Searcys Champagne Bar Review

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Best for: City of London Champagne for City of London shoppers.

Great: Champagne cocktails and seafood platters.

“In victory, you deserve Champagne, in defeat you need it,” so said cigar-toting, war-loving prime minister, Winston Churchill. And at Searcy’s Champagne bar in the One New Change shopping centre, failed and successful shoppers alike can sup some bubbly after – or during – their retail endeavours.

My oh-so tall and willowy friend had managed to buy a pair of maroon skinnies from Topshop. They were only standard length but fitted her perfectly as cropped jeans; what a triumph! I, meanwhile, had come out of H&M with two lovely skirts: one the shop assistant loved (oh, the validation when someone who works in the shop tells me I’m buying something nice); the other I had all but given up finding in various other H&M stores; victory, indeed. Let us raise our glasses.

Tempted by happy hour, we dispensed with the traditional flutes of Champagne (momentarily) and dived straight into the cocktail menu. Much like my lack of discipline when it comes to buying H&M skirts, I started off with the more pricey £12.50 classic Champagne cocktail, a boozy mix of bitters, cognac, Champagne and raspberry (just the one). My fellow victor opted for the Champagne mojito, using Grey Goose vodka, passionfruit juice and a hint of vanilla syrup (plus Champagne obvs). I’m guessing the mint leaves give it the Cuban name.

It definitely felt as though we were drinking somewhere ‘posh’: the lighting at Searcy’s Champagne bar is low, very low; the wooden floorboards are dark; the bar stools look like they are made from expensive white leather; the tables are decorated with red frosted glass candle holders; the locked glass-fronted cabinets house some of the most expensive yet unassuming vintage bottles of Champagne as well as arm-breaking £2,000 balthazars.

So yeh, quite posh; but didn’t we deserve it. Friend of the recently procured maroon jeans had been worrying that she should be spending less on clothes and saving more for her wedding. Before guilt forced her into retail retreat, she remembered her mother’s wise words: “buying clothes is still important: you can’t start wearing a tracksuit just because you’re married.” Important life lessons; onto the breach dear friends…

Cocktail number two: what turned out to be an adult sophisti-take on blue slush puppies, a blackberry bramble type affair for myself, and a cosmo for my friend (to match her new maroon trews, obvs). Searcy’s Champagne bar certainly doesn’t skimp on its measures, so food was required. After olives and blanched almonds we got to work on a seafood platter.

I’ve only ever eaten one oyster in my life, possibly because (and excuse me for this) they look like something someone just spat out, but feeling confident after our victorious purchases and, adopting the “What Would Churchill Do?” mantra, we both downed oyster shots; and liked them. A dash of Tabasco and lemon juice didn’t hinder the delightfully fresh sea taste of the oysters, so Searcy’s Champagne bar had just won itself two new fans. Alas, they had run out of crabmeat, so we settled for smoked salmon and delicious fat prawns with bread and seeded crackers on a platter. It was served on a silver stand filled with crushed ice, and it’s touches like this that make it easy to forget that Nando’s is in the same shopping centre.

Searcy’s Champagne bar has created a corner of luxury, which, given its proximity to St Paul’s and Bank’s finance brigade, is hardly surprising. It’s small size means it will never be of direct competition to its big brother, the St Pancras Grand Champagne bar, but this Champagne bar still shines bright; from the polite staff, to the elegant Champagne flutes hanging over the circular bar like a Gaudi-inspired chandelier (the Spanish artist used teacups and saucers in his mosaics at Parc Güell in Barcelona).

Despite this pocket of opulence, food on its (limited) menu is pretty reasonably priced. Duck leg served on lentils, cooked so it comes easily off the bone, costs £8.95. Dainty macaroons, that looked like pastel paint pots, were the perfect ending to our dinner, along with a rose dessert Champagne, of course, to toast our triumphs: shopping, yes; fed, yes; spent an extortionate amount of money, no. Searcy’s Champagne bar serves around 15-20 champagnes by the glass and I could happily try all of them. Unfortunately, with dinner over, and it being a Monday night, my friend and I knew it was time to get back to the real world. Lest I forget his wise words, I smuggled out a Searcy’s paper toaster with Churchill’s toast to Champagne neatly embossed on it.

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Nathalie Bonney 29 Feb 2012

Searcys Champagne Bar Description

The One New Change Champagne Bar is located in One New Change, London’s latest shopping destination on Cheapside in the heart of the City of London.

A truly unique and stunning destination which will become one of London’s favoured shopping and leisure landmark sites.

Complete with cafes, restaurants from renowned chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay with flagship fashion brands, all overlooking London’s most famous landmark, St Paul’s Cathedral.

One New Change Champagne Bar is the perfect venue for bringing a fizz in your step on any occasion. Serving breakfast, coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, cocktails and of course the most extensive list of champagnes available in the city.

Special Offers at Searcys Champagne Bar

• Champagne Lunch - £12 including a glass of House Champagne & 3 macaroons
• Rosé Champagne Lunch - £15 including a glass of House Rosé Champagne & 3 macaroons

Searcys Champagne Bar Opening Hours

Additional Information

• Cuisine Type: Bar
• Average Price: £15
• Dress Code: Smart/Casual
• Group: Searcys 1847