Is Camden Town changing? Whatever, there are some exciting new openings right now: the Pieminster pop-up on Chalk Farm Road, Antipodean coffee house Ruby Dock (sister to Lantana in Fitzrovia) in Camden Lock, Record Club, the private members’ bar – and now, right down the other end of the high street, Simmons.
We should start by saying we’ve always been fans of the original, a slither of a bar on Cally Road with beautifully restored Victorian signage. Drinks prices are cheap, it’s friendly and, in fact, quite the opposite to the increasing grandeur of other openings in King’s Cross. We even recently made it one of our Top 5 watering holes.
And now they’re trying their luck in gritty ol’ Camden, a kebab’s throw from Mornington Crescent tube station. The interior? Think wood-panelled bar, “retro” wallpaper, graffiti tables (where customers can scrawl their thoughts) and vintage stuff everywhere (y’know, wonky lamps, old school comics and board games lining the bookshelves). Oh, and a twinkling mirrored disco ball skull hanging from the ceiling.
And as for libations? Expect now-standard tea cups and names such as Tastes Like Elliot (a mixture of fresh strawberries and cucumber mixed with Chambord cream and apple juice), 90s classics like Espresso Martinis or – and we like this idea – a cocktail slot machine on which you can “gamble”, and let the decision be made for you.
For the lesser-pocketed, there’s a happy hour every day from 4pm to 9pm with drinks starting from £2.50. So that should tempt some of us through the door, anyway. And there’s even a “cocktail parlour” with fireplace through secret doors that you may be lucky enough to stumble across.
7 thoughts on “Quirky cocktail bar Simmons comes to Camden Town”
Oooh this sounds cool, looking forward to giving it a go. Thanks for the tip! 🙂
About two years ago, I walked into their Kings Cross outpost and asked whether a friend and I could host a night there. We told them about our idea for doing cocktails in vintage china tea cups and playing old records. They laughed in my face and told me it was a ridiculous idea and that, anyway, cocktails in tea cups sounded way too twee. I went away and though “maybe they’re right” and, my friend and I decided against pursuing it any further. I know we didn’t ‘own’ the idea, but I still think it sucks that the guy that owns the place just nicked our idea after laughing me out of the place. So not cool.
This just isn’t true I’m afraid. We first put a cocktail in a teacup in Simmons kings cross in 2009. A couple of people wanted cocktails however we didn’t have any martini glasses but had an abundance of cups and saucers so that’s how it started for us, it was far from the case of stealing your idea. In fact if anything back then the general public turned their noses up at cocktails being served that way….
Jesus come soon and end our days of suffering. “Graffiti tables”? Ok then.
Wasn’t impressed when I visited on Monday. Cocktails were below average, service and execution of drinks amateur. Teacups were being used to serve cocktails about 5 years ago in 5 star hotel bars, standard and ubiquitous these days as the review mentions.
Tan, I’m very sorry to hear your comments and to hear that you didn’t have a good experience. Come in and see us again and there will be a drink on us for you. I will make it myself and might even serve it in a glass although I believe they were being used in 5 star hotel bars even before teacups so not 100% sure on what to do for the best? Hope to see you again soon. Ask for Elliot.
Went to Simmons in Camden after reading the write up above. I loved it, i even loved the tea cups that everyone seems to keep banging on about 😉 I went on a Friday and my god was it busy. i would suggest reserving a table before arrival, the barman told me this can be done online so will definitely be doing this next time. I didn’t venture into the back room as we made ourselves a little plot at one of the high tables in the front window (great for people watching haha), but realized as we were leaving they had a N64 out there, gutted as i haven’t played on one for years, will be returning soon!