We took a trip back in time on our recent #cococouples date night at Cahoots new 1940s train-station-themed bar, and it was just the immersive experience we hoped it would be.
After much anticipation and excitement for the launch evening, we finally got to explore the newest Cahoots venue in Carnaby for #cococouples. What is already a fabulous area for date night has suddenly got even better with the opening of this new gem, and it’s flown straight to the top of our list for go-to date night recommendations. This shiny new train station bar is located very conveniently opposite the much-loved original underground station on Kingly Street- so no tricky transfers there. This venue boasts more space to swing dance fitting 150 people in total with two floors: one at ground level and another top-secret reservations-only space tucked away downstairs.
The Ticket Hall- ground floor fun
We were welcomed very graciously by the friendly doormen dressed in ’40s gear and headed straight to the glossy ticket window-turned-bar for a couple of drinks. Ever a gin-lover I opted for the statement Vera Lynn; a sweet cocktail with apple puree and pear served in the fanciest ceramic green mug. My date opted for the Cahooch sour with lemon, chamomile & cardamom syrup which seemed to go down very well- and we were soon in need of a second. We truly felt transported back in time as we lapped up our surroundings. Authentic tickets, vintage photographs and train station memorabilia lined the walls, and swing music played in the background whilst we sipped our cocktails and chatted. We felt peckish so we sampled some of Cahoots ham grenades with sour cream and chives, my goodness they were worth every bite, we almost polished off the entire trayful.
As well as these tasty night-time nibbles, Cahoots also serve food from 12 pm during the day, with a split menu of British and American dishes. We have yet to try these, but we have our eyes on the chicken and waffles and the sloppy joe bun, no doubt we will be back soon to sample them.
At the rear of The Ticket Hall, we discovered another small bar which Cahoots have modelled on a traditional tobacconist & grocery store. This was our favourite touch, and we spent a little while there admiring the vintage fridge and all the interesting newspaper clippings pinned up against the train station noticeboard.
Secret party vibes down in The Control Room
We were handed our ‘clock in’ passes to access the reservations-only Control Room, so we headed towards the convincing ‘NO ENTRY’ door and sneaked through. I loved the dark metallic walls and poster décor inside the derelict mineshaft as we made our way down the stairs, it really added to the secret speakeasy feel of the space. We could also hear the buzz of live music and chatting as we got closer, and the vibrant atmosphere of The Control Room hit us as soon as we swung open the doors.
Down here the décor is completely different from The Train Station upstairs but no less captivating. Exposed pipes, switchboards and the large light-up station map perched above the bar caught our eyes the most. We grabbed a booth table underneath the archways to chat and admire the space. Dim lights against the deep red decor alongside the live singer made for the perfect date night ambience. This amazing space is used for events, live entertainment and immersive movie nights, musical quiz nights and ‘Cahooch’ cocktail masterclasses.
The bar has a more experimental feel in The Control Room, serving up incredible cocktail concoctions like the cheekily named Knob Twiddler that is served in a radio box which you must tune to open. After sampling some more drinks we fancied a date-night boogie so we headed away from our booth and swayed alongside the Cahoots swing dancers.
To sum it up
If you want a date night spot that you’ll fall in love with fast then this is the place to go. We love the shiny new Cahoots just as much as the original for a date night that ticks all the boxes and more. Pop in and sample the nibbles perfectly paired with the fun and experimental cocktails served downstairs. We also recommend checking out what’s on and maybe catching a movie experience or cocktail class or two. We’ll certainly be keeping our eyes open for these ourselves.
Want to visit Cahoots? Of course, you do. We’ve got the details covered for you below:
For more information and to book a table:
https://www.cahoots-london.com/cahoots-ticket-hall-control-room/
Opening Times:
Ticket Hall: Open seven days a week: 12 pm-1 am
Control Room: Monday – Thursday: 5 pm-1 am/ Friday: 4 pm-1 am/ Saturday: 4 pm-1 am/ Sunday: Closed
For another immersive experience, see our piece on Mr. Fogg’s Society of Exploration.
Want more London date night ideas? Check out these London bars.
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