What could be better than a pint of beer surrounded by history and unique artefacts? London is famous for its museum bars, which are sometimes overlooked by tourists amid the glitz of fashionable restaurants.
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The Last Tuesday Society & Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
The Last Tuesday Society, located in Hackney, is not just a bar but a true cultural phenomenon founded by eccentric artist and collector Viktor Wynd. The establishment combines a cocktail bar with a museum of curiosities, which Wynd himself calls a “cabinet of curiosities”.
The bar’s history began in 2006 when Wynd decided to create a space where art, alcohol and unusual exhibits could be combined. The museum at the bar opened later, in 2014.
Victor Wind’s museum is a collection of eccentric artefacts: from stuffed animals and antique medical instruments to human skulls and erotic postcards from the Victorian era. Among the exhibits, you can find a bottle with the “spirit” of a Victorian prostitute and even Alexander Pope’s hair.
The bar at The Last Tuesday Society offers cocktails inspired by the museum’s theme: the names of the drinks refer to mysticism and oddities. For example, the cocktail “The Taxidermist” is served with theatrical flair.
The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret
The Old Operating Theatre Museum, located in Southwark, is a unique museum housed in the old St Thomas’ Church, built in the 17th century. It is one of the oldest surviving operating theatres in Europe, dating back to 1822. The museum’s bar, known as The Garret Bar, is relatively new and has become a popular spot for those who want to combine a historical journey with a glass of wine.
The museum is a theatre-style operating theatre where medical students observed surgical operations in the 19th century. The exhibition includes antique medical instruments, amputation saws and even herbal remedies stored in the attic (Herb Garret).
The Garret Bar is decorated in the style of a Victorian pharmacy, and the menu features cocktails inspired by old recipes for medicinal tinctures. For example, the Elixir of Life drink contains herbal ingredients that were used in 19th-century medicine.
The Clink Prison Museum and The Clink Bar
The name “Clink” has become synonymous with prison in the English language, as the sound of prisoners’ chains resembled a clink. The museum’s bar, The Clink Bar, was opened to create a unique experience: visitors can enjoy a cocktail while immersed in the atmosphere of a mediaeval dungeon.
The museum recreates the grim conditions of the prison, where thieves, heretics and even members of royal families were held. Exhibits include shackles, torture instruments and wax figures of prisoners. Incidentally, the prison was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester, who also controlled the local brothels, adding a spicy twist to the story.
The Postal Museum and The Counter Bar
The Postal Museum, located in Clerkenwell, is dedicated to the history of the British postal service since the 17th century. The museum opened in 2017, but its exhibition is based on archives collected over centuries. The Counter Bar, located next to the museum, offers visitors a chance to relax after a tour of the underground postal railway.
The museum tells the story of the development of the postal system, including the unique Mail Rail underground railway, which was used to deliver letters in the 20th century. Visitors can ride a mini-train through the tunnels and see vintage post boxes, postmen’s uniforms and rare stamps. Interestingly, Mail Rail operated from 1927 to 2003 and was a secret facility during World War II.
The Counter Bar is decorated in a retro style, with elements reminiscent of post offices of the past. The menu features cocktails inspired by postal history, such as the “Postmark Martini”.
