dazzling and elegant aerial display that held the room’s attention completely. This was the perfect entertainment for this setting and where I worried that it might feel contrived it actually fit the space and the mood so well that you wished that the performance had lasted longer.

 

 

To me that is the delight of this place, the food is great, the atmosphere is fantastic, the entertainment is amazing and the drinks are spot on. It just feels like every detail has been given so much attention and every element of Circus works to enhance the others. It is every aspect working in harmony that really sets Circus apart. Circus is not by any means reliant upon it’s theme, but it is definitely enhanced by it!