Speakeasy members club opens in Leamington

Leamington Spa in Warwickshire has welcomed the arrival of a new members-only speakeasy bar.

Owned by Leam Properties, Hush is an underground bar, which immerses guests in the Prohibition era of 1920/30s America.

Offering a cocktail menu and live music experiences from the period, the owners behind the town’s newest venue are now inviting people to take an early peak behind the scenes before its official launch as a private members’ bar in January. 

The disused 40-metre space under Simranjit Dhariwal​'s The Terrace restaurant has undergone a transformational makeover to become the new speakeasy bar.

The drinks menu, curated by Hush general manager Matthew Nisbets and bar manager Bethany Gaunt, highlights 25 crafted cocktails that include many inspired by the Prohibition theme.

"It’s very cocktail-driven," says Gaunt. "If somebody wants a drink with a certain kind of notes, every member of our team will have the knowledge to be able to suggest something, they won't have to run back to the bar because that just detracts from the experience."

Members only?

Open to private members from 5pm-2.30am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from the New Year, in the run up to Christmas the venue is inviting anyone to get a glimpse behind the unmarked black door in Victoria Terrace.

Once inside, they can expect to be greeted by a 1920/30s vibe, courtesy of mood lighting, staff in period dress and live jazz.

"The amount of money that you're going to be spending on a cocktail here versus the quality of the ingredients, the care and time that goes into how they're prepared, constitutes brilliant value," adds Nisbets. "But it’s not just about the drinks themselves, but the entire experience, from the moment you find the unmarked door and order your first drink to the minute that you leave. What we have here has the wow factor as well, it is visually spectacular."

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