BYOC Camden bar review

In a world where nothing is new, nostalgia is king. Although we admit this isn’t always welcome, sometimes a bit of nostalgia can be the perfect escape from a world of nightclub selfies and Taylor Swift. It is this escape that the people at B.Y.O.C. are bringing to North London. Short for “Bring Your Own Cocktail”, the bespoke experience is shaking up the modern nightlife recipe of queuing for half an hour to yell over a screaming DJ to order a £5 Red Stripe.

With branches in Brighton and London’s Covent Garden consistently fully booked, the new opening in Camden is a welcome sign that the B.Y.O.C. vision is catching on. For those unfamiliar with the concept, the principle is simple: £25 (that’s two vodka Redbull’s in Embargo) gets you a 2-hour slot. No license, no menu. All you need to do is bring along a bottle of your chosen poison. Whether it’s a prohibition-style gin brewed in your bathtub or that bottle of vermouth you never really knew what to mix with, the team here will have a solution.

Hidden in plain sight behind an unremarkable black door, you will descend into their cellar to find dusky walls, low lighting and soft jazz. It’s a dark, hazy, clandestine affair straight out of an episode of Boardwalk Empire with the charming mixologists to match. Take a seat at one of the vintage blackjack tables and let them do the work. Operating with incredibly fresh ingredients, including experimental syrups, juices, cordials and bitters made in-house, the skilled team will whip up infinite combinations of unique cocktails for you and your guests.

If you need a first date destination to play to your strengths, then BYOC Camden is the place. The subtle soundtrack means leaning in to talk to your date doesn’t also involve shouting their ear off and the speakeasy feel is the perfect excuse to break out the tie bars, collar pins and braces.

So dress sharp, speak softly and drink plenty, for 1920’s Atlantic City has arrived in Camden.

For more information, click here.