The Hide Bar has ridden out the credit crunch with aplomb, filling to the gills from Thursdays onward with nine-to-fivers happy to be sinking quality mixed drinks near a transport hub.
Most cocktails are priced in the £6.50 to £7 range, including house specials such as the Passionate Englishman (Hendrick’s gin stirred with passion fruit purée), the Bermondsey Martini (Jensen’s gin and Noilly Prat) and the American in London (Knob Creek bourbon infused with Earl Grey tea, peach liqueur, Peychaud’s bitters and sweet vermouth).
Seventy-odd other options are available, drawn from a selection of spirits that would put most bars in London to shame (and all sold by the glass to boot). Wines are equally well sourced: you won’t find Mezcala tinto (a Bordeaux-style Mexican blend) in too many places.
There are a few mains but the platters are more intriguing – the Southbank pairs soft-shell crabs, stuffed baby squid and gravadlax with mango, mint and tomato salsa.