The Gin Kitchen

gravy and flaked almonds. The mean was tender, succulent and plentiful (not always the case with cutlets, we were sold!) The mash was very creamy and the broccoli cooked perfectly al dente – a really tasty dish that comes highly recommended. As the portion sizes are so generous at Niku, we were well and truly filling up by Dessert.

However, we had to try the new ‘Biscotti

Cheesecake’. Layered with a Biscotti biscuit base, cream cheese filling, caramel and finished with a whole Biscotti Biscuit. We were so glad we fit it in as it was simply devine. The perfect ending to our perfect meal.

FEELING HAPPY

Niku offers Happy Hour on weekdays for the whole evening and on weekends from 5-7pm in the Restaurant and 8-9pm in the Lounge. They also have a beautiful outdoor garden area and offer private hire for parties. Bottomless Brunches run from 12-4pm on a Saturday and Sunday too for only £35 per person. For 2 hours guests can enjoy a selection of Cocktails, Prosecco and a Meal with the best tunes.

CONTACT NIKU:

 020 8399 9980  @niku_bar  info@nikubar.co.uk  www.nikubarandrestaurant.com  NIKU – Kitchen, Bar & Lounge, 92 Ewell Road, Kingston Upon Thames

THE GIN KITCHEN

Beautiful Bottomless Brunch at the heart of the Surrey Hills.

Walking along a country lane in the depths of the Surrey Hills’ countryside, you don’t expect to stumble upon an artisan distillery and cocktail bar, but that’s exactly what happened when we discovered the Gin Kitchen near Dorking.

Arriving at this buzzing rural setting was like being transported to another dimension, far removed from the usual chain cocktail bar. We were immediately struck by the characterful heritage farm buildings that have been transformed into the very coolest setting for a distillery and bar, with the farmyard reimagined for alfresco drinks, adorned with festoon lights, fire pits and fabulous gin bottles.

We quickly relaxed, with a talented DJ playing chilled tunes reminiscent of lazy days at a hip beach bar for Ibiza sundowners. Looking around, the rustic 170 year-old Calf Shed Bar captured our imaginations. It forms the backdrop for some of the Gin Kitchen experiences, such as the Gin Tasting said to be second to none, combined with a tour of the renowned on-site artisan distillery, the creative Cocktail Masterclass and even the Absinthe Tasting Experience, all of which can be paired with the acclaimed tapas menu.

Alongside the charming Calf Shed, we discovered the long, stylish Orangery Bar, named after its budding citrus trees, serving up inventive cocktails on weekends and temptingly tasty accompanying dishes. It is also home to the Bottomless Gin Brunch and we simply couldn’t resist indulging! Shown to our table, we were warmly greeted with G&Ts whilst our friendly host introduced the qualities of the individual gins handcrafted in the next door distillery building, as well as the botanicals sourced from around the globe. It was clear that the Gin Kitchen prides themselves on their five-star service and we were impressed by our host’s knowledgeable recommendations of which gin would perfectly pair with each delicious dish to come. When the food was presented, it was obvious that it is not just the gin that’s exquisite. The flavours of the dishes enticed with each bite – from the smokiness of the borlotti beans baked with a perfectly poached egg in paprika, to the heavenly scent of the fresh croissants and waffles served with succulent strawberry jam being two of our particular favourites. Yet, naturally, it was the gins themselves that stole the show. Each stood out in their own right, with the full Gin Kitchen collection enjoyed across the brunch. Sweet-toothed guests will fall for the Blushing Monkey Pink Gin (fruity and floral), the silky opulence of The Ginger Cat tempted us with its glorious tonka bean base and zestful Iranian orange flower notes, and the Insane Ostrich made for the perfect partner for those excellent aforementioned smoky beans.

By the end of the brunch we had tried all five gins, especially