opened its original King’s Cross location just over a decade ago, becoming one of the first of a new wave of listening bars in the city. Now you can’t move for cocktail spots that are proudly in possession of a high-spec soundsystem and enviable vinyl collection, but Spiritland was definitely leader of the pack.
Later this month the brand will be opening up a brand-new location at one of London’s finest cultural centres: .
Spiritland at Barbican will launch on Level 2 of the landmark building and offer seasonally changing cocktails, beers and wines as well as food, with a European and Japanese-influenced menu and brunch on weekends. The kitchen will be headed up by exec chef Matt Cranston, former exec chef at Lardo in Hackney and head chef at The Cow in Notting Hill. The launch menu includes Spanish nachos aka crisps showered with olives, guindilla chillies, manchego and piquillo peppers, oyster mushroom fritti, meatballs with smoked mozzarella and potato salad with shredded nori. ll be space for 100 guests, and you can expect regular supper clubs.
And what of the listening bar aspect? Well, there’ll be a special programme of music every day, and at 5pm a specific album will be played in full, with the wide-ranging likes of Bach, Beck, Steve Reich and Suzanne Ciani promised. The soundsystem is a bespoke bit of kit from Living Voice, comprising two Living Voice 'R252' loudspeakers and what the venue is calling ‘a selection of esoteric, high-end audio equipment’.
So come for views of the Barbican fountains, a potent negroni and cross your fingers that they’ll spin your favourite Bolt Thrower album at 5pm.
Spiritland’s original Coal Drops Yard location is still in fine fettle and one of the best bars in King’s Cross. The spot at Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank closed in 2023.
Speaking about the new bar, Spiritland's co-founder Sophie Uddin commented: ‘Bringing Spiritland to the Barbican Centre is a dream. Their unique mix of adventurous programming across all artforms, the audience, the Lakeside room, and of course the building itself are all unbeatable. I’ve been coming to the Barbican for many years and am thrilled about this partnership. We can’t wait to join the Barbican’s cultural world.’
Spiritland at Barbican launches October 20 at Level 2, The Barbican, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS.
You can find the original Spiritland at 9-10 Stable Street, N1C 4AB.
How hi-fi and listening bars took over the UK.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.