Just the tonic: Club Soda’s Tasting Room is a refreshingly alcohol-free alternative to London’s off-licences
(Picture: Press handout)With Christmas party season in full swing, it is likely there are many London drinkers already looking forward to the clean-living days of dry January. One London newcomer, however, has stolen a march on the ranks of the soon-to-be-sober. Laura Willoughby , the founder of ‘mindful drinking’ business Club Soda, has opened what she says is Britain’s first non-alcoholic tasting room on Drury Lane. Her aim is to guide customers to booze-free drinks to suit their individual tastes — and with more than 150 brands to try before buying, even the fussiest drinker should be able to find something.
The Tasting Room sells booze-free beer such as Lucky Saint, alongside herb-flavoured meads from Bemuse, low-and no-alcohol wines including Noughty sparkling Chardonnay, and pre-mixed cocktails and spirits that go beyond the usual Seedlip, including the gin-like Sea Arch Coastal Juniper from Devon.
Additionally, there is a range of adult-orientated soft drinks with complex, often bitter flavours, such as the CBD-infused cream soda from Rebelicous or organic Gusto Sicilian Lemon with Yuzu, as well as sparkling teas.
“I launched Club Soda to help people drink more mindfully, whatever their goal and whatever their desired relationship with alcohol,” Willoughby says. “The Tasting Room is probably one of the most impactful ways of achieving that aim — after all, the easiest way to change your drinking is to substitute an alcoholic drink for an alcohol-free one when you are not drinking.
“We want people to come and try our range and find a new favourite, venues to use the store to expand the choice on their menu and for the amazing low and no sector in the UK to see this as their home.”
Willoughby gave up drinking a decade ago but says she was disappointed by the range of low-alcohol beers and juices available in London’s bars. Her intention is not to banish booze from bars but instead to increase drinks sales and make pubs and bars more appealing places to those staying sober. A teaching room in Club Soda’s basement is there to educate restaurant and pub managers on the potential of alcohol-free sales.
Club Soda is a B Corp-certified business, which means it must demonstrate a social impact. Its online courses (£50) encourage people to find alcohol-free alternatives, whether to reduce one’s alcohol intake, take a break from drinking or give up booze altogether.
39 Drury Lane, WC2B 5RR, joinclubsoda.com
