Bompas & Parr creates Christmas cocktail lagoon

Food and drink innovation company Bompas & Parr is set to create a cocktail “fantasy land” featuring a lake, diamond mine, hidden bar, mermen mixologists and marine-inspired drinks.

Inspired by literary tales of mermen, the ‘Beyond the Waterfall’ activation will be based in the luxury precinct of Westfield shopping centre in London.

Guests will travel across a 20m lagoon on small boats – passing a real waterfall – before arriving at an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ filled with piles of gemstones, which then leads to a hidden cocktail tavern.

“Christmas is obviously a magical time of year but many people find it hugely predictable so we’ve designed a radical new form of escapism that still evokes the emotions and nostalgia of the season – the group activity draws people together, with a real sense of discovery and emotion associated with gift-giving and an indulgent treat at its heart,” said Harry Parr, partner at Bompas & Parr.

The experience is said to be Bompas & Parr’s “most ambitious project to date”, using structural engineers, mining consultants and theatrical prop-makers.

“We are delighted to unveil this innovative experiential journey, in collaboration with Bompas & Parr,” said Myf Ryan, chief marketing officer at Westfield UK and Europe.

“We know from customer research that visitors are craving premium multi-sensory experiences, so we have created Beyond the Waterfall to allow visitors to indulge their senses in this truly magical and completely unexpected experience this Christmas.”

Beyond the Waterfall will open to the public at Westfield London from 9 December to 23 December. Tickets, which can be purchased in advance, cost £15 and include the experience itself plus two drinks.

In April this year, Bompas & Parr unveiled Anti-AGin – an gin with “age-defying botanicals” such as drinkable pure collagen.