Once it was hidden, now there's nothing covert about the venue that was once secret bar Boilermaker. When coffee shop Braze was created at the front of 36b Carlton Street, Hockley, following lockdown it confused some people into thinking the bar had gone.
And in these tough times a hidden bar is not good for business if people don't know it's there, so it was time for a change. Out of the ashes of the two spots comes Boca Lima - the newest addition to the vibrant Hockley bar and restaurant scene.
The owners will be officially unveiling the new bar on Thursday July 28 after a short closure. Instead of two 'clashing' businesses Boca Lima combines an all-day and night-time venue serving coffee, cocktails and a wider range of other drinks. A wall separating the two has come down to create a wide open space that's far from hidden. While Boilermaker's secret entrance was something of a novelty leading to a whole raft of speakeasy bars in Nottingham, it had sadly had its day.
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Owner Nigel Garlick said: "When Boilermaker opened nine years ago we were blown away by how quickly we took off and what an amazing journey we had, but with all bars there is a lifespan and we felt the time was right for a change, our hidden bar was no longer that secret place.
"We also feel the marketplace post-lockdown is very different with a noticeable change in the way people socialise and the places they now prefer to visit. Our refurbishment and rebrand have been done with these trends very much in mind. As with all our bars we are committed to sourcing fantastic products served by knowledgeable and friendly staff in a safe and welcoming environment.
“We really hope people will like the new direction we have taken and understand why we decided to call time on Boilermaker. Hockley is a great community, which we love being part of, hopefully for many more years to come."
Cakes, pastries and sweet treats are being served and an ever-changing seasonal fresh food menu features antipasti, meats and cheese from Delilah Fine Foods and bread from the Welbeck Estate. Cocktails, magicked up by award-winning mixologist Jake Mellish, take a little inspiration from Boilermaker but the drinks have been tweaked to give them a more grown-up feel.
War & Peas is a combo of gin, mint, lemon, apple and... petit pois, while bourbon-based Bohemian Raspberry will send taste buds into rhapsody. Classics Cosmopolitan, Mojito and Pornstar Martini feature on the list, plus a range of mocktails. A new wine list offers 18 reds, whites, roses and bubbles by the glass or bottle.
Birra Moretti lager and Beavertown's Neck Oil and Gamma Ray are on draft, alongside a larger selection of craft and continental beers. "They are accompanied as always by one of the best spirit and aperitivo lists in the city," said Nigel, referring to the 23-year-old Ron Zacapa rum and 20-year-old Van Winkle, which whiskey connoisseurs are sure to appreciate. But less expensive measures are available for those who don't want to splash £20 for a shot.
Coffee shop Braze was added to the front of Boilermaker following the pandemic in the hope that drumming up daytime trade would make up for some of the losses during lockdown.
Boilermaker's multi-coloured booths have been reupholstered and it's lighter and brighter under the glass ceiling that bar-goers might never have even noticed under the veil of darkness. The film has been removed from the back windows in the bar so now there's two very good people-watching spots at the front overlooking Carlton Street and the rear.
General manager Grace Flewitt said: "Boilermaker and Braze worked separately but also kind of clashed. A lot of people thought Boilermaker had gone and it hadn't. They liked how the entrance was before. Then in the daytime we wanted people to see in and know we had space and you couldn't really see that either.
"It was sad to let Boilermaker go but at the same time we knew it was time to move forward. People can now see there's a bar in here and they know we're open. It makes it a little bit more welcoming. We wanted to show what we'd got.
"We'll be doing coffees late into the night and can do cocktails in the day so essentially we can do all things at all times. We don't have the gimmicky cocktails we had before but we have a wide range of creations especially for here that you wouldn't be able to get in other bars - but we have a list of classics as well.
"We have more beers from The Kilpin, some Belgian style beers. We have expanded massively on that range. We've expanded on the wine list as well. Before the pandemic people were drinking cocktails all week long now it seems there's not such a demand for it midweek so we are expanding on the other things, but we are still very much a cocktail bar.
"I think we've got something for everyone. We want to get some more regulars in and weekday people."
It's still table service or customers can sit on a high stool around the coffee counter. Boca Lima will be open Monday to Saturday from 9am until midnight (1am at weekends) and Sundays 10am to 6pm.
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