Forget about having to choose between a cocktail and solving a series of murders, as the H-Division immersive bar experience lets you do both. Ben Griffin went all Sherlock Holmes to investigate.
As the world adjusts to normal life, whatever that is, you would be forgiven for wanting a bit more zest from the lemon of life. Because why drink a beer or two when you can have custom cocktails made for you as you try to solve a series of grotesque murders?
That’s the premise of H-Division at the Shoreditch Funhouse. Originally at The Bletchley, this themed immersive cocktail night has you becoming a sharp-eyed detective in Victorian times. Your job? To solve murderous cases, including the famous Jack the Ripper series of killings.
Now, despite the fact you get to wear a policeman’s cape and helmet, the process of solving the mystery is anything but silly. Upon arrival at the Victorian police station venue, you are greeted by Morse code machines, clues all around the room, a sizable case file and, thankfully, a cocktail to ‘enhance’ your investigative skills.
And so begins the process of dissecting the documents, making educated guesses and smelling various pieces of evidence as you try to complete each stage of the mystery. A mystery that, admittedly, took second place to sampling espresso martinis.
Not that it mattered because our team of three – me and two friendly Canadians I had just met – ended up having a killer time into the small hours. No murders were solved and the streets of London were no safer, admittedly, but we left somewhat tipsy and on a high.
Should you complete the mystery, you are rewarded with an envelope that contains a cocktail recipe tailored to you, based on the answers you give to the friendly mixologists, sorry, fellow policeman and the clues you choose as the case progresses.
Priced at around £40 per person, including one welcome cocktail and two bespoke drinks, H-Division isn’t bad value. It’s quite easy to spend that in a lifeless cocktail bar, after all, let alone one where you get to pretend to be on the tail of Jack the Ripper in such cosy, dimly-lit and inviting surroundings.
Speaking ahead of the opening on 36 Bethnal Green Road (near Shoreditch station), hospitality group Lollipop founder Seb Lyall said: “After breaking boundaries at The Bletchley, where patrons get to de-code themselves into cocktails, H-Division will lift the experience up a notch by gamifying the menu.”
H-Division has space for up to 40 people, meaning you could potentially use it for a party. I was told the waiting list for the experience is quite substantial though, so get in quick – those unsolved crimes won’t solve themselves.
What: H-Divison
Where: 36 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6HT
Web: HDivision.co.uk
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