McQueen Outdoor - Shoreditch, London

In London more than any other city, there's this strange phenomenon which takes place around midday and again in the evenings, when its denizens spill out onto the pavements in front of the pubs and spend a few hours drinking and talking. Now, the sidewalk isn't the most salubrious setting, and the brains at McQueen had the bright idea of creating their own outdoor space across from the fashionable Shoreditch bar/club/restaurant. What they succeeded in doing is creating an outdoor drinking den ideal for catching rays and downing carefully crafted cocktails while rubbing shoulders with a good-looking crowd. It will trump your office local by a country mile. 

McQueen Outdoor brings to mind some of the spaces you might find in cities like Berlin or Lisbon, given an upmarket design scheme. Paying homage to the eponymous Steve McQueen, Bristol-based street artist Visual Waste has decorated the walls and alcoves spread throughout with graffiti depicting the silver screen icon in various scenes from his most famous films.  The space is laid out with low-slung seating that would sit easy at a Balearic beach club, big white umbrellas to protect drinkers from hot sun or occasional drizzle, and some amazing, ancient brickwork reminiscent of the club, with masonry arches that add a unique element. 

In terms of F&B, there's a seasonal cocktail menu perfectly calibrated to quench your summer thirst - with beverages including the McQueen Spritz (Kamm & Sons, Crème de Cassis, Prosecco and soda), the Cincinnati Cooler (Grey Goose vodka, Mandarine Napoleon, fresh mandarins, cinnamon syrup and fresh lime juice) and a dedicated Champagne bar. If all of the drinking piques your appetite, they've brought in pop-up phenom Rockadollar Dogs to provide sustenance, with a wide range of sausages on offer that put Grey's Papaya to shame. 

McQueen Outdoor is the kind of evolution that keeps a venue keen. And it's carved itself out as one of the top spots in the City and Shoreditch to drink al fresco. We're very excited to be throwing our summer party here - and hope you can make it too!