Weekend Ritual
This issue, HIP Business editor JORDAN CONNELLEY pops down to Ritual, a newly opened independent bar located at Marine Court, as they celebrate their first five weeks in operation
Run by the much loved Rory Myers of Half Man Half Burger fame and partner, designer Hannah Exley-Myers, and located next door to the flagship Half Man restaurant, Ritual offers a chic cocktail bar experience in the heart of St Leonards dispensing a well curated list of wines, local Sussex beers from suppliers like Floc (@flocbrewing) from Canterbury and Beak brewery (@beakbrewery) in Lewes, as well as a refined and unique bevy of spirit-first cocktails.
In an animated interview with HIP, Hannah and Rory outlined the philosophy and emphasis behind Ritual, a two year endeavor of passion to create an independent local watering hole designed, as Rory put it, to “do something for the community” and liven up the evening scene at Marine Court by offering a unique take on the Scandinavian style cozy cocktail bar. Indeed, it was a point of pride for Rory that Ritual does its own thing: “We are able to make our own decisions about the beers and cocktails on offer by opting for primarily independent and, where possible, local suppliers.”
Hannah described the early stages of Ritual’s inception and the design mentality behind the bar saying “It was really an accident that we opened during the summer” with there being a real emphasis on creating a cozy space that can be used all year round, from sunny seaside summers to a warm and inviting Copenhagen-style refuge during the cold, wet winter months.
Both see Ritual as an addition to a growing bar scene in St Leonards and an accompaniment to the existing restaurant offering at Marine Court. When talking about their cocktails they stressed how hard it was to finalise their menu, which they have carefully balanced around an impressive list of high quality spirits that offer options for all tastes, as well as a growing list of non-alcoholic options.
Open Thursday to Sunday, Ritual also host a number of weekly music events, including a set from cult DJ Shed this past weekend (Saturday 3 May), playing vintage tracks fresh from Beauty and the Beat London (@beautyandthebeatldn) as well as a number of events delivered by local DJs assembled by local musician and DJ Elliot ‘Easy’ Green (@easy.green.uk).
Sampling the venue on a sultry spring Friday afternoon, my drinking partner and I asked to sample the most unique concoction on the menu, and the team duly delivered with their Raspberry Ritual–a heady but balanced cocktail combining strong nutty amontillado sherry, vibrant and rarely seen absinthe flavours, as well as refreshing hints of Raspberry and Rum. There is no cocktail quite like it in Hastings, and it was recommended by mixologist James as a Ritual staple.
Alongside the Raspberry Ritual, Rory and the team offer a full set of classic cocktails, from OG cocktails like the Frozen Margarita or Negroni, offered in classic gin style or with a smoky Mexican mescal twist, and new flavours such as the Pandan Colada. A Guatemalan toasted coconut style rum infusion mixed with coconut milk and pineapple to bring back memories of pura vida and the Caribbean playa – the perfect choice to accompany a sunny spring evening pre-dinner aperitif.
Ritual is located at 8 Marine Court and is open Thursday through Sunday. For more information visit @ritualstleonards on instagram.
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