In the middle of bustling Farringdon, hidden behind ivy covered walls and unknown to passers-by, lies the Order of St. John’ Cloister garden, which will be taken over by Fentimans for three weeks in August as its Secret Spritz Garden. It will be a hideaway filled with fragrant herbs, aromatic plants and Fentimans spritz cocktails.
Created by the botanical soft drink and mixer makers Fentimans, the Secret Spritz Garden will be an oasis for after-work drinks and savoured weekend cocktails during the parched August days.
Filled with medicinal herbs and plants, at the heart of the garden is a 200-year-old olive tree; providing a beautiful shaded spot to sit under, spritz in hand. The Spritz Garden will have a romantic swing seat, trailed with jasmine, while the bar will be hidden through a privet hedge and the garden will feature a babbling lemon-filled fountain. As night falls, garlands of fairy lights will glimmer amid the greenery and mellow acoustic music and live jazz will float across the secret garden.
While its origins lie in Italy, in recent years the crisp effervescence of the Spritz has become the go-to cocktail across London on hot summer days. Fentimans has worked with cocktail expert Dino Koletsas (The Langham, Bourne & Hollingsworth, Callooh Callay) to create a dedicated spritz menu designed to be enjoyed in the Secret Spritz Garden and to inspire Londoners to get creative with spritz-making at home this August.
Traditionally comprising of wine, aperitif and soda, Fentimans will create a redefined series of spritzes that showcase Fentimans’ naturally flavoured tonic waters, champion British ingredients and nod to the growing popularity of lighter low-alcohol cocktails.
The Spritz Garden menu will explore the full range of Fentimans tonics – from the sweet citrus of Valencian Orange to the candied notes of Pink Rhubarb – which will be complemented by homemade herbal infusions and liqueurs, fresh fruit and exquisite aperitifs. Guests will also be able to garnish their own spritzes with rosemary, sage and lavender, fresh from the garden, book onto spritz-making masterclasses to learn more about the origins of this summer favourite.
Throughout the month, the Spritz Garden will play host to a series of masterclasses, including floristry, flower pressing, Limoncello making and collage workshops. If the weather suddenly misbehaves, there is no need to despair: the adjacent Priory Gallery is warm and welcoming!
Fentiman’s pop-up Secret Spritz Garden will be open from 7th August – 30th August from Wednesday to Saturday, including the Sunday of the bank holiday weekend. Wed – Fri – 5pm – 11pm Saturday .12pm-11pm Bank Holiday Sunday 12pm -11pm. It is located behind the Museum of St John off St. John’s Lane in Clerkenwell, just south of Clerkenwell Road and St. John’s Square
