The UK’s first LA-style dive bar in Islington
Slim Jim's Liquor Store, a new 100 capacity bar is celebrating its launch in Upper Street, Islington. The UK’s first LA-style dive bar, Slim Jim’s Liquor Store, is defined by its rock and roll music policy and expansive array of quality liquors. The team includes owner and designer Niall Donnelly, entrepreneur, bar owner and media mogul, and Adam Pervoe, former manager of iconic Camden hang out The Hawley Arms.
Historically, the dive bar was a downmarket, underground drinking establishment which extolled the virtues of Hard Liquor and Good Times. Slim Jim’s Liquor Store provides visitors with the unique chance to enjoy the very best characteristics of the dive bar – the rugged interior and secretive congeniality, whilst updating the notoriously worn standards to that of a contemporary, cosmopolitan bar.
Music is an integral part of the unique Slim Jim’s Liquor Store experience, and is mainly guitar based rock and roll. Artists on the juke box currently include The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Kings of Leon, Alice in Chains, Sound Garden, Mudhoney and AC/DC. Live music will feature heavily, with weekly acoustic nights set to take place on Sundays and Thursdays. Monthly burlesque evenings will take place on the second Thursday of each month, starting from December 2008.
Slim Jim's Liquor Store – Design
The atmosphere at Slim Jim’s Liquor Store is intimate; the site is approximately 2000 square foot in size and has a capacity of 100. Bare brick walls and 1950s style stools and plywood diner-style booths are predominant features, and the bar is lit with neon and candles to give a dim, hazy ambience. Despite being situated in the heart of the bustling Islington district in North London, Slim Jim’s Liquor Store manages to retain the air of a secret hideaway one luckily and unknowingly stumbles into.
Slim Jim's Liquor Store – Drinks
The drinks menu at Slim Jim’s Liquor Store is a connoisseur’s choice of fine spirits; each one is carefully selected for its rarity and quality. Rare and niche brands are stocked, including Evan Williams, Elijah Craig Bourbons, Patron and Herradura Tequila, Zacapa, Doorly’s and Angostura 1824 Rums. Slim Jim’s Liquor Store aims to use a more obscure and innovative selection of producers, and promotes independent distilleries over multi-national corporations where possible. There is a unique off licence within the bar, where rare bourbons are stocked in an old fashioned cabinet and are available to buy.
- Whiskeys from around the world are stocked, including some of the finest Bourbons and Ryes from the deep south distillery Heaven Hill
- Malts and Blended Scotch include the Highland and Islay Malts such as Glen Farclas 10 year and Macallan 10 and 15 years
- Japanese Suntory Hibiki 17 year and Irish Whiskeys such as Tyrconnel, Jamesons and Powars further supplement Slim Jim’s Liquor Store’s impressive selection of spirits
- Rums include a fine selection of the Angostura Range from Trinidad and arguably the finest rum in the world, Ron Zacapa 23 year from Guatamala
- The cocktail menu is a mixture of classics and Slim Jim’s Liquor Store’s original creations.
Slim Jim's Liquor Store Events
Slim Jim’s Liquor Store caters for single party bookings of up to 40 people, any night of the week and full hire is available on Monday nights. The venue is also available for photo shoots and filming.
Slim Jim's Liquor Store – Team Slim Jim’s Liquor Store is the brain child of 30 year old Irishman Niall Donnelly, a successful entrepreneur who has ventures in New Media, Property Development & Investment, TV, pubs and clubs. In the 12 years that he has been in the bars and clubs industry, Donnelly has owned the Anam bar in Chapel Market and was nominated for the Evening Standard Bar of the Year award. He currently owns rock and roll gastro pub, The Woodbine in Highbury and has various projects in the USA including Roof, a roof top club in Hollywood due to open Spring 2009 and an offcial Playboy Sports Rock Bar – the first of its kind in the world – opening in Hollywood in Summer 2009.
General Manager Adam Pervoe has been bartending in premium cocktail bars for the past 10 years and has consequently gained an impressive knowledge of world liquors. He has opened bars in Leeds and London, including the celebrated Hawley Arms in Camden, one of London’s most successful and talked about venues of recent times.
venue details Slim Jim's Liquor Store
Date Posted: 11 Nov 08
Posted By: Paul Caffell
Keywords: None