Experimental Group, the collective minds behind some of Paris, New York, London and Ibiza’s most iconic bars and restaurants, including London’s Experimental Cocktail Club and Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, will open Joyeux Bordel on Shoreditch’s Curtain Road this month.
The new bar represents a fresh geographical direction for the collective, as they take their signature ‘happy mess’ and innovative cocktails to an East London basement – but also a musical one. Joyeux Bordel will have a vintage sound system with an emphasis on vinyl. The music programme will be eclectic taking in many genres such as Afro, Soul, Funk, Disco & Boogie until the early hours. At the helm of the music will be Daniel Willis of The Clove Club and his brother Sam Willis of R&S Records.
Meanwhile, the cocktail list will be of significant importance, as can be anticipated from the Experimental Group. At Joyeux Bordel guests can expect a menu of cocktails with twists on classics, punches and an extensive champagne list.
The Experimental Group is independently owned by the founding ‘trois garçons,’ childhood friends Romée de Goriainoff, Olivier Bon and Pierre-Charles Cros, along with Xavier Padovani who became a partner in 2010 with the addition of London’s Experimental Cocktail Club. The new bar will be their third London venture joining Chinatown’s Experimental Cocktail Club and their wine bar Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, which was included in Fay Maschler’s 10 Best London openings of 2014.
Interiors for the 130 capacity bar, were led by Dorothée Meilichzon (CHZON), with the vision to create a dark and interesting space that references classic French design. Walls are inky blue or deep green, and as a nod to the creative neighbourhood, she enlisted Alexandre Poulaillon to create a dark fresco on the walls inspired by the curved shapes in stones and curtains. Mismatched rugs were sourced from Kempton Park for the floor and all-important bar in pippy oak and white marble is modelled after a 1920s French bathtub. Seating is a mixture of stools and banquettes, all of which are enveloping, cosy and low slung.
Romée de Goriainoff comments on the opening, ‘Joyeux Bordel is a dream for us. East London is increasingly where we go out and the location is flanked by some of our favourite restaurants. The name is a French term used to mean a ‘happy mess’ and how we’ve always described our approach as a team – a bit crazy and spontaneous but driven by a will to produce the best experience. With Shoreditch we are extending our musical focus further than we have before, it felt right for the area and we never want to rest on our laurels. We’re incredibly lucky to have Daniel and Sam on board as collaborators in that respect.’
Opening 16 April 2015
147 Curtain Road
London
EC2A 3QE
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