The Cahoots Story
Before we delve into the day, let’s talk first about the incredible organisation behind Cahoots. Founded in 2009, the Inception Group is a fun and dynamic company that operates an array of unique bars, restaurants and club concepts in South West and Central London. With entrepreneurs Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling at the helm, the group is on a mission to create unique and memorable experiences. In March of 2015, Cahoots, Soho’s new underground home, was launched.
The venue recreates a post-war abandoned underground station, featuring dazzling cocktails, swing dancing and sing-a-longs. Inspired by true events that occurred in post-war Britain, Soho’s illicit escapades from the era are brought back to life.
The Day
The Venues
Located just five minutes from Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, Cahoots offers three unique spaces across two directly parallel buildings on Kingly Court and Kingly Street:
- The Underground. The first and original Cahoots space, the story of The Underground is that it’s the disused Kingly Court tube station. And with a life-size vintage tube carriage, Northbound and Southbound platforms, it’s not hard to play into the façade.
- The Ticket Hall. Located directly opposite the Cahoots Underground on ground-level lies the Ticket Hall. Once a bustling station for busy commuters (or so the original story goes), the space boasts a giant station clock, old split-flap timetables and peeling vintage advertisements. The décor is layered with mismatched furniture, frilly lampshades and tipples served in anything but your regular drink vessel.
- Signal Station. Situated directly below and accessed through the Ticket Hall sits the Signal Station, where our team was stationed for the afternoon. Covered in flashing lights, old switchboards, danger-marked levers and webs of wires, you certainly feel transported to the 1940s.
On arrival, we were warmly greeted and directed down the old wooden stairs to the Signal Station. Once inside, we were introduced to the show master, who had freshly escaped from prison to put on a show and guided us through the unfolding events in store for the afternoon - not without a good ol’ welcome drink first, of course!
The Drinks
Once we had created ourselves a disguise for the afternoon and formed alliances within our team, it was time to indulge in a tipple or two. The team asked us what illicit cocktail we would like from the ‘Above the Counter’ cocktail range. One was suitably served in a vintage milk bottle and the other a pot of tea - both were truly delicious. The second round of drinks came from the ‘Under the Counter’ menu, featuring the real hard-hitting, black market intoxicants. A personal highlight was the ‘Arsenic’, consisting of Smirnoff vodka, bergamot liqueur, passion fruit, lime citrus essence and orange marmalade - a medley of flavours that complemented each other brilliantly well.
Top Tip:
There’s also an option for bottomless cocktails, if you’re really going all out on the celebrations.
The Food
In all the excitement of the Blitz, our “luggage” got lost. Luckily, it was returned to us with a selection of sweet and savoury treats inside. On the savoury side of things, there were mini pasties and hot rolls, while our sweet cravings were more than satisfied by blueberry muffins and powdery chocolate brownies.
The Entertainment
This was arguably the best part of the entire experience. Led by Scottish singer Erin Bru (just like the soft drink), our team got down to business, engaging in an interactive 1940s pub-style quiz. Each round was themed, ranging from 1940s general knowledge to movie quotes and song lyrics. One thing’s for sure, we all wished we’d listened a bit more in history back in the day. It was great fun and there was even a chance for the team to get involved with a bit of acting, too! There were also prizes for the top 3 teams: second and third place won a glass of prosecco, while the coveted winners received a one-of-a-kind Cahoots mug.
Summary
I would highly recommend this experience to any history buff or cocktail enthusiast. Whether it’s to mark a milestone occasion in style, team-building or even just a date night with a difference, Cahoots won’t disappoint.