It’s a charming play on Jekyll and Hyde.
‘I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops of memory; the spiritual side a little drowsed, promising subsequent penitence, but not yet moved to begin.’ ~ R. L. Stevenson
Who hasn’t felt like this, the morning after a night out? After all, when Dr. Jekyll drinks the potion that causes his great transformation into Mr. Hyde, he is supposed to have ingested gin. This moment in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson inspired the owner of The Jekyll and Hyde to open up their very own gin bar, right here in Birmingham.
This elegant, Victorian-style bar has dedicated itself to all things gin and all things Jekyll and Hyde, with great success. In keeping with the theme of a man split asunder, there are two sections to the bar. The first is Dr. Jekyll’s gin parlour.
Dr. Jekyll’s Parlour
The parlour is comfortable and richly decorated. At the bar, you can choose from a huge array of gins — a drink that was even more popular in the Victorian era than it is now! If you’re looking for tasty, gin-based cocktails served in interesting vessels then you’ve found the spot right here! Don’t be surprised if your drink arrives in a tiny Victorian-style bath or a cute little watering can. This is how they do it here. The cocktails are themed too, and the owner’s love of sci-fi becomes very apparent when you read ‘Valar Morghulis’ or ‘Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster’ on the menu.
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Mr. Hyde’s Bar
When you’ve had so many cocktails that you feel like you’re alter-ego is emerging, you can always head to Mr. Hyde’s bar. This area features a beautiful ‘Wonderland Courtyard’, an ode to the classic Alice in Wonderland. Mr. Hyde’s bar offers a wider selection of exciting cocktails. If you’re looking for something sweet then you can order a confectionary cocktail, the likes of which include ‘rhubarb & custard’ and ‘sour cherry’. Sounds absolutely delicious.
Then there are ‘remedial refreshments’, which have a light and refreshing taste. These contrast with the ‘sinister serums’ that have a much deeper, richer taste of ingredients such as dark rum. For those of you temperate Victorians out there, they also offer virgin cocktails which sound just as yummy as the alcoholic drinks
Visiting The Jekyll and Hyde is an incredible and very novel experience. There is something brilliant about the way the owner has invested in the theme in order to create an unforgettable experience for their customers.
If you can’t get enough of Jekyll and Hyde, they also run cocktail making classes for £25 per person, which you can book here. If you also can’t get enough of Birmingham’s skilled mixology, check out our list of fantastic cocktail bars for ideas about where to go next!
📍 You’ll find The Jekyll and Hyde at 28 Steelhouse Lane, B4 6BJ.