Remember your nan’s front room? The one she decorated back when shag carpets were chic? Welcome to Bobby Fitzpatrick: a ’70s-themed cocktail bar in West Hampstead that takes nostalgia to new levels. Think natty wallpaper, a stucco ceiling, a vintage playlist and way too much wood. But once you get over the weirdness of watching north Londoners in their shirtsleeves perched on old folks’ home armchairs, Bobby Fitzpatrick works. There’s also something weirdly comforting about escaping our decade for the evening and getting drunk in another one.
Plus, these cocktails are really good. My favourite was the Enrique the 5th, a smoky mescal, pineapple, absinthe and egg-white number that came with a perfect tangy kick. Rum-based cocktails are the speciality, though, so make sure you try the Alison Mahoney, (it's a spiced rum drink dedicated to the owner’s senior prom date).
Where the novelty factor ran thin, though, was the food. My lamb doner pizza (yes you read that right) tasted like a drunk person dropped their kebab all over a deep crust Iceland pizza. Stick to the prawn cocktail, which was decent. And what could be more ’70s than that?