I was lucky enough to head over the openings of both In Bloom and Long Bar, but the weather was not kind to us and I was a bit concerned that In Bloom was in need of a little colour.
Avid knitter that I am I’ve been trying to fix that with a little yarnbombing – small knitted roses fitting in with the ivy and even a butterfly or two. And a caterpillar called Dave.
In Bloom offers great food and drink in a perfectly sunny spot in Spinningfields. Given the weather we’ve had (rather than what’s on offer as I write this), what more could you ask for?
Keeley and I stopped by on a very sunny afternoon for lunch and a chat with Tom, the manager, to see what the plans are for the future, as unlike in past years where pop up bars have come and gone on Spinningfields, In Bloom will be with us for a little while longer.
We kicked off our ‘ladies that lunch’ afternoon with a cocktail, I had a Vanilla Mint Julep, sweet, strong with a good minty kick and lots of ice, less ladies in big skirts in the Deep South, more hot summer days, bikinis. Keeley opted for a raspberry Caiprinha – fruity and sweet, the fresh raspberries making it lightly floral.
Once we’d ordered something to nibble on (the platter was between the two of us, honest) Tom stopped by to chat. There are plans to add more beers to the menu in the bar and as the autumn rolls in, adjust the cocktail and food menu. You see, In Bloom isn’t going to be disappearing come winter. The bar will adapt into a winter garden, with heating, an expanded covered area and the fresh fruit and herbs that go into the cocktails will change with the seasons.
The platters are more than a step beyond a ploughman’s style lunch. As we couldn’t decide between meat, veggie or fish, so asked for a mix of everything. Freshly made hummus, a gorgeous mix of cheeses including Cerney Ash goats cheese and Godminster Cheddar, charcuterie and some of the most incredible roasted onions in vinegar. Soft sweet and tangy, my mouth is watering reliving their sweetness. At weekends there’s a barbecue on offer and even cupcakes and coffee for those snack time visits.
But all that talking had made our throats dry. In celebration of Keeley’s degree result we chose something fizzy. A Late in the Evening for me, soft dark blackberries, vodka and Prosecco combine into this twist on a Kir Royale and Keeley chose the Black Forest, slightly sweeter and less dry than it’s sister cocktail, it suited Keeley’s sweet tooth perfectly.
Finally, (thankfully we did have the afternoon off), Keeley requested a Porn Star Martini. I went for something different, Tom himself taking one of the Garden Sours and making it with Amaretto. Sweeter than I’d normally opt for, this was utterly gorgeous, the sourness balancing the sweet liqueur.
As we slowly head towards Autumn, my favourite time of year, I cannot wait to see what these guys have up their sleeves.
And I suspect my yarnbombing may just keep going.
