Nearing the end of a £20m refurbishment which will see it become the official fifth member of the luxury Guoman Hotels collection, The Grosvenor, situated in Victoria (as if you didn’t know) has revisited its roots by designing the stylish new Réunion bar to reflect the hotel’s colourful past, and now introducing an exclusive, limited edition, Victorian themed cocktail menu.
We at Blue Tomato had the privilege (and it is a privilege, to be drinking where once Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh drank) to be invited to sample this inventive and charming cocktail menu, and even take a whack at mixing them ourselves!
The Réunion bar’s unique decor and art is inspired by, and truly reflects, the golden age of railway travel. What was formerly the VIP lounge for first class rail passengers at Victoria station is now close to becoming the destination bar in the capital. Platform one, which could be accessed directly from the lounge, was famous for luxurious trains The Orient Express, and the Brighton Belle which is depicted in paintings hanging at each end of the room, reminding visitors of the hotel’s origins.
The first of a regular series of themed menu offerings, the Victorian menu, lists six bespoke cocktails that reflect the magic and character of the iconic Grade II listed building and are evocative of the Victorian era as they are inspired by events, occasions and literature of that time.
Check out the rather cool names:
The Victorian Martini
The 19th Century (Shortlisted Beefeater 24 South Regional Final 2011)
Cuffs & Buttons
Penny Black
Dorian Gray
HMS Temeraire
After sampling several cocktails amongst the group and taking in the elegant surroundings overlooking the busy concourse of Victoria station, seemingly miles away, we were put into teams and set the challenge of mixing a Victorian Martini – without help. After one fast-paced tutorial from Head Barman Paul Bradley, one of the team was to go behind the island bar and make the cocktail, and the other was only to instruct.
Whilst there are some at Blue Tomato who are a dab-hand at mixing a gin cocktail, there are others, such as I, who are better off tasting than making – and even then, perhaps not really “better off”. Poorly placed with a man who had broken his thumb and would be better use for hitching a ride than mixing a martini, I found myself barely able to see over the bar, overshadowed with tools and spirits, and garnish and glass, and suddenly feeling very panicked.
Luckily, Thumbs-up had paid attention and expertly (exaggeration) guided me around the bar, remembering correctly the measurements and ingredients. I even began to show a little flare and in the end produced a relatively drinkable cocktail, topped off with a sprig of thyme for garnish. (I won’t mention that we forgot the sugar syrup so the cocktail tasted horrendous.)
Following that challenge, the Hitchhiker single-handedly (and by that I mean with one hand and with no help from me) attempted another cocktail, and although we won on flare we inevitably lost due to speed. To end an eventful evening, svelte Bar Manager, Duane Shepherd treated us to champagne to wash down some mouth-watering nibbles that included crisp Whitebait Sticks and Croque Monsieur Fingers.
Blue Tomato are keen to return to the Réunion bar this December to explore the rest of the Victorian menu, and look forward to January’s Resolutions and Temptations limited edition cocktail menu.
For further information visit the website.
Written by Sophie Jones
Date posted: 12/12/2011
Category: News.
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