Shutterbug Cocktail Bar & Crêperie launch new season menu

12^th November 2013

Gemma Whitfield

Shot by Erol Birsen

Gemma Whitfield Shot by Erol Birsen

12 November 2013

Shutterbug, experimental cocktail bar and crêperie based in the heart of Shoreditch, invited us to join their first anniversary celebrations and sample their new seasonal menu. With an exciting range of cocktails on the list, including Miley Cyrus-inspired Montana vs. Miley, how could we resist?

The venue is full to the brim tonight with a queue of guests eager to sample the crêpes. The savoury choice (ranging £5.70-£8) includes the Pulled Pork and Pickles Crêpe and a delicious Avocado and Cheese delight, filled with tender chorizo garnished with a hot salsa sauce and salad. For the sweet-toothed, a choice of desserts (from £4) are also in supply – ranging from Rocky Road to the traditional Lemon and Sugar Crêpe. These delicious treats are so popular this evening that there is a 30-minute queue to try them – a wait for which we are rewarded by the charming staff offering complimentary Japanese beer Asahi.

While the crêpes go down a treat, Shutterbug’s finest skills shine through in their cocktails. The list, created by Charlie McCarthy, draws on Shutterbug’s photography theme, inspired by “The Greats, The Rebels and The Celebrated Ones”. The fruity, unapologetic LaChapelle of Kitsch is a pop-bitchy cocktail featuring El Dorado rum, grapefruit bitters and cranberry juice at £8. Caffeine addicts should opt for the Espresso Testino for the same price – featuring amaretto, espresso and chocolate bitters, this is the perfect tribute to Italian-Irish Mario Testino, veteran of fashion photography. The #Selfie is a changing cocktail that customers mix themselves, and this evening we’re in for a treat with the Montana/Wrecking Ball – bourbon iced tea with apricot liqueur served over an iced “wrecking ball”, with a side of Jaegermeister we mix in at our own pace (i.e. right away).

As if Shutterbug’s exquisite food and drink weren’t enough, they also pay homage to East London’s vast creative community, showcasing emerging photographers and pop artists. On the walls of the humble venue are light-boxes exhibiting local photographers’ work, and the courtyard outside currently displays the efforts of print artist Camille Walala. It’s refreshing to see the way Shutterbug supports its local community, providing a platform for their work and exposing upcoming talent.

By the end of the night guests are well and truly Miley Cyrused, singing the praises of the wonderful staff. Shutterbug is a must-visit for any cocktail lover!

Food: 12/20
Drinks: 15/20
Service: 12/20
Shutterbug: 39/60

Gemma Whitfield
Photos: Erol Birsen

To book a table at Shutterbug, 1 Rivington Place London EC2A 3BA, call 020 3222 0518 or visit here.