This summer Swan, Shakespeare’s Globe will host an afternoon tea parlour and gin pop-up bar inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Located on the restaurant’s top floor with stunning views over the river, the Balcony Room will be transformed into the realm of Fairyland, lavishly decorated with flowers, trees, toadstools and butterflies. Menus have been designed specially depicting references from the famous play with mulberries, honey, mustard seed and the bar’s very own Love Potion alongside a wider list of seasonal ingredients.
Titania’s Tea Garden will be in service for afternoon tea serving sandwiches, cakes and scones on bespoke crockery designed by Annika Wester. The menu starts with savoury options of Buttermilk poached chicken, grain mustard mayo, amaranth; Scottish smoked salmon, citrus cream, watercress, granary bread; Clarence Court egg mayonnaise and cress salad; and Wild mushroom and leek quiche. Sweets follow with Poire William and salted caramel Opera;
Blackcurrant jam and violet macaroons; Rhubarb and custard chouquette with angel wings; Elderflower jelly, hedgerow berries and vanilla infused cream ; and Mulberry scones and plain scones served with clotted Devon cream and midsummer berry jam.
Evenings will see Puck’s Gin Emporium take over the space with a selection of cocktails and sharing plates on offer for guests to enjoy surrounded by the unique floral interiors or on the private balcony looking onto the river and across to the iconic view of St Paul’s Cathedral. Taking inspiration from the play, the Love Potion cocktail mimics Oberon’s description of a flower struck by Cupid’s bow “before milk-white, now purple with love’s wound” with a twist. Here, the potion is made from Bombay gin, honey and Prosecco and served with a tincture of blackberry juice to turn the cocktail a deep purple.
Additional cocktails on the list include a Homie Negroni (Bombay Sapphire gin, Belsazar red vermouth, Campari), Sting (Star of Bombay gin, Monkey Shoulder, ginger, honey, lime) and Passionfruit and chilli martini (Bombay gin, passion fruit and peach) as well as a selection of mocktails. There will also be a variation of several G&T’s including Seedlip (Fentiman’s pink grapefruit tonic, grapefruit), Bombay Gin (Fentimans tonic and grapefruit), Star of Bombay Gin (Double Dutch cucumber and watermelon tonic, cucumber ribbon), Oxley Gin (1724 tonic water and rosemary) and English rhubarb gin liquor (Fentiman’s tonic and mint) – as well as sparkling wines and beers. Bar snacks will be served to complement the drinks including sharing boards of British cheeses and charcuterie plus Old Spot sausage rolls and potted chicken liver pate.
Running from 23rd July until 2nd September, the pop-up will be the perfect place on London’s Bankside for a summery twist on a traditional afternoon tea or an evening cocktail in a fairyland forest overlooking one of the best views of the capital.