London’s top winter warmers

Charlotte’s W5

From 2 November 2017-January 2018

As the weather gets colder and the hours of daylight shorter, Charlotte’s W5 in Ealing, have the ideal place to cosy up this winter. Their winter terrace, in association with Sipsmith, includes blankets, fairy lights, hot cocktails, fir trees and roasted chestnuts. The latest addition to Charlotte’s Group, Charlotte’s W5, was built in a converted warehouse with large tables and luxurious banquette seating.

The talented bar team have designed a winter warmers cocktail menu with the Sipsmith boys. The list includes a fruity take on mulled wine; Winter Sloe Gin featuring Sipsmith Sloe Gin, cinnamon, star anise and apple; Winter Negroni Sipsmith London Dry Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and rooibos tea and the Hot Espresso Martini, Sipsmith Sipping Vodka, Electric coffee and vanilla cream. Ealing chocolatier, Lucy Savage, has created a non-alcoholic hot chocolate that will be served alongside the cocktails.

 

The Sipping Room E14

£35 pp

Baby, it’s cold outside! Luckily, The Sipping Room has it all covered (quite literally) with six giant pop-up igloos. For the ultimate VIP experience book one of two Copper Dog whisky igloos, complete with a bespoke cocktail and party bite menu.

Accommodating groups of up to eight, all come fully furnished with electric heaters, sheepskin throws and Drake & Morgan’s hot water bottles and Aran jumpers. Festive cocktails are of course available and food comes in the form of canapés and sharing plates.

The Copper Dog igloo winter-warmers include the ‘Bakewell Punch’ (Copper Dog, orgeat syrup, berry cider and apple juice) whilst the chilled Christmas choice is the ‘Sundowner Chai’ (Copper Dog, sweet chai, apple juice and mint). A dedicated food menu features small plates such as seared sirloin with Copper Dog mustard, and BBQ pork sliders. Or try festive tipples like the ‘Mistletoe Spritz’ (Courvoisier VSOP, prosecco, home-made grenadine, brown sugar, cranberry bitters and orange zest) and ‘Down the Chimney’ (Tanqueray gin, Graham’s port, cinnamon syrup, lemon, mint and blackberry).

Email info@thesippingroom.co.uk or call 020 3907 0320.

 

Bernardi’s W1

22 November-mid January

Open from Wednesday 22 November, the winter terrace features fir trees, fur throws and twinkling fairy lights. A winter drinks menu has also been specially curated for the pop-up with a mulled ‘Spicy Hot Negroni’ being the signature, featuring Bombay Sapphire gin, Belsazar white Vermouth, King’s ginger liqueur infused with winter spices of nutmeg, cloves, juniper and pimento berries. Seasonal homemade pasta dishes, cicchetti and antipasti will also be on offer. While continuing Sundays at Bernardi’s, the winter terrace will also play host to DJ Alex Gromadzki, bottomless prosecco and 2 for 1 cocktails every Sunday from 2 pm.

 

The Montague Ski Lodge WC1

16 November 2017 -20 January 2018

The Wood Deck at The Montague has been transformed into a magical ski lodge; with pine trees, falling snow, reindeer, snowmen, ski racks, piste maps and strings of fairy lights and lanterns. The centrepiece is a bar serving a selection of beverages from a choice of 12 including Schnapps and flavoured vodkas.

To help combat the cold and lightly drifting snowflakes, guests can enjoy our delicious candied pecans, mulled wine, hot spiced cider, mugs of steaming hot chocolate cocktails and big woolly rugs, which will all help to keep you lovely and snug during the long winter nights. Or head to the Log Cabin – an atmospheric space to enjoy a drink in front of a decorative fire, Christmas tree and cosy armchairs and sofas complete with blankets.

 

Ritorno SW10

13 November-28 February

Ritorno will be transforming their outdoor space to a Campari Winter Terrace, bringing an Alpine wonderland to King’s Road this winter. The heated wrap-around terrace will host a cosy log cabin with sheepskin blankets and cushions; a silver birch arch enclosing the corner snug area; and glittering willow branches flanking the stairs to the main entrance. There will also be four cocktails created for the season by Ritorno’s head barman Simone Francini and Campari.

 

Woody Bear W1

1 November-31 December

Boozy eggnog, Raclette wheels and tea-cup fairground booths are coming to the rooftops of Oxford Street from November 2017, with the launch of new winter pop up Woody Bear.

Taking over the space that was formerly summer hit Sisu at 535 Oxford Street, Woody Bear will offer some of the finest rooftop vibes in the capital with the venue’s first-ever wintertime pop-up, including grilled cheese sandwiches, hot gin punch and Negronis on tap. The rooftop space can be accessed via a secret entrance on the corner of Marble Arch and Park Lane.

Woody Bear have collaborated with speciality croque-monsieur street food vendors Madame & Monsieur to offer a bespoke line of grilled cheese sandwiches including three signature croques: Le French, Le Swiss and Le Welsh, along with ever-changing specials. For a theatrical dining experience, tuck into the melty London Raclette on potatoes, served from a 6kg wheel.

With capacity for up to 100 guests, including a private hut for up to 20 guests available to hire exclusively, Woody Bear will serve food and drink 4-10 pm daily.

 

Skylight E1

From 2 November (Thu-Sun only)

Ice skating: £10 pp

Skylight, a rooftop destination at Tobacco Dock in Wapping, is themed around an urban après skate bar. The East London venue will play host to delicious seasonal drinks, fondue and street food, London’s first rooftop ice rink, DJs, ice hockey shooting, indoor and outdoor heated areas, and great views of the city.

Visitors who fancy a quick skate can take to the ice for £10. Tickets sold onsite only and not available in advance. Skaters will have a maximum of 45 minutes on the real ice surface. They can also try Skylight’s ice hockey penalty shooting game on the lower floor, at just £3 for 10 shots, with exciting offers and prizes to be won.

There will be a number of indoor and outdoor heated seating areas across the three levels of the venue, all available to book for private parties of all sizes. New to Skylight for winter is a cosy, fully enclosed bar on the lower level and a heated purpose-built lounge marquee on the raised deck, overlooking the ice and the city skyline, the perfect spot to grab a blanket and cuddle up with a cocktail

Some of Skylight’s favourite food traders will return, and specially for winter there will be an indulgent fondue station serving cheese pots for up to six people to share at their table – the ultimate après skate snack. Skylight’s cheese fondue will start at £14.95 per person with tables available to book in advance. Skylight will also offer delicious chocolate fondue at £9.95 per person for those with a sweet tooth.

 

The Cheese Bar NW1

From November (Thu only)

The Cheese Bar brings a taste of The Alps to Camden as they launch Fondue Thursdays. Teaming up with cast iron specialists STAUB, every week will see a special fondue menu takeover the restaurant.

The weekly ode to the classic Alpine dish will see guests able to choose from two fondue recipes; one, classic four cheese & white wine fondue alongside a Young Buck, blue cheese fondue made with cider and kirsch, both made with The Cheese Bar’s signature British cheeses.

Bookings are available for two or more people every Thursday and Christmas party group bookings of 6 + from Monday-Sunday and can be made through The Cheese Bar reservations page:
www.thecheesebar.com/reservations or email: booking@thecheesebar.com

 

Churchill Bar W1

From 1 November

Churchill Bar’s seasonally themed alfresco terrace, with luxurious fur lined seats, warming blankets and hot water bottles, is tucked away behind Oxford Street at Hyatt Regency London. The bar team have crafted nine winter cocktails that take you on a journey of Sir Winston Churchill, drawing inspiration from some of the wartime PM’s most iconic moments, favourite places and famous passions.

New warming winter dishes, taken from Churchill’s Cookbook written by his beloved personal Chef Georgina Landemare, include a white truffle croque monsieur; homemade braised lamb & potato croquettes; apple & hazelnut crumble; and Green & Black’s Chocolate and Cheese fondues will remain on the menu.

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