Page 277 - The Bite Magazine - Spring Summer 2013
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famously left their mark on the area include
George Bernard Shaw who frequented
the nearby Fitzroy Tavern, Bob Dylan who
made his first
a p p e a r a n c e
at the King
and Queen
pub, and blues
rock guitarist
Jimi Hendrix
who played at
Speakeasy.
L i b e r t i n e
takes on the
inherited fleur
of Chinawhite,
boasting three
separate yet
i n t e r l i n k e d
spaces that
include
a
luxury velvet-
clad speakeasy-style den that nods to the
1920s era with embossed wallpaper and
luxurious velvet banquettes, and features
one of London’s leading multisensory
mixologists. Hootan Ahmadi said of the
partnership, “Chinawhite has been one
of the capital’s most iconic nightspots for
many years. Good times and glamour are a
vital part of its DNA and we want to hold
onto that. Nightclubs tap into that frisson
of excitement that comes with meeting
new people but I also want Libertine to feel
like a house party full of interesting people
from all walks of life.”
On the left-hand side of the venue is
Reason & Mankind, a clandestine molecular
cocktail lounge that serves up cutting-edge
drinks to a discerning crowd seeking a
decadent post-work cocktail or a glitzy pit-
stop before they hit the dance floor. The
name is taken from one of Britain’s most
famous libertine, Lord Rochester who
wrote
A Satyr Against Reason and Mankind.
The menu co-created by Jess Cheeseman,
who mastered his mixology at Gaucho
and Purl, present inventive drinks with
conjuring techniques designed to play
tricks on the eyes and taste buds. These
include tea-themed signature drink Top
Hats &Tails which is served under a bowler
hat and presented in specialist glassware
complete with curved glass teat from
which the smoking concoction is sipped,
and traditional cocktails with a twist such
as Nelson’s Blood, the Reason & Mankind
interpretation of a Bellini, which comes
with a pipette containing a port, strawberry
and black pepper reduction so that guests
can add their own mixture to taste. To
add to the theme and ambience, a screen
behind the bar projects long-forgotten
visuals of 1920s silent movies along with
subtle period-specific jazz music.
For guests who wish to bypass the
bar to get straight onto the dance floor,
a mirrored glass walkway will lead them
into the main space. Within this area, the
bar is positioned on the right with tiers of
seating and tables at ascending levels so
you can get a 360-degree view of the dance
floor and fellow guests (excluding the VIP
room which has its own secret doorway).
The venue is designed to create a feeling
of warmth and inclusivity with a décor that
consists of custom-made solid oak tables
finished with dripped
gold and framed by
pixelated
metallic
upholstery that changes
colour according to
the lighting. Rose-gold
geometric mirrored
hexagons and a 50-
foot screen projecting
visuals and film, hang
on the walls and large
illuminated
discs
are suspended from
the ceiling in a 21st
century twist on the
1970s disco mirror ball.
Further back, there
is additional seating
surrounding the DJ booth, where guests
can feel the vibe of the DJ playing.
With a cutting edge design, a
combination of sensuality with opulence
and exceptional sound and lighting system
that projects images and colours, Libertine
can be transformed to suit any occasion.
Watch out for their specially curated one-
off nights as well as experiences that mix
visuals with live performance and theatre
by checking their website.
Libertine is opened from 10pm-3am on
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
and the Reason & Mankind bar will be
opened from 5.30pm-11pm on Monday,
Tuesday and Thursday, and from 5.30pm-
3am on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
The bar is closed on Sundays.
bite
night
out
