A cider bar brewing its own booze has just opened in east London.
Scant places are dedicated to the intoxicating apple nectar in London, but Umbrella Cider House in Bethnal Green is trying to change that. Not only does the new bar pour a range of ciders on tap and from the can — but they’re brewed and blended on site, using bittersweet British dabinett apples and fruit juices.
As well as straightforward apple ciders, Umbrella Cider House also serves ciders flavoured with rhubarb, gooseberry, and blackcurrant & cherry.
For those not yet converted to the cult of cider-chugging, the bar — which is from the folks behind the Sun Tavern and Discount Suit Company — also serves Two Tribes beers, wine by the glass and bottled cocktails.
As well as a featuring a pool table, DJ booth and dartboard inside, the Umbrella Cider House has an al fresco space, which should prove a boon if we’re in for a good summer — as we all know, cider tastes a darn sight better in the sunshine.
Cider-forward bars have proved a tricky commercial niche, even in a city as vast and thirsty as London. In the past, we’ve seen the likes of the Chimes in Pimlico, and the Cider Tap in Euston come and go. Let’s hope Umbrella Cider House lives apple-y ever after.
Umbrella Cider House, Bethnal Green
