Top 50 Cocktail Bar to close
The award-winning jazz club and cocktail bar in the heart of London’s Smithfield Market was number eight on last year’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars list.
They have come to a surrender deal with The Corporation of London due to the ongoing redevelopment of Smithfield Market and the Museum of London.
Oriole will be closing after New Year’s Eve with the ambition to relocate to a new, central location in summer next year.
Bittersweet moment
The bar has a dinner and show offering, which includes a welcome drink, one large plate, one small plate and one dessert alongside any cocktail from the menu.
The cover charge for the live music as well as a great view of the stage are also included in the price of £45 to £55 per person.
Speakeasy Entertainment, which is the parent company of the bar, founders Edmund Weil and Roisin Stimpson said: “It has been a bittersweet moment for us because Oriole has been the jewel in the crown of Speakeasy Entertainment and while it has been trading really well, this gives us the opportunity to relocate to a place a little more suitable for our offering.
“We want to be able to shift the spotlight to our food offering due to the success of our dinner and show offering, while still cherishing our iconic cocktails."
Real opportunity
They added: “Oriole was the second venue we ever opened and it has been amazing to see our Oriole fly the nest and grow into the success it has been.
“We see this as a real opportunity to improve things.”
The business stated it had taken all things into account when making the decision, which it said was not made lightly and is hoping to retain all the key staff members for the new site as well as bringing them on as employee shareholders.
