Joyeux Bordel - Translation : Happy Mess (or brothel - take your pick)
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The Experimental Group is much more than just a clandestine Chinatown cocktail bar with a hard-to-please doorman. Since opening up the original Experimental Cocktail Club (ECC) in Paris in 2007, the group have rapidly expanded and now operate 13 sites including ECC New York, Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels in Paris, NY and London, Beef Club and Fish Club restaurants in Paris, and even an Experimental Beach in Ibiza.
On top of that, last month they added Le Grand Pigalle Paris to that list - their first foray in to the hotel business. Quite by chance, I was in the City of Light at the weekend and squeezed in a visit to Le Grand Pigalle hotel bar, but that's a story for another day.
Anyway, back in London, their 14th site has just opened at 147 Curtain Road in Old Street, and it's a boozy basement number called Joyeux Bordel.
Now what can I tell you about it? Well, first of all, the doorman is called K. You are going to want to get to know him. Oh, and you can make reservations! Email reservation@joyeuxbordel.com - the desk is open Mon-Sat until 5pm.
Opening times might help too:
Monday - Wednesday: 6pm - 2am
Thursday - Saturday: 6pm - 3am
Sunday: 6pm – midnight
Hooray for late night opening hours, there aren't nearly enough places of worth open after midnight.
Once you've made it past K, you'll make your way down to a spacious but cosy candlelit cocktail bar. I'd always opt for a seat at the bar myself - this is where you'll find Adrien Russotto, Joshua Esposito and Florian Dubois working their magic, along with some ECC alumni most probably.
The full menu hasn't been released yet, but I can reveal five of the house cocktails, including the Old Cuban, an ECC classic:
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Mamzelle Bric-A-Brac - Yellow Chartreuse, Lillet Blanc, Elderflower Cordial, Pepper Mix, Sage, Lemon & Champagne - £10
Picotin - Lemon, Aquavit OP Anderson, Suze, Cocchi Americano, Luxardo Maraschino - £10
Black Beard - Appleton 7, Smith & Cross Rum, Homemade Falernum, Aperol, Fernet Branca, Grapefruit Zest - £11
É Nossa - Cachaca Yaguara, Lime, Sugar, Peychauds & Peach Bitters, Ginger Ale - £11
Old Cuban - Plantation Rum Three Stars, Ginger Cordial, Simple Syrup, Lime, Mint, Angostura Bitters, Champagne - £12
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Picotin was the pic'o'the'bunch (new low for me there), bringing complex flavours together to form a satisfying thirst quencher. Of course, you can always go off menu, and I unsurprisingly went in an agave direction with a superb Mezcal Negroni (Vida, Calle 23 Tequila, Barolo Chinato, Rabarbaro) and an equally excellent Mezcal Highball creation with ginger ale. I expect some Mezcal concoctions will make it on to the final list.
To soak up the booze, they have sensibly put together a few small plate options including some delicious Rilette, Roasted Ham and Cooked Ham from local butchers and restaurant Hill & Szrok, plus an Androuet Three Cheeses Selection. London has been slow to pick up on the high end and late night bar snacks trade - hopefully more will follow suit soon.
If you've had your fill of cocktails, cheese, and charcuterie, you might want to investigate Joyeux Bordel's back bar. Start off with a taste of ECC partner Xavier Padovani's Vulson White Rhino Rye which was only released in January - read more here. In the early part of the week, you might find Xavier & co. pouring £5 tasters of extremely rare spirits from his vintage selection which they've decided to stop hoarding and start sharing. A late 1950s Grand Marnier was cracked open this week.
On top of all of the fine food and drink, Joyeux Bordel is also going to be a hotspot for DJs, with Daniel Willis from The Clove Club heading up the music. The inoffensive DJ booth is part of the furniture rather than a garish corner feature, which is always a good sign.
Sound good? I thought so. Go and say hello from 6pm. Happy Brothel everyone!
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