The Escapologist

The Escapologist is an underground cocktail bar on Earlham Street in Seven Dials, styled as the riotous headquarters of the secret society that ran Victorian London. The room is pitched as part modern-day Victorian men's club and part Masonic lodge, and the house motto is to party like it's 1899 every week, with the focus on memorable nights, strong drinks and an outrageous space. Time Out has called it one of London's coolest bars, with a five-star rating.

The bar is an independent single venue rather than a chain, and its secret society theme runs through everything from the drinks list to the membership scheme. Joining the society is free and brings a complimentary cocktail, a birthday treat and early access to offers and what the bar calls secret surprises. The founding story is told on the website as The Baron's Story, which sets up the Victorian conceit behind the decor.

Cocktail bar in Seven Dials with happy hour and brunches

The list is built on classic cocktails with a twist, and happy hour brings 2-for-£14 cocktails from 4pm to 9pm Monday to Friday and 3pm to 9pm on Sunday, with no happy hour on Saturday. Two themed bottomless brunches run each week, hosted by performers drawn from the West End, including the Dancing Queens disco brunch and a Mamma Mia edition. Seasonal limited-edition serves appear through the year, with £1 from each Pride drink donated to Stonewall.

What to expect on a visit

Doors open at 4pm Monday to Friday, midday on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday, closing at midnight (11.30pm on Sunday), with bank holiday hours posted on the website. Tables and areas can be reserved for groups, and rooms can be hired for private functions, from birthdays to work parties. Earlham Street sits among the independent shops of Seven Dials, a few minutes from Covent Garden and Leicester Square stations, and it makes a good first stop before the later-running cocktail bars in Covent Garden such as Stereo on the Piazza.