The Bloomsbury Club Is Playing A Different Tune With Its Latest Cocktail Experience

Not many things beat the pleasure of discovering a bar that understands a good evening is about more than what is in your glass. The Bloomsbury Club in London, has introduced the Listeners Club, bringing music, mixology and food together through an experience that moves across five defining eras of sound. From the sophistication of jazz and swing to the expressive rhythms of blues and soul, the warmth of bossa nova, the energy of R&B and funk, and the sounds shaping the present day, each chapter offers a different way to experience the relationship between music and taste. The concept draws on the intimacy of record collecting and the atmosphere of listening bars, inviting guests to slow down, settle in and allow the evening to unfold one selection at a time.

This direction is supported by bar manager Antonio Papariello, who joined The Bloomsbury Club with more than a decade of experience across notable hospitality venues in London and Italy, including The Franklin Hotel, The Prince Akatoki and The Dilly. His credentials include recognition among Bargiornale’s Top 30 Italian Bartenders Abroad in 2023 and 2024, alongside a place in the World Class GB Top 100. With The Listeners Club, the venue brings together that technical understanding of cocktails and a broader appreciation of atmosphere, culture and hospitality. The experience succeeds because it gives guests more than a list of drinks to work through: it offers a reason to listen more closely, taste more thoughtfully and spend another hour in good company. Come for the music, stay for the cocktails, and leave with a few new favourites for the next time the record starts playing.

On arrival, guests are presented with a leather bound Collector’s Ledger, an invitation to choose the record that will soundtrack their evening. Across five chapters, the menu presents 20 cocktails inspired by songs and the periods that shaped them, with each selection accompanied by a dedicated Spotify playlist. Three original cocktails feature within each era, alongside a non alcoholic B side, allowing the experience to accommodate different tastes without losing its musical direction. The concept particularly engaging due to its approach to adaptation. The Bloomsbury Club takes familiar drinks culture and translates it through contemporary ingredients, unexpected flavour combinations and individual interpretations of the songs themselves. These are not simply cocktails named after records; they are compositions in their own right, with the ingredients, texture and presentation working together to create a sensory connection to the music.

Our evening began with selections from the Jazz and Swing chapter, where Night Fever immediately established itself as a lively opening act. Made with Volcan Blanco Tequila, Mancino Bianco Ambrato Vermouth, lemon jam, saffron, Tabasco, mustard tincture and Three Cents Mandarin and Bergamot Soda, the cocktail balances citrus brightness with aromatic spice and a lively, sparkling finish. The mandarin and bergamot bring freshness, while the saffron and savoury accents introduce a more complex character beneath the initial burst of citrus. Inspired by the Bee Gees’ Night Fever, the drink carries an unmistakable sense of movement and late night glamour. It would appeal to the person who enjoys being the first to suggest another round, someone sociable, confident and drawn to a date that develops into an impromptu dance floor. It is a spirited choice for couples who prefer their romance accompanied by energy and a little playful unpredictability.

The second selection, Stardust Echo, offered a quieter, more considered expression of the same musical chapter. Discarded Vodka, Akashi Tai Tokubetsu Honjozo Sake, Mancino Bianco Ambrato Vermouth, green shiso, Kami Shochu and clarified Nashi pear juice come together in a silky, delicate cocktail built around subtle umami and restrained fruit. The pear provides a gentle sweetness, while the sake and shochu lend a Japanese influence that gives the drink a distinctive profile. Green shiso adds an aromatic lift, creating a finish that is refined without becoming overly complicated. The name evokes the timeless quality of Stardust, the jazz standard famously associated with Hoagy Carmichael, although the cocktail’s specific inspiration is best understood through the menu’s own musical references. This is a drink for someone who appreciates detail, prefers conversation to spectacle and enjoys discovering something new without needing to announce it. In a romantic setting, it suits the kind of date where the best moments emerge naturally between the music, the food and the conversation.

For those who prefer the character of the Jazz and Swing chapter without alcohol, Jump & Swing provides a vibrant alternative. Made with Abstinence Cape Agave, Roots Divino Bianco Non Alcoholic Vermouth, lemon jam, saffron, Tabasco and Three Cents Mandarin and Bergamot Soda, it follows a similarly citrus led, sparkling direction to Night Fever. The agave inspired base offers structure, while the mandarin and bergamot bring brightness and the saffron adds an aromatic layer. A touch of Tabasco introduces warmth, preventing the drink from becoming a straightforward soft alternative. It is refreshing, expressive and designed to stand alongside the alcoholic selections on its own terms. For a couple who want to share a tasting experience while making different drinking choices, it demonstrates the value of a menu that considers the full evening rather than treating non alcoholic options as an afterthought.

Moving into Blues and Soul, Hit Road brought a warmer, more robust character to the table. WhistlePig 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey and Monkey Shoulder Whisky form the foundation, complemented by ginger, maple syrup, lemon and black cardamom. The rye contributes a spicy edge, while the blended Scotch brings depth; maple syrup softens the stronger notes, lemon cuts through the richness and black cardamom leaves a warming, aromatic finish. The result is a bold, spiced cocktail with enough complexity to reward slow sipping. Its flavour profile suits the person who gravitates towards whisky, appreciates a drink with presence and is comfortable with a little intensity. For a romantic evening, Hit Road is particularly suited to cooler nights, intimate conversations and the kind of date that feels better away from the rush of the city. It has the character of a record you return to for its familiarity, even as you notice something different with each listen.

The experience extended beyond the drinks through a food menu that offered the sort of comforting, well judged pairings that encourage guests to stay longer. The Bloomsbury Burger, made with an aged beef smash patty, gherkin, Montgomery cheddar, lettuce, tomato and caramelised onion, brings together the savoury richness of beef, the sharpness of cheese and the acidity of the gherkin. It is an easy companion to the brighter cocktails, particularly Night Fever, where the citrus, bubbles and spice help cut through the burger’s richness. The Roast Beef Sandwich, featuring minute steak, English mustard, cheddar and fries, offers a more direct combination of tender beef, mustard heat and creamy cheese. Its savoury intensity works naturally alongside the warmth of Hit Road, with the whisky, ginger and black cardamom echoing the sandwich’s more assertive flavours. Both dishes provide substance without distracting from the drinks, making the food an essential part of the experience rather than an addition to it.

From the Prism Records offering, Purple Rain delivered a different mood altogether. Belvedere 10, Saliza Amaretto, Briottet Violette Liqueur, orange bitters and Irish cream foam create a creamy, decadent and velvety cocktail, with the amaretto lending a sweet almond character and the violet liqueur adding floral notes. Orange bitters introduce a counterpoint to the richness, while the cream foam gives the drink its luxurious texture. Inspired by Prince’s Purple Rain, the cocktail draws on the emotional drama and romantic intensity of one of pop music’s defining records. It is the sort of drink for someone who enjoys a little theatre, favours indulgence over restraint and appreciates romance with a touch of extravagance. Shared across a candlelit table, it suits an evening built around lingering glances, a favourite song and the decision not to rush home. Across these selections, the menu’s strongest quality is its willingness to take one defining element of a cocktail or musical reference and give it a distinctive twist, creating drinks that remain approachable while offering enough detail to make each choice memorable.

The Listeners Club also marks an important new chapter for The Bloomsbury Club, a bar whose identity draws on the literary and cultural associations of its Bloomsbury surroundings and the enduring appeal of intimate London drinking spaces. Its reopening introduces a concept that feels particularly relevant to a city where listening bars, carefully considered menus and experiences built around shared discovery continue to attract attention.