I have a couple of favourite spots in The Village.
I’m not going to tell you them all, because the last thing I want is someone spotting me getting giddy on gin on the dance floor. I mean I’m all for being caught singing Let It Go, or I Could Have Danced All Night in Oscar’s – I’ve already revealed on That’s Manchester that I have a show tunes playlist, but dammit, there are limits.
One of my more sedate haunts is the Molly House – downstairs there’s casual drinking and dining, space for brunch, or a selection of tapas nibbles, upstairs is the Bordello, where The Village Bakers hold their get togethers, with cake on every surface possible, and the Veranda for those sunny afternoons (or where smokers can grab a sneaky cig).
Most recently, they’ve teamed up with Susie Wong, cocktail bartender, cocktail comp winner, menu creative, gorgeous lady and, somehow mummy as well. And people think I’m busy?
She’s waved her magic wand – or should that be magic bar spoon – over the booze in the Molly House and come up with some suitable stunners that appeal to both her own sense of kitsch and glamour, as well as that of the bars clientele.
Take the Ruby Slippers for example – a symbol of goodness, of knowledge, of home – known and loved by many a Canal Street visitor (including myself) comes to life with Bacardi Rum, egg white, raspberries and lemon. Similar to a Clover Club, I was admittedly unsure when I saw this on the menu, but it’s so perfectly balanced, not overly sweet, not overly sharp, it’s enough to make any red shoe wearer happy.
My next cocktail sampler was A Place in the Sun, named for the Elizabeth Taylor film (have you guessed the theme yet). Portabello Road gin is combined with muddled watermelon, Blossoms Sour Cherry Syrup, Rosewater and lemon with a soda top. Light, refreshing – summer in a glass. Or at least the summer you dream of, rather than the summer we’re actually having.
Of course, with Susie brand ambassador for Forest Gin, the launch night saw Susie serving them with her recommended garnish, rosemary and mango.
Away from Forest (sorry guys) the gin bar at The Molly House is getting distinctly larger, well worth a try or two of my favourite game – Gin Pokemon (patent pending – gotta catch em all). You could drink the evening away and not try everything on their back shelf.
Though you could of course go for the I Love Lucy – a Bramble style cocktail with Myrtil Blueberry liqueur and lavender bitters. Again the balance was delicious, the rich herbal lavender toning down the sweetness of the liqueur which in turn softened the lemon.
I’ve only sampled a couple of the menu, but already I know with Susie’s expertise on hand, her experience at creating menus for The Violet Hour, Cuckoo and more recently Tattu, this could be a match made in heaven.
Now let me at that bar.
Aside from our welcome drink (G&T), all drinks at the Molly House launch were paid for by the attendees.