By Katie Wilson
Those in the know will already have The Churchill Bar and it’s pretty terrace on their radar, but it’s launched a brand new cocktail menu just in time for summer.
Tucked away in Marylebone’s Portman Square, find it at the Hyatt Regency London hotel, just a short walk from Marble Arch or Bond Street Tube stations.
As its moniker suggests, the bar is named after former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who famously led the country through the Second World War.
Every inch of the alfresco terrace has an element of Churchill to it, from the life-sized statue of the man himself to comical pictures depicting the British leader.
In some, Churchill fittingly raises a glass to fellow punters. While in others, the former PM is sticking two fingers up as a sign of ‘V for Victory’. There is even a dedicated area on the all-year, heated terrace for guests to enjoy premium cigars, as Churchill would no doubt have done if he were alive today.
Inside the Art Deco-inspired cocktail lounge, the Churchill theme continues. Look out for original photographs and love letters Churchill wrote to his beloved wife Clementine adorning the walls, plus books he liked to read on the shelves.
Following his death in 1965, Churchill’s family gave permission for the hotel to name their bar after him. If you can afford the £4,000-a-night price tag, you can stay in the four-bedroom Churchill Residential Suite upstairs, with its own grand piano, rooftop terrace and original artworks by Churchill himself.
We visit to try the new Unity cocktail menu masterminded by The Churchill Bar’s resident mixologists, Gaston, Vitor and Mitsuhiro, bringing together the three continents of the Americas, Europe and Asia.
A fan of a spicy cocktail, I try the pretty Mexica Empire. This ‘perfect lemonade’ cocktail is served in a pretty coupe glass with daisies on top of it and a tiny syringe of Mexican green chilli liqueur you squeeze in, adding a fun twist.
My friend opts for a Motherland, a vodka-based cocktail served in a Negroni-style glass with flavours of pineapple, jalapeño, sweet potato and orange bitters. Both didn’t last long.
We also order Padron Peppers (£7), Artisan Charcuterie Selection (£19) and English Burrata (£16) with heirloom tomatoes and crackers. If you pop in for a drink, make sure to order something from the nibbles menu. It really is delicious.
Flat breads, bao buns and the famous Winston Sliders, a trio of mini beef burgers with Winston sauce and cheddar in brioche buns (£22), are also served here.
Those with more expensive tastes can choose to feast on caviar. While the ‘Premium’ Unity cocktails like the Gin Gold and Maestra Bertha are £44 each.
Best For: After work drinks and nibbles, fancy cocktails, central London meets
The Churchill Bar & Terrace at 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH is open to 5pm to midnight Sunday to Wednesday and 5pm to 1am Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Cocktails start from £19 on the new menu. Nibbles start from £5
Book a table at The Churchill Bar & Terrace here
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