Drink, Shop & Do, Kings Cross – Review

Call me old-fashioned, but I love a bit of vintage and retro. At the moment I am scouring car boot sales and op shops around London to add to my collection of mismatched antique cups and saucers. I swear tea tastes so much better when you drink it in a nice cup.

Drink, Shop &  Do is one of my favourite retro haunts in the heart of Kings Cross. The ex Victorian Bathhouse is a beautiful light and airy space filled with funky retro furniture and nostalgic decor. It’s been well thought out with its kitsch and cute touches – like girly floral tea cups, well-worn velvet armchairs and fringed lamps. There are even old school board games like Scrabble and Guess Who for punters to play. It has a relaxed homely vibe and after a pot of tea you may be so comfortable you feel like you’re in your own lounge room

The owners – Kristie and Coralie – are old friends from secondary school. They wanted to create a beautiful place filled with pretty things, where people can sit around and sip tea with a friend over a game of scrabble or a craft. First known as the ‘Christmas Cooler’ as a pop up, it soon became a permanent fixture a few months later as  ‘Drink, Shop & Do’ and their dreams became reality.

So what does Drink, Shop & Do actually stand for?

Drink

By no means does Drink Shop & Do have the longest drinks list, but they offer a good selection of tea, coffee, milkshakes and mood lifting cocktails like ‘Ruby Shoes’. Sweet tooths beware: there is always a sumptuous selection of cakes on display including the decadent chocolate Guinness cake and an orange soaked polenta cake. There’s also a good selection of sandwiches and light snacks on offer.

Shop

Drink Shop & Do sources most of its products from emerging designers and artists. There’s a lovely range of vintage tea pots, stationery and other home wares on display.They also stock a delicious range of old-fashioned retro sweets like flying saucers, sherbet pips and cream soda. But the best thing about Drink, Shop & Do is its interesting sales concept: Everything is on sale – the teacup you are sipping from, the tables, even the pot plants. This means the venue is constantly changing with a new surprise inevitable at every visit.

Do

They also offer ‘dos’ for special occasions such as hens parties, work christmas parties and birthdays. The regular workshops specialise in crafts including knitting, crocheting and tapestry making, Whether you want to learn how to make a party sash for your friend’s hen party, or just get in touch with your inner hippie with a floral headband making class, there is something for everyone here. Check out their evening event listings for more frivolity – who isn’t interested in making a lego robot, knitting a winter beanie or singing along to a bit of musical bingo?

There is also a club downstairs called Drink Shop Dance if you dare to follow the neon lights into the basement.