We're helping you get to know some of the biggest disruptors in London food and drink, from the rogue chefs and the tastemakers to the trendsetters and the hospitality history redefiners. This August, we caught up with cocktail must-know, Coral Anderson from Swift, as she tells us more about the bar business, cocktails in the city that you really need to try, and what eggs have to do with everything.
Photo: Roman Shabodalov.
Tell us who you are and what you do
Coral Anderson, Managing Director of Swift Bars.
Tell us more about Swift
Swift really has something for everyone. Swift Soho is the ultimate night out, romantic date downstairs? It's yours. Afterwork drinks with the team upstairs? Done. Swift Shoreditch has the vibe of the loveliest neighbourhood bar, but with the best drinks of your life and Swift Borough is just the greatest place for a classy party. With a huge amount of flexibility on the size of party and vibe we can offer, it has hosted chic and intimate wedding receptions and lively birthday parties and was perfect for both. Ultimately we want to prove everyone has time for a perfect drink, whether that's a £7 aperitivo after work, a quick G&T before the theatre or a beautifully thought out and made cocktail from one of our menus.
If anyone is ordering a cocktail at Swift, which one.
I mean, I feel like the Irish Coffee is the obvious answer here, and for good reason. But I am going to cheat and give an honourable mention to the Campino in Shoreditch, a fluffy, strawberry tequila number that no one should sleep on, it's too good.
Irish coffee at Swift.
If you’re heading anywhere after a shift at Swift, where are you going and why?
I'm again going to give an answer for each site, there are too many amazing places to eat and drink in London!
- Soho - After a day shift I'm headed to Ducksoup for their incredible food and never-ending wine list, later on it's got to be Nightjar Carnaby, open late with amazing drinks and live music. Sign me up.
- Shoreditch - Either Seed Library or The Sun Tavern on the way home.
- Borough - There is an absolutely unhinged late-opening restaurant called Guiseppes just over the road, i think they stop doing food at like 10pm and it becomes a weird restaurant disco situation. I'm from Edinburgh and for any of my fellow city folk it has a strong resemblance to Garibaldis.
What are your thoughts on the London cocktail bar scene at the moment?
I think the London cocktail scene has been in a really amazing spot for a long time, honestly. So many folks are doing new, cool and interesting things, as well as bars like ours that are looking to give a more classic style of service and drinks but at the best possible quality. I think the sign of a great cocktail scene is variety, which London has in spades.
Finally, if there’s one perfect cocktail; ingredient, which is it?
I will order any drink with an egg in, which has not always served me well in the past in terms of flavour, but I will never learn my lesson.
For more great bars in London, check out our guide.
