Slammers Cocktail Bar by The London Bridge Experience is the latest immersive attraction to launch in London. Offering novelty cocktails and quirky photo ops, this prison-themed bar is a captivating experience that will leave you feeling like a prison inmate (in a fun way!). Here’s what I think about this bar behind bars…
The thrilling London Bridge Experience is celebrating its 15th birthday this year and, to celebrate has launched a brand new prison-themed bar beneath London Bridge.
The lowdown is this: the bar is set in Arizona’s Lake Havasu Penitentiary, which you might be surprised to learn, is where the original London Bridge was moved to back in 1968!
Based just a few steps away from the actual London Bridge Experience – meaning it’s the ideal place for a tipple after visiting – the spacious building is the perfect environment for a prison-themed experience. With seating inside cells and fun photo ops like an electric chair, you truly do feel like an inmate when visiting.
London’s newest immersive bar
Inside, wardens and prisoners wander around causing havoc and chatting with guests as they sip on the delicious themed drinks. The characters are played by the same real actors you’ll find in The London Bridge Experience and they’ll interact with each other as well as guests. At one point, we noticed an inmate chained to a toilet next to our booth and trying to escape – until a warden then administrated his medicine – which was in fact a shot.
The cocktail menu is vast and each concoction is a fun play on the theme, with drinks such as Jailbird, Smooth Criminal and Death Sentance – each eccentric as the last. All come in eccentric mugs, whereas others require a shot administrated via a syringe.
I had the lucky opportunity to try a few different cocktails at the bar’s launch. They were so unique and tasty – and served in a really fun way. Most have a price range of around £12, which I thought was pretty affordable for London prices. The mocktails were super delicious too.
Slammers also offers food, which is particularly great for private and corporate bookings. I also had the chance to try some of their sharing boards, which included meat, cheese and veggie options.
The setting is large, with high walls (‘crumbling’ in parts and covered in serial killer posters in others) and spacious cells that you can sit in to enjoy your experience. There’s also booth seating where you’ll find handcuffs attached to the walls for fun photos. Or, elsewhere, typical elements you’ll find in a prison-like an old payphone and, er, a cold and bare metal toilet.
The building it’s based in has its own interesting history too. Like the London Bridge Experience, there have been reports of real haunted happenings, which adds an authentic layer to your visit.
My review of Slammers Cocktail Bar, London
I thought that my experience at Slammers Cocktail Bar was a lot of fun. The location is perfect: especially if you’re in the area doing something spooky anyway. It’s a great opportunity to get some dutch-courage before entering The London Bridge Experience and London Tombs, but a fun way to continue the vibe afterwards too. It’s the type of bar that you can spend hours in without getting bored. For example: making your way through the drinks menu, speaking to other inmates for the immersive factor or just enjoying the atmosphere.
I loved the immersive element too. During my attempt to get a fun photo, I accidentally locked myself in the handcuffs attached to the wall – oops! I then had to ask for a warden’s help to escape, who promptly spent time teasing me for my mistake… There’s plenty to interact with or sit back and watch during your visit. You can choose to immerse yourself as much or as little as you’d like!
Although it isn’t the first prison-themed immersive bar in London I think it’s certainly one of the best. I’m really excited to see what else they have planned for this quirky space. Slammers is definitely a must-do when in the area, with or without a visit to the London Bridge Experience!
Would you visit? Let me know in the comments!
Slammers Cocktail Bar
www.slammersbar.co.uk
The London Bridge Experience, 2 – 4 Tooley Street, London SE1 2SY
Free entry, with cocktails ranging between £11.95 – £12.95
I was kindly invited to Slammers launch/press night. All my opinions are entirely honest and based on my own experiences.
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