With the days becoming shorter and the temperatures going down, you’ll all agree that we all need a little more sunshine in our life.
Rejoice! Cottons Caribbean Restaurant & Rum Shack, who have been bringing Caribbean colour, vibes and sunshine to London since 1985, have now opened a new venue south of the river, in St. George’s Wharf, just a few steps from Vauxhall station.
Located right by the Thames, with a huge outside terrace, the large restaurant boasts colourful tropical murals and a mouth-watering food and drink menu, inspired by islands from Jamaica to Margarita.
We went along to the opening party where we were greeted with a glass of fizz and a tropical flower garland to the sound of steel drums. We then switched to rum punch, a perfect aide to help imagining the grey skies of London away. A brilliant live reggae band and carnival girls contributed to the party atmosphere in the packed restaurant.
The food was fantastic too and it kept on coming all evening. Pork ribs roasted with rum and molasses, vegan sweet potato patties, and jerk chicken pieces were just some of the dishes we were able to try. The sweet treats were also very enjoyable.
Of course you will be able to find here all the Cottons classics like jerk half chicken slow roasted with pimiento and spices; and Cottons homemade curried mutton – both served with rice ‘n’ peas; the Mixed Jerk Grill Platter (featuring jerk pork ribs, chicken pieces & wing, lamb chop with rice ‘n’ peas, jerk sauce and plantain); Cottons Caribbean steamed seabass served with vegetable stew; the delicious Barbados shrimp curry accompanied with fresh pineapple salsa; or vegetarian favourite Chana Dhal Platter (aubergine, chokha, roti and rasta salad), but there are a couple of new things on the menu in Vauxhall.
A first for Cottons, Vauxhall will offer a menu of Caribbean inspired pizzas at lunch times and as a bar snack. The selection includes jerk salmon, chilli shrimp & callaloo; and roast pumpkin, peppers and spinach. The lunchtime menu also features a range of sweet and savoury crepes – a dish from the French speaking islands of Guadaloupe and Martinique. Try Callaloo & Cheese; Chana Dahl & Mango or, if you prefer it sweet, berry jam & cinnamon sugar.
And as another first for Cottons, Vauxhall offers an extensive morning menu to be enjoyed inside or, on a sunny day, out on the terrace. Take your pick from Caribbean spiced scrambled eggs with sada bread to Yardie Breakfast – ackee & salt-fish with dumplings, or St Annes Cocobread with melted gruyere cheese, sautéed bacon & onion – the choice is huge.
Healthier options include Montego Bay Fruit salad with Greek yogurt & granola, oat porridge with apricot compote, or the decadent Martinique toast with coconut shavings, caramelised banana and pineapple and crème fraiche.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the huge choice of rums. Choose from 300 different rums at the bar, sourced from all over the world alongside a carefully curated list of exotic rum-based cocktails to match. Try the Cottons Punch, a blend of Wray & Nephew rum, orange, guava, pineapple juice, grenadine. or another Cottons Originals like Sorrell Sling (beefeater gin, homemade sorrel squash, fresh lemon, creme de casssis and soda water) or Killer Doppi (this potent mix is said to turn the living into a Doppi – Jamaican for ghost – made from four different rums, apricot liqueur, curacao, orange, pineapple and lime juice).
Cottons Vauxhall joins the original Cottons Camden, the boutique shack in Shoreditch and Notting Hill – which currently holds the Guinness World Records title for the bar with the most varieties of rum stocked – 372!
Cottons – Bringing the Caribbean Sunshine to London Since 1985.
Cottons Vauxhall
Unit 12, Flagstaff House, St Georges Wharf, Vauxhall, SW8 2LE
T: 0207 091 0793
t: @CottonsLDN / F: cottonsldn / Insta: cottonsldn
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