About Time: You Visited Company Below’s Summer ShakedownBy Angelica Malin
Summertime in London is unbeatable; the whiff of barbercues, the overflowing beer gardens, and drinking cocktails at every opportunity. And this August, Company Below (the super well-hidden botanical drinking den tucked beneath Balls & Company on Soho’s Greek Street) are hosting a special month-long summer cocktail shakedown.
Summer Shakedown: What to Expect 
Each week will see a new guest bartender take over the speakeasy with an intimate cocktail masterclass, where guests will be able to try their hand at mixing a drink or two under the guidance of the very best in the business, and sample a one off, specially created signature drink, exclusively available at Company Below for one week only.
Summer Shakedown: The Bartenders
First to step up to the bar will be Miguel Arbe Rey, Executive Bartender from the Ceviche group, who will be binging Pisco to the party with a masterclass celebrating the national spirit of Peru, which will also feature in his guest cocktail, in the form of ‘Jamming’, made with Barsol Acholado Pisco, corn water, coriander and black peppercorn cordial, garnished with a hit of Amarillo chilli oil.
Gabriele Manfredi, Head Bartender at the award winning Oriole in Smithfield Market, will be next up taking inspiration from the fruits of exile, empire and exploration, in a class themed on a trip around the world featuring flavours from the far flung corners of the earth.
The Blind Pig, Jason Atherton’s revered bar just opposite Company Below, will be at the helm for the third week, where Bar Manager Jay Doy will be shaking up the ‘Lost and Found’, made with Pisco, triple sec and toast and marmalade syrup, demonstrating to guests the art of creating perfectly balanced and technically precise libations.
Rounding off the line-up, hosts Company Below will be making their botanical inspired cocktails and teaching guests how to master their ‘Feel Good Inc.’ cocktail, complete with hue’s of soft pink egg whites and a dusting of Bamboo Charcoal.
Summer Shakedown: Food
Of course, cocktails will be in good company with deep fried bao buns, the perfect partner for a tipple or two. Bao’s will come filled with shortrib, pickles and salted chilli mayo, salt and pepper tofu with peanut chilli mayo and brown butter pecan ice cream with chocolate and praline. There’s also Montgomery cheddar churros and blue cheese arrancini balls, as well as their full list of signature cocktails infused with botanics, from the Vane’s Decline; spiced rum, rooibos, rosewater and black pepper, to the Smoke Without Fire; mescal, aloe vera, lime, chipotle and rhubarb soda. And one more thing: head upstairs to Ball & Company for 50% off food (not just snacks) after the class.
Summer Shakedown: The Details
The Summer Cocktail Shakedown at Company Below will start at 7pm each Tuesday in August and will be priced at £15 pp inclusive of 2 cocktails, the masterclass, and 50% off snacks at Balls & Company to enjoy on the evening. Tickets can be booked here.
1st August: Migual Arbe Rey from Ceviche
8th August: Gabriele Manfredi from Oriole
15th August: Jay Doy from The Blind Pig
22nd August: Joshua Metzner from Company Below
Company Below, 58 Greek Street Soho, London W1D 3DY
