The Parlour

Imagine a selection of seafood served in a bank deposit box, a blend of skinny cocktails that are less than 100 calories a pop. A place where guests can swing in hanging chairs whilst sipping on wine or enjoy the bright lights of the big smoke gathered around a firepit with a hot toddy. Sounds too good to be true?.

We don’t think so, welcome to the parlour

Canary Wharf, renowned for its tall shimmering buildings, monochrome palette and the pinstriped and polished that walk its thoroughfares, now has a colourful resident joining its Park Pavilion development. Sailing in on the wave of Drake & Morgan’s success of the refinery in Southwark last year, the parlour bar and kitchen is a glamorous new destination venue with style, substance and a seasonally tempting menu.

Food

An all day menu, from breakfast to dinner, offers variety and depth, with a choice of locally sourced seasonal dishes alongside fresh seafood delights. Quality ingredients take pride of place from Neal’s Yard, Allen’s of Mayfair and Borough Market’s Flour Station.
Sharing boards include an enticing seafood choice with a selection of shellfish served in a bank deposit box and deli style antipasto boards with cured meats, sun ripened tomatoes, Puglia marinated olives and a selection of handmade breads. Gourmet club sandwiches and hearty burgers such as the sticky bbq glazed pork burger with homemade beer battered onion rings sit alongside lighter salads and make ideal lunch options. Sides are not overlooked, with rack roasted root vegetables and truffle fries with parmesan shavings providing a contemporary twist to the norm. To finish, the parlour focuses on old favourites with apple crumble, cre?me brule?e and a classic old-fashioned knickerbocker glory. Affordable prices mean that you don’t have to break into your own deposit box to enjoy a great selection of dishes and drinks.

Wine
At the parlour, the grape is clearly highly regarded with a range and depth of bins chosen to suit all tastes and occasions. The list is simply divided, allowing diners to find their way from vintage to vintage. Light fruity reds balance unoaked aromatic dry whites, while something sparkling starts from just £17.50 for an Italian prosecco to the decadent Krug Grand Cuve?e, France for £180, with a lovely selection in between. If a bottle seems like too much commitment, have a flirtation with an Argentinean or perhaps a cheeky one from Chile, since the parlour offers over 40 vintages by the glass.

Find your favourite with the parlour’s very own ‘wine flights’ – six flights of three 125ml glasses grouped into varieties such as pinot noir, rose?, shiraz and bubbly are available from just £8.75. Ask to see the reserve wine list for those special celebrations, perhaps a bottle of Chassagne-Montrachet, les Chenevottes, 1er Cru, Jean Noel Gagnard Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France 2006 at £85, or the Chateau Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse, Grand Cru Classe St Emilion France 2003 at £80.

Cocktails

Cocktails are slimmed down to create ‘skinny’ versions for connoisseurs that want to cut the calories. A Russian rose martini; Smirnoff black vodka muddled with lychee liqueur and ginger syrup, served in a coupette with a rose petal is only 80 kcal or a Tanqueray daisy; Tanqueray gin shaken with fresh lemon juice and grenadine, served over ice and charged with soda – again a hip-pleasing 80 kcal. For those who would rather savour a signature cocktail and to hell with the calorie consequences then go Parisian with a French Sling and enjoy Ciroc vodka shaken with fresh pineapple juice, lemon juice, honey and bitters or start as you mean to go on with a lounge lady; Tanqueray gin shaken with grapefruit juice, grenadine and maraschino liqueur served in a coupe glass and garnished with a gin infused cherry for a remarkable £6.25. Premium spirits vie for attention alongside a great range of beers and the parlour punch, complete with vintage glass bowl and serving glasses, is a must try for groups looking for a spot of retro revelry.

Design

Stepping through the doors of the parlour, guests are immediately greeted with a unique handmade chandelier of spoons, spatulas, ladles and lights in a playful take on a design classic. To the left, a secret garden-inspired lounge with wicker hanging chairs, timber paneling and soft banquette seating is a must for cocktail lovers and perfect for pre or post dinner drinks.

Huge ceilings look down on high wooden tables and circular booths enabling singles, couples and groups to gather and enjoy morning coffees, brunch meetings, light lunches or romantic dinners. An intimate wine room is an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle. Surrounded by row upon row of vintage bottles this private cellar is a cosy space for dinners, wine tastings and small parties.

The open plan kitchen reveals the parlour’s chefs in action and is complemented by a fresh seafood counter laden with lobster, king prawns, clams and mussels as well as the catch of the day. Towards the alfresco terrace, the dining area becomes more like a conservatory featuring low-slung rocking chairs and white iron furniture with fabulous views across Canada Square Park. Sheltered by giant umbrellas and warmed all year by impressive firepits, guests can snuggle up in a parlour blanket with a warming punch come winter and iced cocktails in summer.
Offering the perfect antidote to the City from 8am to midnight, the parlour provides a versatile space for any occasion, from morning breakfast and brunch, light lunches through to dinner and all day bites with a touch of individuality. We’ve all visited the same old faces in the City, now try something a little bit different, the parlour won’t disappoint.

the parlour The Park Pavilion 40 Canada Square London E14 5FW T: 0845 468 0100 www.theparlourbar.co.uk