London's secret hidden Christmas bar

Let's face it, 2024 hasn't been the best year so far and although it seems like we're past our summer week, many of us are turning our sights to a happier time of year. Christmas. Because how can you ever feel sad or stressed when you're surrounded by the sweet tones of Mariah Carey, holding an eggnog in your hand and bright Christmas lights flashing all around you. DesignMyNight presents Mistletoe Mixer at Merchant House, a kitschy and playful festive two-week pop-up hidden behind a secret toilet door. Expect retro decor, eggnog cocktails and non-stop Christmas hits in the heat of August.

Located in the heart of the city, DesignMyNight Presents The Mistletoe Mixer at Merchant House is the perfect summer outing for Christmas fanatics. The nostalgic pop-up turns back the clock with a sleigh full of retro decor and a playlist packed with classics like Slade, Shakin' Stevens and Wham!.

The two-week pop-up is the first to open in London in the summer and, even more unusually, the bar is hidden behind a secret door in a nondescript toilet. Plus, air conditioning will keep customers cool during London's heatwave. With users searching and planning for Christmas earlier than ever, this could be the answer for those who just can't get enough of the festivities.

The space was curated by experiential event specialist EDNAEDNA and the cocktails at the pop-up were designed in-house by the team at Merchant House, who recently celebrated their 10th birthday. They've brought Christmas to the table with plenty of sustainably sourced items from the 50s, such as retro board games and a selection of drinks from Sazerac, including “Keep your change, ya filthy Flip!”, an eggnog-inspired drink topped with a toasted marshmallow and made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon; “It's a beaut, Clark! It's a flute!” – a Seignette VS Cognac concoction with a glass of peppermint champagne garnished with a candy cane in a dainty glass; “Fraa-jeel-aay! This has to be Italian!” a Negroni-like drink with Warners Christmas Cake Gin, enriched with rosemary and juniper, plus “It's because I'm green isn't it?”, a delicious highball with spiced apple and ginger rum and a delicious blend of Trash & Treasure Botanical Rum.

When: Thursday, August 1st to Saturday, August 17th, 5:00 p.m. to midnight

Where: Merchant House, 13 Wells Court, London, EC4M 9DN.

Useful information: Tuesday and Wednesday are reserved for group bookings of experiences lasting 150 minutes. You can use the room exclusively and optionally book cheese and sausage platters. Thursday to Saturday are reserved for general tickets lasting 60 to 90 minutes.