Spiritland, Merchants Tavern

Listening to music in London often becomes more of a chore than a pleasure, with jostling crowds, sticky floors and poor-quality sound systems. Spiritland, a three-month residency that has opened its doors in Hoxton, hopes to set this right.

It offers you a luxurious yet relaxed space to enjoy music – the bar of Merchants Tavern is a wonderful setting for hanging out while enjoying a cocktail (or three). And the creators want to provoke conversation and high spirits: “Spiritland won’t be hushed or reverent but warm and welcoming, celebrating great music in elegant style.”

The music is the big draw of course, and no expense has been spared at sourcing the right equipment — music will be played mostly on vinyl, on a world-class rich-bodied analogue sound system, with Tannoy Westinster loudspeakers and specially modified turntables.
Each night has a different guest curator, with some big names ready to step up to the turntable, including Lemon Jelly’s Fred Deakin, who will play some spooky horror sounds on Hallowe’en.

Excellent food will accompany the wine and song: those who want to dine in style can book in for the restaurant at the back, but you can also get a taster from the bar, which serves everything from pork scratchings to oysters.

As for the drinks, there’s an extensive menu, including 16 different types of gin—we’ll be trying out the No3 Gin in the Merchants Martini No2—and a host of other cocktails. The Go Hartnett or Go Home, named for the chef and co-owner Angela Hartnett and made from whiskey, vermouth, orange liqueur and a cranberry reduction, also sounds pretty tasty.