The bar to the stars - an in-the-know place where cocktails and looking cool are the order of the day.
Freud is quite an interesting beast. Before you start to think I'm saying something controversial about the
famous Austrian neurologist - you're completely on the wrong path. I'm talking about the rather special chain of independent shops and cafe-bars.
You see, the interesting thing about these places is that they are so unique, in only a way a family grown business can be. Yes the reason the stores are called
Freud is because that's the name of the family that set the company up - the shops are well stocked with design pieces that are created with care for the materials they are made from, classical design, and a modern perspective. They also make chairs that take on the inspiration from
Charles Rennie Mackintosh. As you can tell from the title though I'm not focusing on this aspect of the business - it is the
cafe-bars that I really want to inform you about.
And the reason? Well, first of all, the Shaftesbury Avenue basement location makes it one of the few bars in Central London that is relatively unknown to tourists, and in fact, logically, only those who know about it go there - and it tends to be only the cool crowd who know. In fact it is rumoured that this place used to be the hangout of Alex James from the band Blur when they were at their height. Secondly, it doubles as an art gallery, with an ever-changing display of pictures for you to gaze upon. Thirdly, and probably most importantly, are the cocktails - for this is what they do best. There is an amazing range to choose from, with specials available in a very intimate, industrial-looking space. So there you are, the secret's out, enjoy...
