Kansas Smitty's (Bar)

Top 10 things you need to know about Kansas Smitty’s bar:

1) Inspired by the hedonistic city from which is takes its name, Kansas Smitty’s – a miniscule, starkly-decorated jazz club-cum-cocktail bar – can be found hidden in a basement on Broadway Market.

2) Located beneath another bar, Off Broadway, Smitty’s is first and foremost a music venue. In fact, the bebop-tribute bar was founded by an eight-piece band whose aim was to turn jazz’s exclusive and snobby reputation on its head, and instead try to get a new generation – yes, that’s you – engaged with the previously elitist genre.

3) The band in question’s name? Kansas Smitty’s, of course. They are residents here and have an impressive track record, having played everywhere from Ronnie Scott’s and Shoreditch House, to Nightjar and Wilderness Festival.

4) Entry is completely free every night other than Wednesday, when they host the ever popular Basement Tapes, which primarily features new projects and guest performers. Even then, you’ll pay a mere £7 to get in.

5) If there isn’t a band playing, the bar staff play a selection of records, but the vibe remains the same: illicit, eclectic and, despite its location on Broadway Market, remarkably unpretentious.

6) But when the band are on, ensure that you arrive at this compact venue early, and be prepared to share a table.

7) Aside from house wine and a couple of beers, Smitty’s only serves Juleps. But these aren’t just any Juleps: the spirits used are infused overnight with botanicals and flavours to create eight wholly unique takes on the cocktail.

8) For the ever-hungry among you, note that while they don’t serve food, you can in fact bring your own. And given the bar’s location, there’s no shortage of grub to accompany your Juleps.

9) Smitty’s is small and loud, so talking may prove difficult. Owing to this, and despite being an intimate venue – see aforementioned comment about sharing tables – you might not want to come here on a first date.

10) Just another London speakeasy? Oh no. With strong drinks, high caliber performances and music at its heart, Smitty’s truly captures the riotous spirit of Kansas in the Prohibition era (of which the city took absolutely no notice) and brings it to East London. Let’s raise a Julep to that....read more