Ladies and Gentlemen - bar review

This Kentish Town bar in an old lavatory is sweet relief for anyone wanting a truly well-made cocktail
You're not loo-sing it: this really is an old public convenience converted into a bar
Rachael Sigee26 June 2015

What they say: Once a disused underground Victorian lavatory opposite the Kentish Town Forum, now a neighborhood bar offering the highest quality cocktails based on a menu of homemade liqueurs and syrups, botanicals and herbs. The brainchild of craft spirit producer and proud Kentish Town resident William Borrell (owner of Vestal Vodka) offers an enticing seasonal cocktail list using fresh locally sourced ingredients such as soft fruit from Hampstead Heath allotments and syrups using Kentish Town Honey.

What we say: These are quality drinks made by friendly, bearded bar staff who are happy to go off menu. Extra marks for some seriously beautiful glassware and quirky extras like a Werther’s Original with your Gentleman’s Old Fashioned. It's cosy, well-lit and has a huge selection of second-hand books for if you fancy flicking through a Jilly Cooper while you sip. Only the cisterns on the wall remind you that you’re in an old loo.

Order: Ladies and Gentlemen has a seasonal menu so the warmer weather that’s threatening to arrive soon will bring with it a new sunnier spring selection of house drinks. Judging by the Guinness Flip we tried (Hennessy VS, Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur, maple syrup, Mozart Bitters, Guinness and a whole egg), there will be some real treats. I’ve heard enticing rumours of a White Russian style special made with Green & Blacks cocoa and garnished with mini eggs. That’s right, mini-eggs.

Good for: A sophisticated pre-dinner cocktail, or a post-gig boozy one. There’s no room for a kitchen in this little place so it serves bar snacks only, but the potential to work your way through the drinks menu on an empty stomach is very tempting. Also good for showing a cocktail know-it-all something a bit different.

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By the way: In a couple of weeks Ladies and Gents will have launched its own bespoke Highwayman Gin made in its working distillery. And for those strange people who don’t like cocktails, there’s a great menu of boilermakers (beer and a shot pairings) featuring craft beers and quality spirits. Apparently the double bassist who makes an appearance on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays is also the cleaner.

Find it: 2 Highgate Road, NW5 1NR; ladiesandgents.co

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