I'm Freaky for Tiki #19: London Calling! A Visit to Trader Vic's London, Trailer Happiness and The Beachcomber
Recently I got to spend several weeks in Europe. I started off in London, went to Russia, then back to London for a bit before heading on to Italy. Although my time in London was brief, that didn't stop me from getting my tiki on and hitting some of the half dozen or so tiki spots the city has to offer. Here's a look at three of them.
TRAILER HAPPINESS:
When I found out I was going to be in London, the first thing I did was immediately look up tiki bars in the city. One of the more eclectic-sounding establishments was Trailer Happiness. Good reviews on Critiki coupled with kitschy-sounding names made Trailer Happiness a must-see stop on the trip. I couldn't wait to go. Although the address is Portobello Road, Trailer Happiness took me a while to find as it actually fronts Elgin Cres Road.
After walking past it several times, my first sighting of the place made my rum-rotted tiki heart swoon. It looked like tiki heaven.
To make it more appealing, there was a long list o' tiki cocktails right outside the door.
And a risque hula statue to greet you. Aloha, baby!
I gleefully pulled open the door and made my way downstairs to the basement bar.
What greeted me was somewhat disappointing. What I had been anticipating from the street-side display window and what I actually got when I came down the stairs did not match. Sure, there was a full bar which is the main reason for any bar's existence, but...
I wasn't going to get the decor--or lack of decor (of the tiki variety) get to me. There were little touches here and there---the flowers and the straw holder on the bar. Trailer Happiness was at least trying to be tiki somewhat. I was then presented with a menu. Maybe that's just what I needed to boost my tiki spirits (pun intended).
I op\ted for the bar's signature Trailer Grog. This would be followed by the highly recommended Hell In The Pacific, which I was told, is so popular, it might as well be the signature drink.
While the bartender (in a vintage Hawaiian shirt--nice subtle touch) mixed my drink, I poked around a bit.
Where was the "tiki" aspect? Oh yes, the straw holders. I mustn't over look those...
The place was kind of small, but still had surprisingly ample seating, with booths, couches and stools set up around various tables.
One odd little bit of decoration I really was enchanted with for some reason was the faux window with its garish curtains.
The prints of women were a nice touch---and felt ripped from the 50s or 60s.
There was a small back room to the right of the bar. In it were these enormous murals of these Asian ladies which were cool, but I didn't get the connection to tiki.
Fortunately I almost had the place to myself.
Before I knew it, my Trailer Grog had arrived. The drink was okay. There was a bit too much ice and I'm not wild about bitters, but whatever. It was tiki time. I was going to make the most of it.
Sipping my cocktail gave me a chance to check out the bar more fully. Yes, there were the tropical flowers for the slightest touch o' tiki...
The bar was really well stocked.
After finishing my grog, I ordered the Hell In The Pacific, which the bartender jumped on right away.
While he mixed and poured, swizzled and shook my drink, I headed to the bathroom...
And when I emerged, voila! My Hell In The Pacific was waiting for me. Cheers!
The bartender's name was Tom. As it was a slow Monday night and I was the only one sitting at the bar, he and I started chatting. I told him I was a tiki freak and had come from California. I also told him Trailer Happiness was high up on my list o' tiki bars to hit while there. (Sadly, although I visited three while there, I had to forego visiting two or three others...) Tom thought that since I was such a tiki fan, I would certainly be a rum connoisseur. He pulled out his favorite rum for a little tasting. I wasn't going to say no...
We had a delightful conversation---and the rum tasting was much appreciated. I had only planned on having two drinks at Trailer Happiness before dashing off to the next tiki bar on my list, but I was having such a wonderful time conversing with Tom and had been overwhelmed by the kindness of the rum tasting, that I opted for a third cocktail. During our talk, the subject of the cocktail, the Hurricane, came up. Allegedly created by Pat O'Brien in New Orleans, the Pat O'Brien bar today serves the most god-awful Hurricane (from a mix? ) I've ever tried. It was so bad that it became the only cocktail I have ever thrown away. Tom had heard the same tale from others numerous times. So, when it came time to order that third drink, of course i opted to see what Trailer Happiness' take on the Hurricane would be like.
I took my first sip of the Hurricane with enthusiastic expectation. The wind-blown mini-parasol stuck in the drink was perfect touch. It was not too tart yet not too sweet either. It was far better than the ones served at Pat O'Brien's---but anything is better than the ones at Pat O'Brien's. Tom's bar mate for the evening was a guy named Ollie. He created his version of a Hurricane as well. I got to sample it. It was sweet and fruity (and also miles better than the swill served at Pat O'Brien's) -- but completely different than the one served up by Tom. Ollie's concoction would have been good on its own, but dueling with the subtly tart and subtly sweet version Tom had given me, the two drinks clashed in my mouth.
Still I had an amazing evening with the gents. Their conversation and service eradicated any disappointment from the tiki-lite decor in the bar, I was reluctant to leave, but there are only so many tiki hours in a day and I needed to move on.
I had a marvelous time at Trailer Happiness. If I lived closer, I'd visit it often. Cheers!
Trailer Happiness
177 Portobello Rd
London, United Kingdom
W11 2DY
+44 20 7041 9833
Website: http://trailerh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrailerHappiness/?rf=1681107152127756
Critiki: https://www.critiki.com/location/trailer-happiness-london-684/
THE BEACHCOMBER:
Of all of the tiki bars listed on Critiki in the London area, The Beachcomber looked the most interesting to me. According to the photos I had seen, it was the most tiki-ed out place of the lot. Trailer Happiness may have had the kitschy name and the great service, but I wanted to immerse myself in a tiki atmosphere. This looked like the place for that.
What is it? Some sort of law that all tiki bars in London must be opened in basements? Ha! Like Trailer Happiness before it, I was soon marching down a set of stairs and into the tiki underworld once again.
This afforded me an uninterrupted look at the place.
The place was fairly well decked out. The kitsch factor was low, but the tikiness was nicely done.
But what about the drinks? Turning to the cocktail menu, I...
...started off with something called a Nocholada. It was okay. I am not a fan of bitters, so I should have looked closer at the ingredients when choosing my tiki drink-i.
I did visit the restroom. Although there was a standard sink and soap dispenser in the room, right above the urinal (with a yellow mat inside of it. That is not urine you are seeing), there was a mysterious opening in the wall. Three signs labeled "soap," "water," and "dryer" were above the opening. It was kind of creepy sticking your hands into some mysterious void to wash your hands, but it all worked out fine...and provided an unusual experience.
The drink was okay (but that my fault for getting something with bitters in it) and the inside was tiki-licious. The problem? The service. I was virtually the only one there. The staff ignored me. Really. I could hear the waiter, bartender and doorman chatting now and again. But not with me.
I really would have liked to try another drink, but that was not gonna happen if I was just going to be ignored all night.
Oh well. I'd consider visiting Beachcomber again the next time I'm in London. However, there are other tiki places out there to try and I had a wonderful time at Trailer Happiness without the decor. I don't know if I'd ever make it back again.
You can read more specific info about my evening at Trailer Happiness and The Beachcomber by clicking HERE and scrolling down a bit.
The Beachcomber
86 Queensway
London, United Kingdom
W2 3RR
+44 20 7221 2455
Website: https://www.thebeachcomber.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR3qZpJJez8tH05zfPFlMMgWaW-5zE9gEnu7sfuVCF-DcXFP9DwLlch7Vr0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachcomberBar/
Critiki: https://www.critiki.com/location/the-beachcomber-london-notting-hill-933/
TRADER VIC'S - LONDON:
When deciding which tiki bars to hit in London, even though Trailer Happiness had the best name and Beachcomber looked like it had the best themed interior, I knew that first and foremost I would have to visit the queen of London tiki, Trader Vic's London.
With a couple of closures in the Trader Vic's chain over the last several years, Trader Vic's London now has the distinction of being the oldest existent establishment in the chain. That is a bit ironic as the London location is also the first in the franchise built outside of the US, opening in 1963. Adding to that, this Trader Vic's is inside of the basement (of course) of the first Hilton Hotel built outside of the US.
Accessible from the door marked Trader Vic's or from the Hilton's lobby, you first enter a small vestibule
This leads to a winding staircase that disappears down into the bowels of the building...
At the bottom of the stairs, the first thing you come upon is a Trader Vic's photo op. As the many Polaroids behind it suggest, this large chair is perfect for a selfie in its faux tropical surroundings.
A small display window nearby shows some of the many tiki mugs, swizzle sticks and other accoutrements available in the establishment designed to make you tiki cocktail time special, magical and transportive.
A quick poke around earns a look at some of the details of the common areas.
And then, let's dive into the drink menu, shall we?
I started off the evening with a Potted Parrot. I'd ordered that for the simple reason that, according to the menu, it came with a souvenir parrot I could take home with me. The restaurant was out of parrots. ARGH! Fortunately, they had plenty of Menehunes on a swizzle stick. Menewhat? Menehunes, which according to Polynesian legend, are jolly, magical, little people with a knack and penchant for performing charitable deeds… like assisting you on your way to emptying glasses!
The Menehune may have also been responsible for the waiter bringing me more cool Trader Vic's cocktail paraphernalia. Zowie!
To the side salad...
To the fun and novel (and tasty) Lamb Hanging Skewer, dinner was delicious.
And a bit adventurous.
Following dinner, I got a few shots of the various dining areas within the restaurant.
I also got shots of the dueling front and back bar areas.
As a final stop at the classic tiki eatery, I couldn't help get a shot in the selfie seat. (You can read more specifics about the evening by clicking HERE. Scroll down to the bottom.) Trader Vic's London is truly the Grand Dame of the London tiki scene.
CHEERS!
Trader Vic's - London
22 Park Lane
London, United Kingdom
W1K 1BE
+44 20 7208 4113
Website: https://tradervicslondon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraderVicsLdn/
Critiki: https://www.critiki.com/location/trader-vics-london-88/
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