Bompas & Parr launch new bar with breathable cocktail cloud

24 July 2015 by Hannah Thompson

A new bar from creative designers and chefs Bompas & Parr is to feature a walk-in cloud of breathable cocktail.

Named Alcoholic Architecture, the pop-up site will run from 31 July to January 2016, and is on One Cathedral Street at London's Borough Market. It is housed within a Victorian building that was once the home of the Trustees of the market, next to a gothic cathedral.

Before entering the alcoholic cloud, guests will be asked to put on protective suits and will only be able to stay in the room for one hour, to ensure safety. The atmospheric cocktail has been created using spirits and mixer at a ratio of 1:3, and the air is saturated with the concoction using humidifiers.

The humidity in the room will reach 140%, which reduces visibility to less than a metre, but also enhances flavour when guests breathe in the air. Breathing in the cocktail rather than drinking it will allow visitors to consume 40% less alcohol, as inhaled alcohol bypasses the liver. Alcohol will also enter the bloodstream through the guests' eyeballs.

Entry will be bookable and timed and cost £10 per person Monday to Friday until 5pm, with the cost rising to a £12.50 peak charge for Thursday post-5pm, Friday post-4pm, and Saturday until 10pm.

Outside the cloud, the site's drinks list has been based on spirits and beers traditionally created by monks and designed to tie in with the cathedral theme. These include Chartreuse, Benedictine, Trappist beer and Buckfast.

The décor has been inspired by faux-medievalism along with artwork by artist Tom Sewell. Staff uniforms have been designed by Olivia Hegarty at Percival Clothing and were inspired by ecclesiastical gowns.

The site's soundtrack has also been carefully considered and designed by Nicholas Hadfield to make guests feel they are taking "a journey to centre of the glass", with sounds including tinkling ice.

The pop-up builds on the Bompas & Parr 2009 installation of the same name, although will be open for six months this time.

Harry Parr, director of Bompas & Parr, said: "With Alcoholic Architecture we are going for maximum intensity of cocktail experience. With every breath you take [you will] notice a fresh botanical or flavour in the spirit that can be hard to discern in a regular drink."

Sam Bompas, director of Bompas & Parr, added: "Creatively, the installation draws inspiration from Borough Market's produce, medieval history and weather to create a sci-fi fantasy where meteorology and mixology collide."

Keith Davis, managing director of Borough Market, said the event showed how the 1,000 year-old-market could build on its heritage to remain relevant today.

Bompas & Parr was founded as a craft jellymonger in 2007, but has grown since to describe itself as a team of "creative specialists", including cooks, designers, and architects, who help to develop and install experimental projects. It also acts as a consultancy for the food and drink sector.

Bespoke jelly moulds from Bompass & Parr >>

Parliamentary waffle house opened by Bompass & Parr >>

Looking for a job? See all the current pub and bar vacancies available with The Caterer Jobs >>