The Discount Suit Company is a cocktail bar like no other
As we count down the days until the Toast the City Awards, we’re visiting some of our favourite finalists – this week Libby Brodie discovers the subterranean wonders of the Discount Suit Company cocktail bar
If you are searching for a bar that does things a little differently then the Discount Suit Company is a place to discover. And discover it you will have to – this is a hidden, subterranean speak-easy style cocktail bar that the commuters walking past Liverpool Street Station would never realise was there.
The Discount Suit Company has been running in the basement former storeroom of a tailor shop on Petticoat Lane since 2014 and it is a finalist for Best Bar in City AM’s Toast the City Awards. Founded by three drinks professionals, Andy Kerr, Stephen Thompson and Alastair Tatton, this was their first venture together, aimed at pushing back against what they perceived to be a rising trend of pretentious venues and overinflated prices. The three worked together to transform the space and curate a small but perfectly formed offering with a focus on friendly service and excellent drinks.
I like the fact they have given this space a name that reflects the rich rag trade history of the area, a bit of London heritage that is not often dwelt upon. Even the bar top has been made from a tailor’s old cutting table, and the place is decorated with vintage details, including an old tailor’s dummy that lurks in the corner. It is dark, candle-lit and cosy: a good place to impress a date. It feels like a secret with a Northern Soul and vintage Rock‘n’Roll soundtrack, though it does have occasional live DJs to keep spirits high – in all senses – until 2am at the weekends.
At the Discount Suit Company the cocktail is king
Wine takes a back seat; here the cocktail is king. The Discount Suit Company uses premium spirits and classic techniques but gives each glass a playful twist. Try a Corn Star, which combines the smokiness of mezcal with buttered corn and citrus, or the Moonstomp, an unlikely combination of homemade whisky, sake, mango and coconut. It’s a relatively affordable option for London too, with cocktails priced at £10 a glass. If you’re in a group, try a Petticoat Lane Punch for (at least) four people for £35. The cocktail offering changes regularly, as does the cheese and charcuterie selections you can nibble throughout the evening.
If you must have wine (and I know the feeling) I was excited to see a bottle of Chateau Fontvert rosé on the list, having enjoyed a wonderful lunch with the family of the Chateau alongside their excellent wines this summer. Cocktails may be the speciality but this list shows they know their wine too.