The King’s Ginger Parlour pop-up at Hoxton Hotel

A short walk from the bustling Old Street station, the Hoxton Hotel is hosting The King’s Ginger Parlour pop-up cocktail bar for four days of seasonal drinks and festive fun. Tonight the parlour is full to bursting, with an array of delicious drinks on offer.

The King’s Ginger Parlour pop-up is situated in the Hoxton Hotel’s garden, which thankfully is not outside in this chilly December. Situated in the middle of the room is a tree trunk decorated with hanging miniature bottles of the The King’s Ginger liqueur for a boozy festive twist. Elsewhere, the room is lit up with hanging Christmas light bunting, with holly, berries and candles decorating the marble tables. The theme is seasonal but not too over done – there’s no cheesy Christmas decoration found here.

The pop-up cocktail bar serves five festive concoctions to get you in the mood for the holiday. All the cocktails are infused with The King’s Ginger liqueur – a sort of alcoholic take on Christmas gingerbread.

For the opening night, we are offered drinks tokens in exchange for one cocktail and a punch. Charmingly, the tokens are gold chocolate coins.

The punch is a warm mix of The King’s Ginger liqueur with apple juice and Aspall Cyder. The drink is warming, but a little sour to the taste buds at first. It is presented delightfully, with sprinkled nutmeg grated over. 

The King’s Chalice is a refreshing change from the mulled cider. Served in a highball glass, The King’s Ginger is infused with Earl Grey and blackcurrant syrup to make a bittersweet yet light cocktail, perfect for a relaxing after-work drink. 

The Pomegranate and Ginger Fling is a popular order tonight. Just like The King’s Chalice, it is refreshing but has a very fruity taste, served in a martini glass with a slice of orange. It is ideal for those with a sweet tooth. 

Overall, The King’s Ginger Parlour is a lovely and vibrant pop-up bar with a range of delicious cocktails on offer, at competitive London prices (ranging from £5-£7.50). The bar tenders are passionate about serving only the best and carefully-presented drinks. The bar loud and busy for its opening, but as the crowd starts to disperse, the unique candlelit atmosphere of the garden becomes an enjoyable place to unwind.

Bryonie Carolan
Photos: Adam Bennett

The King’s Ginger Parlour pop-up is at Hoxton Hotel, 81 Great Eastern St London EC2A 3HU, until 8^th December 2013. For further information visit the bar’s website here.