Inspired by the protagonist of Jules Verne’s famous novel, ‘Around the World in 80 Days’, Mr Fogg’s bars take inspiration from entrepreneur and adventurer, Phileas Fogg.
Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern & Gin Club opened last Autumn and should definitely be a pin in your map to discover on your next adventure in Soho.
💃🏻 Stylish date night idea in London 🎩 Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern & Gin Club @Mr Fogg’s 🎩 Inspired by Jules Verne’s famous novel, ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ 🎩🍺 The ground floor houses the Hat Tavern decorated with vintage items and paintings 🎩🍸 Behind the secret door, in the basement you’ll find the intimate Gin Club 🎩 Hundreds of different types of Gin are lining on the shelves behind the low bar which is actually a repurposed milliners’ bench 🎩 Intricately patterned carpet, cosy plush sofas and plenty of hats – from top hats to bonnets – on display that guests can wear 🎩🍸 The cocktail menu is revolving around hats and hat making from the 17th century up to the present day. Some of the cocktails are even served in hat-shaped glasses and pipe-shaped glasses #mrfoggs#phileasfogg#julesverne#aroundtheworldin80days#datenightideas#datenightlondon#bestbars#cocktail#cocktailtime#weekendfun#weekendvibes#CapCut
Inception Group has given us some of London’s most adventurous cocktail bars, quirky taverns, glamorous railway carriages and stylish retro nightclubs. Each of the venues has unique style and whimsical cocktail menu.
Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern & Gin Club is another addition to the Mr Fogg’s collection, now consisting of 10 venues each with different themes, such as a botanical garden, pawnbroker, or apothecary.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern & Gin Club couldn’t have a greater location on Soho’s Great Chapel Street! The venue is opposite a former Victorian hat factory, called Henry Heath Hat Factory (est. 1822) that would produce high-quality top hats in Victorian times.
The luxurious Gin Club in the basement is housed in a former Gin club, called The London Gin Club. The London Gin Club, that was operating from 2012 but then fell victim of the nearby Crossrail development in 2019, was famous for offering over 100 different types of Gin, including hard-to-find ones.
The Hat Tavern
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The Hat Tavern upstairs shares Phileas J. Fogg’s two greatest passions: the art of millinery and the appreciation of fine Gin.
The Hat Tavern is serving draught beers and themed cocktails. The ceiling is covered with random vintage items, such as paintings, parasols, old tea pots and bellows. The long squadron tables are functioning both as glass-topped displays to showcase items and accessories the hat factory opposite once used to make hats and tables to sit at and place your drink on.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
While enjoying your drink, notice the old black and white photographs randomly placed at the long bar and the vintage hat boxes at the muffle windows.
The Gin Club
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Enter the Gin Club through a secret door opening from the Hat Tavern, head down the narrow staircase and you will find yourself at an exquisite intimate Gin parlour.
Hundreds of different types of Gin are lining on the shelves behind the low bar which is actually a repurposed milliners’ bench.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Intricately patterned carpet, cosy plush sofas with soft embroidered cushions and plenty of hats – from top hats to bonnets – on display that guests can wear.
The shelves are packed with more hats and accessories, fabric samples, sewing tools, hat blocks, millinery braids and ribbons and much more to marvel at.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The cocktail menu is revolving around hats and hat making from the 17th century up to the present day. Some of the cocktails are served in hat-shaped glasses while others come in pipe-shaped glasses or in a mini bathtub.
Classics, such as Negroni and Aperol Spritz as well as alcohol-free tipples, champagne, wine, and beer also available.
The Perfect Date Night Destination or After Work Drinks with Friends
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern is a perfect place for a drink or two with friends at the weekends or after work while the Gin Club offers a cosy relaxed environment if you’re looking for an extravagant place for a date night with whimsical cocktails.
Ready for your next adventure? Museum of London Docklands is currently running an amazing exhibition: ‘Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style’. The exhibition showcases how Jewish immigrants played an important role in turning London a fashion capital.
Taking advantage of the family name, Mr Fogg’s wayward half-brother, Frank Fogg opened a Victorian pawn shop on 50 Dean Street in Soho.
Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers is exhibiting an extraordinary collection of unique artefacts, jewels, antiques, vintage carpets and more.
The venue opened on 22nd of February 2023 and divided into three different themed rooms: The Pawnbrokers Counter, The Strong Room, and The Textiles Room.
Currently there are seven individual Mr Fogg’s bars are operating all over in London, each has a different theme inspired by books of Jules Verne.
A long and thorough research process is taken place every time before the opening of a new bar. It usually takes six-nine months!
In order to make it look as authentic as possible, Inception Group (they own Mr Fogg’s, Cahoots, Bunga Bunga and many more) did a lot of research on how a Victorian pawn shop looked like, starting from the shopfront to the counters to the furniture.
The Pawnbroker’s Counter
Photo: Urban Adventurer
On entry, guests find themselves at The Pawnbroker’s Counter. Here customers can sip their cocktails on glass-fronted display cabinets showcasing the most different keepsakes.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
There are 60 different hanging lights in the main space and lots of miscellaneous objects. Each item labelled individually and appear to be ‘for sale’ to make the experience more immersive.
Behind the Counter
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The second space within the venue is The Strong Room which is inspired by the hidden vaulted space where higher-value goods were stored. This room is decorated with glass cabinets full of 19th-century jewels, silver and gold plates, sought-after antique and vintage items collected from around the globe.
The Textiles Room
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The Textiles Room, which includes a bar, is decorated with the most beautiful vintage rugs, carpets, and tapestries from floor to ceiling. All collected by Mr Fogg during his travels across the globe.
The Menu at Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers
‘Priceless Heirloom’ cocktail (right) and ‘Jewel in the Crown’ mocktail (left)
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The menu is minuscule-printed and comes with a magnifying glass pawnbrokers used to value incoming goods (normal size menu is also available).
The cocktails are all served in the most extraordinary way to pay tribute to the Victorian pawnbrokers. For example, ‘The Scale of Justice’ is presented on an antique scale, while ‘Priceless Heirloom’ is served in a mini version of Ming-style vase. Other cocktails are served in a jewellery box, punch bowl or in a Faberge egg, just to mention a few.
Mr Fogg’s Treasure Hunt – 25th February 2023
To celebrate the opening of Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers, they invite you for a fun treasure hunt for a chance win a £1,000 bar tab!
Everyone who participate in the competition will receive a complimentary cocktail.
Mr Fogg’s Treasure Hunt will be taken place on 25th February around Soho, starting at Mr Fogg’s Tavern from 12:01pm! NO entry fee to participate! More info.
Ready for your next adventure? Learn more about Mr Fogg’s bars– the most adventurous bars in London.
“Monsieur is going to leave home?” “Yes,” returned Phileas Fogg. “We are going round the world.”
― Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days
Being an Urban Adventurer, I’m constantly on the hunt for the extraordinary, the jaw-dropping and the eccentric in London.
During my adventures I’ve visited the pinkest, the quirkiest, the weirdest and the smallest bars and cafés. Now I’ve found, and this is without doubt, the most adventurous bar series in town.
Mr Fogg’s have 6 Insta-worthy adventurous bars, each with different themes, inspired by Phileas Fogg’s incredible journey around the world.
The Inspiration
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The concept behind Mr Fogg’s bars is Jules Verne’s famous novel, Around the World in 80 Days.
Each bar takes us to the theatrical world of Mr Fogg in the Victorian era, reflecting a stop of the adventurer’s journey.
The bars are stuffed with things Mr Fogg might collect during his journey. Maps and charts, flags and stuffed animals, old bicycles, bird cages, antique clocks and telescopes.
It’s not just the decoration that reflect Mr Fogg’s Victorian world. Each Mr Fogg’s venue offers different cocktail menu tailored to the bar’s specific theme helping you stepping into the novel’s pages and completely immerse into the fantasy novel.
Mr Fogg’s Residence
“We are going round the world.”
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Mr Fogg’s Residence showcases a vast collection of rare artifacts and antiques he collected during his journeys in the farthest corners of the globe. Each item has an interesting and adventurous background and story about how Mr Fogg obtained it.
Even the ceiling is loaded with treasures such as old bicycles, bird cages once gave home to rare birds, paintings and a life size hot air balloon.
Mr Fogg’s Residence is really beyond the law and physics.
Adventurous Fact
In 2017, Mr Fogg’s sent the first bottled cocktail to the space. The bottle was sent to 27km high above the surface and was exposed to temperatures as low as -57 Celsius. Upon its arrival back to Earth, the cocktail flavoured a limited-edition drink in Mr Fogg’s Residence. The cocktail was named as ‘From The Earth to The Stars’ after another famous novel from Jules Verne. Only 50 of out-of-this-world cocktail creation was available, each costing £25. The lucky drinkers got a certificate with their order, announcing that they’d drunk something supernal. And how the celestial cocktail tasted? Well, imagine a perfect blend of superterrestrial bitter, campari, gin, lavender, grapefruit peels, orange peel, lemon peel, fresh chamomile and angelica root. Mmmmm…exquisite.
Instead of removing furniture, they have implemented social distancing by sitting Victorian-style mannequins to their tables. The idea helps maintaining the safe social distance while adding to the fun atmosphere instead of taking from it
Mr Fogg’s Tavern
“But what then? What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he brought back from this long and weary journey? Nothing, say you? Perhaps so;…Truly, would you not for less than that go around the world?”
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Mr Fogg’s Tavern lies in the heart of London’s famous theatre district and transports you to a traditional Victorian pub. The waiters and waitresses are dressed and act as if they were from the Victorian era and to enhance the experience, the ceiling is enwrapped with eccentric memorabilia from all over the globe.
Robust wooden tables and benches are waiting for the tired travellers to quench their thirst with a pint of draught beer or one of the Landlady Fanny McGee’s famous juicy punches.
Adventurous Fact
Mr Fogg’s Tavern is not just a tavern. It’s a heaven for art and theatre lovers
Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour
“Phileas Fogg took a chair, and sat down near the fireplace, opposite Aouda. No emotion was visible on his face. Fogg returned was exactly the Fogg who had gone away; there was the same calm, the same impassibility.”
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour is a hidden hunter-themed room upstairs within Mr Fogg’s Tavern. The Gin Parlour is a tiny yet cozy hideaway with vintage upholstered seats, a fireplace, chinoiserie wallpaper and an exquisite collection of gins, tonics and botanicals.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
I loved the idea of Victorian hats being left all around the bar waiting for visitors to try them on and take photos while wearing them.
The bar is really a hidden gem and the cocktails are beautifully presented and delicious.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Adventurous Facts
The Gin Parlour has over 230 gins to choose from, some of which are rare from different corners of the globe
The Gin Parlour runs ‘Gin Safari’ experience where you can not only taste Gins from different parts the world, but also learn all the ins and outs of Gin, botanicals and tonics. Plus, the safari includes tasty treats, such as cheese platter, platter of cured meats and olives (vegan options also available)
Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals
“I see that it is by no means useless to travel, if a man wants to see something new”
House of Botanicals is an exotic tropical paradise. Lots of greenery everywhere and a beautiful, dreamy floral spiral staircase.
The venue really looks like a botanical garden and the cocktails had carefully been designed around the theme of the venue. A perfect escape from the busy city life.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
We ordered a ‘Miss North’s Pitcher Plant’ and a ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ to start. ‘Miss North’s Pitcher Plant’ stylishly came in an oh-so-Instagrammable pitcher plant shaped glass (Wow!).
Photo: Urban Adventurer
‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ came in a cool silver goblet and was decorated beautifully. Both cocktails were amazing. Their tastes were in perfect balance.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The second round was a ‘Kooh-I-Noor’ and ‘An Unexpected Beginning’. Both the presentation and the taste absolutely fit the venue’s unique atmosphere.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The staff was the loveliest we could imagine. The bartenders even posed me for a photo.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t take photos upstairs because it was full, and due to Coronavirus, nobody was allowed to go upstairs unless their booking was for there.
It’s understandable in the current situation. Next time 🙂
Adventurous Fact
House of Botanicals’ staff wore beekeeping suites to provide a quirky PPE solution when re-opening their suite after the first lockdown. Learn more about Mr Fogg’s nailed social distancing in thier venues here
Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration
“It’s really useful to travel, if you want to see new things.”
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Society of Exploration is just a stone-throw away from the bustling Charing Cross station, and it’s a sanctuary for the likeminded and the curious.
The bar celebrates the revolution of innovation, travel and Victorian mechanics. The venue is split into three extraordinary rooms:
The Map Room, which is an impressive collection of antique maps, travel books and other souvenir from the farthest corners of the planet.
The life-sized Victorian train carriage that provides an intimate place for banquets and other events. Its rustic leather seating, antique brass lamps and large windows overlooking the bar provide the perfect place for an intimate gathering.
The bar area’s decoration is rich and eccentric. The walls are covered with wood panels, providing a backdrop for a collection of antique barometers, oil paintings, trophies and other artefacts.
Adventurous Facts
In 2019 Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration launched a viral video campaign. It was advertising the most adventurous dream job one can imagine.
The successful applicants would travel the globe in 80 days (or less) to collect the most unique and diverse ingredients for cocktails while all expenses covered. The video quickly gained media attention worldwide, received more than 10,000 (!) applicants and even the famous actor Ryan Reynolds wanted to apply.
Society of Exploration is home to Mr Fogg’s incomparable Mechanical Mixologist. It’s the world-first automated cocktail making machine, a revolutionary invention making you the finest ice-cold Negroni at the touch of a button.
The machine automatically puts an ice cube into the glass then rotates a wheel of ingredients to mix and pour them into the glass before serving it on a conveyor belt
Mrs Fogg’s Dockside Drinkery & Distillery
“Mr. Fogg … would you like both a relative and a friend? Would you like to have me as your wife?”
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Ahoy sailors, seadogs, pirates and stowaways! No dry throats here. Anchor your boat and have an ice-cold draught beer, a punch or wine in this restless and bustling Victorian-style bar at the East End.
In Mrs Fogg’s Dockside Drinkery & Distillery you’ll feel like you were on an adventure on sea.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Once boarded on the ship you will either be seated in the bar area upstairs or the life-sized Rangoon Steamer, equipped its very own bar, providing a VIP travelling experience.
Below deck is where the crew rest and stowaways hide. It’s a richly decorated speakeasy style bar.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
In the Engine Room you can sit within chopper pipes and dials and switches.
Dockside Drinkery & Distillery offers two course brunch, two course brunch with free-flowing pink prosecco, Mrs Fogg’s Pink Gin Cruise or Gin Adventure. Cheers!
Adventurous Fact
You can witness a full functioning distillery in the Engine Room
The staff is dressed like ship crew
Ready for your next adventure? Why not visit the elegant Churchill Bar and Terrace? Did you know that the Churchill Bar and Terrace have been given the blessing of Churchill’s extended family? The Churchill family also contributed to the bar’s décor.
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