In one of the most prime locations in Birmingham, in the very same building that first opened in 1879 as The Grand Hotel, you will now find a concoction of magic, chemistry & enchantment. The Alchemist. A new cocktail bar on Colmore Row right on the edge of St Philip's park with a periodic table full of cocktails & mocktails complete with a secret underground lab.
You might be familiar with The Alchemist (click here for all the locations) from cities like Leeds, Liverpool & Manchester however this is Birmingham's very first encounter with an establishment of this kind. Even from the outside you can tell that this will be a different experience from your average cocktail bar - the black marquees are framed by The Grand's crisp cream facades and the tinted windows allure to something dark & unconventional. Once you enter, you will notice a large bar where all the science happens - you can choose from an actual periodic table of cocktails. My friend Yueni and I tried the Mad Hatter (with nettle infused vodka served in tea cups with a good measure of dry ice fog), the Mini Negroni (low alcoholic cocktail with tonic) and the Strawberry Colada (a fresh summer mocktail). For those more adventurous, you can explore the Lab - an underground bar (which you can also book out for private parties) which has been decorated with the most unconventional, I would say controversial even, ornaments - from a stuffed two headed chicken and a skeleton of a tiny bird to a paw under a bell jar.
If you don't fancy fog & magic in a cocktail glass then you can have a brunch, lunch or dinner - you can see the full menu here.
Have you been to The Alchemist yet?
What's your favourite cocktail from their menu?
