by Chris Hemmings
Intimacy is a detail much lacking in our world of bright lights and loud noises, but the Fitzgerald, a new 'speakeasy' bar from the team behind TNQ Restaurant and RosyLee Tearooms, provides just that.
Hidden in plain sight, as all good speakeasies were, this hideaway on Little Lever street is a haven with delicate lighting and low decibel music, making for a hushed ambience that's ideal for conversing. Its strictly table service, which adds a certain something to the experience, but you get more than just a waiter. At the Fitzgerald, service is a discussion, a helpful nudge towards your perfect cocktail, even a performance.
This is the subtle difference between showing off and a show - and the cocktails hit all the right notes, but with a lively and often inspired difference. Their espresso martini, for example, is made with rum, which at first strikes as odd, but it works a treat. Candied sacred Negroni comes with a side order of Campari sorbet which is great if you like sorbet, great if you like Campari - and even greater if a Negroni is that little too bitter for your taste. The house Aviatrix, meanwhile, rises out of a parma violet smoke, their rum old fashioned gets smoked at the table. The list goes on.
The vibe is pleasant and comforting with just a drop of seediness. It's the perfect place for a brusque affair, with an atmosphere that lends itself to free-flowing drinks and a loose tongue. So dont be surprised if you cover new ground with whomever you have the pleasure. Of course, this isnt prohibition America, so its not supposed to be a secret but we'd recommended getting down before The Fitzgerald becomes the latest Northern Quarter smash.
The Fitzgerald, Little Lever Street, Stevenson Square, M1 1DB. www.twitter.com