From humble beginnings can come great things; that’s certainly the case for this former public loo, now an outrageous little cocktail den beneath the streets of Covent Garden. It was hard to get a table on a Tuesday evening – clearly Blame Gloria has already earned a loyal following – but the bar itself felt a little over the top. It’s a sister to Tonight Josephine, which has become a drinking destination thanks to its lurid neon. As such, this spot has gone for more of the ’gram gold: yet the interior – a mix of green and pink lined with flowery velvet booths and neon-pink striplights – felt a touch reductive.
The drinks needed some work too: a Lemongrass Collins was tasty but more of a minty lemonade than a cocktail, and at the other end of the spectrum the Ziggy’s Stardust was overwhelmingly strong. But service was swift and cocktails are 2-for-1 during a daily happy hour. The real hit at Blame Gloria, though, is the toilets. We’re talking disco balls, dance anthems to wiggle to while you do your business, walls plastered with cut-outs of female icons and hand-sewn messages above each loo (mine said ‘don’t be a dick’).
If you’re after a splash of ’70s extravagance with your tipples, then pay Blame Gloria a visit, even if it’s just to spend a penny.