Look out SW3, the Chelsea Flower Show is coming, which means as well as the floral displays in the Royal Hospital Grounds, there’ll be plenty of plant-based action in the restaurants and bars around King’s Road…
It’s not all about their love of flowers; there’s also the little matter of being awarded the annual Chelsea In Bloom crown. So in addition to the stunning window displays expect some inventive Chelsea Flower Show inspired menus, including some stunning floral cocktails.
If you’re going to the Chelsea Flower Show itself, try Bombay Sapphire’s light, floral and refreshing Mediterranean Gin & Tonic being served in the hospitality areas. If you’re not, head to the nearby Saatchi Gallery Mess for a cool, crisp Garden Martini (cucumber infused gin shaken with apple juice and elderflower). Over the road at The Botanist Paulo Brammer, chief mixologist will be shaking up two cocktails – The Dusty Rose made with Pinky vodka, homemade white rose syrup, fresh pink grapefruit and a splash of lime juice and the Lavender Bloom (fresh lavender muddled with honey, apricot du Roussillon liqueur and Joseph Perrier champagne).
Venture a little further down Sloane Street to the Fifth Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols where they’ll be offering a medley of fabulous floral concoctions throughout May. Top marks go to the Fifth Floor Flower Pot Punch, a sharing cocktail with made up with fresh strawberries, cream and fizz, served in a flower pot on a bed of turf. Other highlights include the Harvey Nichols English Garden (Pimms, gin, elderflower liqueur, apple, cranberry and rose) served in a watering can; the Mare Garden Breeze (Gin Mare and elderflower liqueur topped with a mint and cucumber foam). The Blue Bar at The Berkeley is celebrating Laurent Perrier’s 13th consecutive garden at the Chelsea Flower show with a simple but stylish bespoke cocktail combining strawberry puree, rose liqueur and LP.
The flower power continues at Bart’s, where guests can delve into the hippy-dippy dressing up box then unwind in the bijoux Cuban garden with a Chelsea Flower (Grey Goose vodka, creme de peche de vigne, Mette spiriteux de Lavande, served in a martini glass and garnished with a pansy.)
And if you’re still hankering after a floral-based cocktail later at night, head along to Raffles nightclub for The Raffles Rose (vodka, elderflower cordial and lychee juice, garnished with raspberry puree and yellow rose petals.)
Bart’s, Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DW. T: 020 7581 3355 barts-london.com
The Botanist, 7 Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE. T: 020 7730 0077 thebotanistsloanesquare.com
The Blue Bar at The Berkeley, Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL. T: 020 7235 6000. the-berkeley.co.uk
Gallery Mess, Duke of York HQ, King’s Road, SW3. T: 020 7730 8135 saatchi-gallery.co.uk
Raffles, 287 King’s Road, SW3 5EW. T: 020 7351 4964 raffleschelsea.com
