Peg + Patriot closed permanently in December 2017
As the Salvation Army's teetotal creed gained traction, little could the Edwardian staff charged with recording Bethnal Green’s births, deaths and marriages have foreseen that their place of work would end up peddling mother's ruin. 'Hatched' by Matt Whiley (aka the Talented Mr Fox), 'matched' to discerning drinkers' palates, and 'dispatched' (as fast as the bar can knock 'em out), Peg + Patriot's edgy concoctions are a resounding hit. Whiley’s forte lies in arranging highly unlikely marriages of base spirits and unexpected ingredients: 'parsley, butter, coriander, verjus, bitters and smoke', or 'leek, oxidised grape and pickle brine' well-starred unions, or headed for the rocks, so to speak? A twisted Gimlet's grapefruit and hops are a good match from the selection of bottled cocktails, while nibbles would befit any trad East End Jewish nuptials – think pastrami and dill pickle, or lox and cream cheese beigels.