April Jackson, proprietor of Wood & Water restaurant in Brixton and, before that, Three Little Birds, is to open a cocktail bar in the former premises of Nanban, which were once a pie and mash shop.
The former Apprentice contestant and Miss Jamaica also ran a bar with partner Lee Tan in Pop Brixton.
The new bar, SideChick – a few doors from Wood & Water on Coldharbour Lane – will make use of original features of the building, adding “tassels, pearls and feathers”.
Cocktails will be categorised as Signatures, Fallen Friends or Forgotten Classics.
They will include:
- Portmore – “fat washed” aged rum with coffee and coconut (fat washing sees a liquid fat like sesame oil or melted butter added to a spirit)
- Pornstar Martini by the late Douglas Ankrah – the inventor of the cocktail at his bar Townhouse in 2003 – using the original recipe: vodka, passionfruit and vanilla
- Floradora – dry gin, lime, raspberry, ginger ale.
Provender, inspired by American soul food, “will be a little naughty,” Jackson said.
“I remember, when I was living in New York, on Sundays I would devour a plate of fried chicken and red velvet waffles in Brooklyn whilst a musician played R&B covers on his violin.”
Cornmeal crusted fried chicken, Cajun shrimp po’boys and sweet potato biscuits with maple butter are promised for Brixton.
SideChick at 426 Coldharbour Lane is due to open on Wednesday 4 October.
