May 4, 2023
Stereo a late night drinking, dining and live music venue in Covent Garden
A new late-night drinking, dining and live music venue in Covent Garden.
Stereo is the latest live music and cocktail bar set to join the London scene from international hospitality brand, Experimental Group. Inspired by the vibrant late-night cultures of New York and London, complete with undertones of Parisian chic, Stereo offers a masterfully curated mix of music, food and drinks. A place for groups – large or small – to arrive for an aperitif, stay for dinner and dance into the early hours.
Central to the offering is a dynamic and eclectic music programme each night, overseen by Cassius Consultancy. DJs focus on an array of credible house music genres including vocal house and disco, organic and melodic and occasional tech house, but all with fun and ‘party’ at their core. Early evenings centre around the Stereo house band offering relaxed soul, funk and Jazz vibes. Curated in-house, the band has an ensemble of hand-picked musicians and lead vocalists all in keeping with the Stereo sound that builds in tempo seamlessly throughout the evening. Stereo is also working directly with record labels and media owners to showcase up-and-coming bands and artists on special one-off evenings and Thursday nights welcome the ‘Stereo Collective’ – a weekly industry night focused on Stereo providing a platform for up-and-coming DJs to showcase their talent.
Chef-Restaurateur Andrew Clarke (Acme Fire Cult, and formerly of Brunswick House, St Leonards, Pilot Light Campaign) is consulting on the menu and offering American classics with a French influence to those dining in the restaurant, as well as lighter snacks available throughout the entire venue until late. Cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, Stereo hot wings, nachos, macaroni cheese and shrimp cocktail, sitting alongside ‘steak & eggs’, Halibut T-Bone, lobster pie and 1kg ‘Highland’ Porterhouse steaks are a few examples from the menus. A ‘Rockstar supplement’ of caviar or truffle can be added to all dishes.
Accompanying the food is an extensive drinks menu featuring London heroes, South Bermondsey microbrewery Partizan and Thames Distillers (creating Stereo house vodka and gin blends), as well as the likes of Biercraft and The Lakes Distillery, alongside an exceptional cocktail menu. Over 200 vintage spirits have been sourced from around the world, with a focus on Rye and Bourbon, alongside an extensive wine list. Signature cocktails include the Stereo Michelada – The Pickle House Stereo tomato mix, Partizan Mexican Saison Beer, Nixta corn liquor, lime; and Californication – Tequila Blanco, red pepper, agave, chipotle tincture, Two Keys pink grapefruit soda. House spirits are stored in large 25l tanks to save on glass and transportation usage.
The vision of award-winning hospitality design studio, Afroditi (Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay, Dishoom, Rosewood Hong Kong, Bala Baya) the 500-person capacity venue features a central island bar, raised stage and 40-cover restaurant. The interiors capture the timeless values of an old-school New York-style bar while bringing elements of fun. Afroditi has pushed boundaries by designing a bar incorporating metal detailing running vertically around the bar sitting underneath 88 glowing globes with a high reflective ceiling, creating an endless height around the bar.
Stereo is open on Tuesday from 5.30 pm until 1 am and Wednesday to Saturday from 5.30 pm until 3 am, with live music running throughout and food available until late. Bookings are available for both the bar and restaurant and spaces are kept available for walk-ins.