Swift creates cocktail menu inspired by south London

The Borough branch of London bar group Swift has launched its South of The River menu featuring 14 cocktails.

The menu is intended to ‘pay homage to the captivating spirit and dynamic heritage of the city below the Thames’.

‘Invoking the most famous, infamous, and under-rated parts of South London’, the menu also features illustrations by local artist Tabitha Swann.

It is the venue’s first new menu since it opened in 2022. The drinks will be available in the bar’s basement area, The Back Pocket, offered alongside Swift classics.

Cocktails include the Infinity, which nods to the modern contemporary art collection at the Tate Modern gallery. The serve features infused Belvedere vodka, kumquat, lemon, makrut lime and Champagne.

Meanwhile, Coburg – inspired by the original name for the Old Vic Theatre – combines Roku gin, Cynar, blackberry and oloroso Sherry. The Evergreen is inspired by the ‘vast wooded landscape that once enveloped the area south of the Thames’, blending Beefeater gin, green apple, cucumber, celery and lime.

For guests who prefer their drinks a little darker, Meridian combines Hennessy VS Cognac, WhistlePig 10-year-old whiskey, Jägermeister Manifest and macadamia orgeat and is a tribute to the establishment of the prime meridian, located in Greenwich.

Co-founder Bobby Hiddleston said: “With this menu, we wanted to create something that spoke to our guests, whether you’re a local or a tourist; the idea was to create a drink and story that is sure to excite even the most discerning cocktail aficionado.

“I’m really proud of the team’s hard work on creating such an immersive menu by harmonising both storytelling and taste in such a seamless way.”

Earlier this month Hiddleston announced that he will leave the Swift team in summer.