Long gone are the days when opting out of the booze meant opting out of the fun. Plenty of Londoners are choosing low or no alcohol options when out and about, and there are a plethora of pubs and bars that are beginning to cotton on.
One particular spot is well and truly raising the bar when it comes to lowering the alcohol. Meaning ‘thirsty’ in Danish, Torstig is the beloved Brighton-based alcohol-free bar that serves up thirst-quenching beverages – with none of the alcohol but all of the fun. And guess what? Us lucky Londoners are getting our very own Torstig pop-up, just in time for Dry January.
There was once a time where not drinking alcohol simply meant you’d be stuck sipping on a sparkling water all evening. But at Torstig, they poured as much attention into their alcohol-free options as they would have their booze-infused counterpart. A love letter to Copenhagen’s low and no-alcohol culture, Torstig are revolutionising the sober scene – so much so that they’ve been selected as the official bar of Dry January.
Founded by husband and wife duo, Luke and Emmi, Torstig’s mission is to change the perception of alcohol-free options, and prove that skipping the beer doesn’t mean having to skip the bar. The Hoxton pop-up will serve up a series of their creative concoctions alongside a series of exciting events and partnerships.
Putting their Torstig twist on cocktail classics, they’re serving up an extensive menu, proudly using premium, British-made ingredients. There’s a ‘Tumbol’ for the Negroni-lovers, an ‘Agerup’ for the Margarita-fans, and a ‘Strandby’ for the Espresso Martini-enthusiasts (just to name a few). Alongside the cocktails, they’re also offering Torstig’s ‘mood-altering’ simple serves, using active plant ingredients. The Hoxton pop-up also joins the Brighton flagship as one of the very few places in the country to offer Guinness 0.0 on tap.
Danielle Houliston, Director of Fundraising and Engagement at Alcohol Change UK said: “We are so proud to have Torstig join us as an Official Venue of Dry January® 2024. Whether you are taking part in Dry January®, moderating throughout the year or don’t drink at all, having a place where you can enjoy a wealth of alcohol-free drinks all whilst still having an amazing experience, is so important. A huge 86% of daily heavy drinkers who have successfully taken back control of their drinking say that alcohol-free alternatives played an important role for them, so Torstig’s commitment to change the way people view alcohol-free drinks is just one of the reasons why we are so excited to have them as our partner this year.”
Torstig will be open from January 5 – January 20, 2024. Find out more and plan your visit here.
93 Kingsland Road, E2 8AE.
