The Most Influential Outlets in London and WhyA CGA and BarChick report profiling the leading London outlets and how they influence the rest of the British on trade

Introduction

As the first night tubes complete their inaugural month of 24-hour weekend services across the Central and Victoria lines, the spotlight has never been more firmly focussed on the late night market in London. The closure and subsequent appeal to save iconic nightclub Fabric has further put the licenced universe in London under the microscope, in turn leading many to assess the health and importance of the bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants within the capital.

In a unique collaboration, CGA and BarChick have teamed up to bring a report into this dynamic and ever-changing market; The London Influencers’ Report profiles and investigates the most important outlets in London, and consequently in the world, to understand how they shape the rest of the British on trade. What happens within these outlets invariably follows across the rest of the country.

These are the outlets that consumers want to visit, bartenders want to work at and brands want their products stocked; gaining a listing in these places is prestigious and, consequently, results in enjoying best in class serve, innovation and advocacy from early adopters.

Two years ago, our report highlighted the growing importance of agave tequila, small batch vodka and accessible luxury, while predicting that consumers would increasingly look for experience-led offers after the surge in popularity of ‘theatre of serve’. It is undeniable that these trends identified in 2014

are now firmly entrenched in the mainstream of the GB on trade and it is no coincidence that the outlets and suppliers quickest to develop a strategy around these have been successful in both the high end London outlets, but more significantly, across the market.

Over the past three months we have visited the 100 most influential outlets in the capital, analysing what they sell and how they sell it. In addition, we have spoken to the leading figures within the London market and interviewed the consumers who visit, providing a full appreciation of how and why these outlets are at the pinnacle of the global bar and pub scene. Of course, there are new trends to rival the small batch vodkas and agave; low abv drinks and ‘continental drinking’, along with sustainability, in-house distillation and South American spirits all feature prominently and may be some of the next to proliferate from the influencers to the influenced.

With such an abundance of high quality outlets in the capital, the task of selecting just 100 was not an easy one. However, based on the influence that each has on the rest of the market, CGA and BarChick have been able to rank those that we visited by their prevalence for trendsetting and innovation; thus producing a guide to the 10 most influential outlets in London.

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To purchase the full influencers report,please contact Rachael Chard:rachael.chard@cgastrategy.co.uk

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Arguably the most influential bar in the history of London, the American Bar at the Savoy continues to build on its legacy as one of the most iconic, stylish and ground-breaking bars in the world. With over 100 years experience of the world’s best bartenders serving the world’s best drinks and a history including the production of what is still to this day known as the bible for bartenders; the illustrious Savoy Cocktail book, it is perhaps no surprise that this bar continues to exert inspiration over the rest of the market. It is, of course, the oldest surviving cocktail bar in London. Rather than live off its past glories however, the American Bar continues to push boundaries and under the guidance

of head bartender, Erik Lorincz – the latest in a long line of revolutionaries stemming with Ada Coleman and Harry Craddock, and a former winner of Diageo World Class Award – the team have just picked up the Best International Bar Team 2016 at Tales of the Cocktail. With the present-day widespread supply of cocktails owing much of its popularity to the American Bar, its influence is unquestioned. The current menu is London district-themed and blends the classics that made the bar world famous with contemporary cocktails to ensure that it remains the go-to cocktail bar in London.www.fairmont.com/savoy-london/dining/americanbar/

The World’s Best Cocktail Bar. Our top two influential bars are the heavyweights of the London cocktail scene, and both hotel bars continue to sweep up international awards; none more so than the Connaught, which took home the title of the best cocktail bar in the world and Best International Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail this year. Stepping foot in the David Collins designed bar it is clear that glamour, style and elegance is front of mind, although under the guidance of director of mixology, Ago Perrone, the drinks are anything but playing second fiddle. Perhaps in order to stand out against the imposing backdrop, the Connaught ensures that theatre of serve is maintained and it is this aspect, along with the attention to detail for which the bar stands out as its main influential factor. The double frozen ice suggests the level of detail and the extra mile that The Connaught aims for, while the serve of the signature Connaught Martini encompasses the entertainment that is expected from customers; Perrone himself wheels a trolley lined with antique bottles, vials and the aforementioned ice before expertly describing and constructing his creation. The marriage of style, serve and experience is often imitated, but never achieved; after all it is the best cocktail bar in the world for a reason.www.the-connaught.co.uk/mayfair-bars/connaught-bar/

1. American Bar at the Savoy

2. The Connaught Bar at the Connaught

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Sitting on the banks of the Thames off the Mondrian Hotel, Dandelyan became the second bar under the stewardship of Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr. Lyan when it opened in autumn 2014. The ever-developing menu continues to excite and innovate, with the current version themed on the history of homo sapiens, split into Hunter, Gatherer, Shaman and Explorer while also giving a guide to suggested drinks by day time and flavour preference. Aside from the drinks, however, what makes this place influential is the presence of one of the pioneering ‘celebrity bartenders’ in Mr. Lyan.As consumers have become ever-more knowledgeable about their drinks, the draw of a well-known, innovative and respected bartender has increased and, in Mr. Lyan, Dandelyan has arguably the cream of the crop. With his own home distilled spirits forming a large part of the menu it is clear that innovation is not solely restricted to experimentation with existing spirits.www.morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-london/eat-drink/Dandelyan

3. Dandelyan

The first food-led outlet on our list comes in the form of the bar at Hawksmoor Spitalfields. The original Hawksmoor and the blueprint copied by many pretenders with ambitions of harmonising award-winning steak with a drinks list to rival any bar. This was the first British outlet to truly combine world class food and drink and has led the way for many since. Another bar with a world class bartender in Ali Reynolds (winner of World Class UK Bartender of the Year 2015, Diageo World Class 2015), customers are drawn here by the drinks as much as the food – a theme that has been repeated across the on trade at all levels and for all consumers. The Shaky Pete Ginger Brew and the Full-Fat Old Fashioned are particular crowd pleasers.http://thehawksmoor.com/locations/spitalfields-bar/

4. Hawksmoor Spitalfields Bar

No venues in Britain quite encompass ‘experience-led’ as well as Henry Dimbleby and Jonathan Downey’s London Union markets. Rejuvenating the late night market across the city with a mixture of street food, themed bars and live music, the four markets attract almost 30,000 guests per weekend, all of whom seek the unique vibe, buzz and atmosphere that many bars, pubs and restaurants are failing to achieve. With Hawker House home to specialist Japanese whisky bars, rum shacks and lobster huts its influence (along with that of Street Feast, Dinerama and Model Market) is undeniable. With Dimbleby and Downey at the helm, and with lofty ambitions there is no doubting that its reach will extend and its impact will be greater. The bar has already been raised for consumers expecting late night experiences; the question is who can match it?http://streetfeast.com/where/hawker-house

5. Hawker House

Our first standalone bar, Callooh Callay epitomises what a London cocktail bar should be; high quality, unique and above all, fun. Another winner at Tales of the Cocktail, this time for Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar, this East End jaunt is one of the best party places across the globe, justifying the insatiable demand. However, there is no chance of dismissing this as cheap and cheerful, with an array of world class drinks Callooh Callay is a perfect example of how to harmonise quality and good times.www.calloohcallaybar.com

6. Callooh Callay

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Behind the door with the blindfolded pig knocker, underneath the sign marked Optician and up a flight of stairs from Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House in Soho is Blind Pig, the home of bars & jars and social drinks. In close proximity to both the Victoria and Central lines, this venue will undoubtedly enjoy the extension of tube hours in the coming months, as it is sure to entice revellers, late night eaters and nightcappers alike. However, it is the presence as a ‘secret bar’ which provides its influential factor; the sense of mystery, exclusiveness and being in-the-know are what customers come for and is being replicated across the country.www.socialeatinghouse.com/?floor=bar

As London’s reputation as the home of the best cocktail bars in the world develops, there is a possibility that the beer houses that it was once famed for are left behind. With Charlie McVeigh at the helm of the Draft House concepts there is little danger of that becoming a reality. The group aim is “to do for beer what our culture has done for food and wine” and all 10 outlets are sufficiently visually striking to achieve this, with the Old Street venue particularly remarkable. More than this, sourcing, cellaring and pouring the world’s best beer whilst educating its customers mean that we can expect to hear more from them.www.drafthouse.co.uk

10. The Blind Pig at Social Eating House

7. Draft House Old Street

Possibly the most influenced of our influential outlets, Mother Kelly’s is a New York style tap room under the railway arches in Bethnal Green. With a menu that changes by the day and 19 beer taps along the back wall, it caters for all beer drinkers, but what makes it really stand out from other such outlets is the ability to take-away – Mother Green’s has a vast array of bottles for drink-in, take-away or order. With consumers increasingly demanding what they like where they like is this a trend that could proliferate across the market?http://motherkellys.co.uk/

9. Mother Kelly’s

Despite only opening in 2010, Nightjar has already become a London institution. An icon of Shoreditch, the bar is illustrious in its reputation for experimentation; buffalo worms, plankton and birch bark have all made appearances on the drinks menu for example. Ed and Rosie Weil’s first venture is a favourite due to far more than the exotic ingredients however, live music plays a key role, but what it is most notable for is the social media following that it attracts. With 33,000 followers on Instagram alone, these guys know how to make drinks look appealing – the result? A six week waiting list for reservations.www.barnightjar.com

8. Nightjar

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