Brother Marcus founders plan Soho bar
The founders of London restaurant chain Brother Marcus will open an Eastern Mediterranean-inspired bar in Soho this autumn, with cocktails from Angelos Bafas.
Named Kamara, the bar’s founders Tasos Gaitanos and Alex Large are behind Brother Marcus, which operates six sites in London.
The pair have taken over the space on Poland Street that used to occupy The Blind Pig and have brought in Bafas to develop the concept.
Bafas, who is bar manager at Nipperkin, penned his first bartending book earlier this year and is known for the use of locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients in his cocktails.
Drawing from his influences, the cocktails at Kamara will be made with macerated spirits, house ferments and wild-foraged British produce.
They will all be served custom pottery sourced from independent Cretan artisans.
A few drinks from the list have been disclosed, including the Tuvunu Highball (made with Metaxa 12, Kamara fig brandy, Greek mountain tea, fermented figs and fig leaf soda); the Coffee and Honey Old Fashioned (which combines Bourbon, Cretan eau de vie, Exmoor honey and British burnt butter); and The Mahleb Gimlet (a mix of Axia mastiha and Tsipouro macerated in Essex-grown cardamom leaf).
In addition to the cocktails, there will also be a short but carefully curated wine list spotlighting producers from Greece, Georgia, and Lebanon, while food will take on a similar Eastern Mediterranean theme.
As for the space itself, Kamara will be able to play host to 83 covers.
Designed by Finch Studio, guests can expect earthy colour palettes, Cretan pottery and bronze detailing, complemented by a cave-like ceiling and rugged textures typical of the Eastern Mediterranean.
While the exact opening of Kamara hasn’t been specified, the bar is slated to open its doors sometime in autumn. When it does open, timings will run from Tuesday to Sunday with late hours on Friday and Saturday.
London has also recently welcomed All My Gods and La-Yam to its bar scene, while Bunga Bunga is slated to reopen in September.
In other UK on-trade news, the government will introduce new licensing rules for venues that will provide a framework for protection from noise complaints.
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