LAB to close and reopen under new ownership

Iconic London cocktail bar LAB will close next month to make way for a new venue co-owned by bartenders Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson and Nightjar and Oriole owners Rosie Stimpson and Edmund Weil.

LAB, a Soho bar that helped to kickstart the UK cocktail movement, has been home to notable industry figures over the years, such as Dre Masso, Andrea Montague and Tim Stones and will sign off with a weekend of closing parties from September 9-11.

Stones, now global brand ambassador for Beefeater said: “Lab has been the start of many bartenders’ careers.  If you look at the alumnus of the place, it reads like a who’s who of drinks industry legends.  I was lucky enough to spend the best part of four eye-opening years there and it became a turning point in my career.  I still proudly reference it any chance I get, such was its influence.

“Lab will always be a special place to me and I will be sad to see it go.  Having seen the passion and dedication that Bobby and Mia put into their drinks, service and venues I am looking forward to the great things they will do there. I will be among the first through the door.”

The site will reopen in November under a new concept, run by Hiddleston and Johansson, who said: “We’re very excited for the project ahead and the new plans we have for a venue that we know means a lot to many in the industry. It’s great to be working with our new partners Edmund and Rosie, and we can’t wait to join everyone for a final get together at Lab.”

Stimpson and Weil said: “We’re very happy to be working with Bobby and Mia, they are both very talented and we can’t wait to see their vision for the new bar come to life. We’ll be joining everyone for a final farewell of Lab, before embarking on this new project together.”

Details of the guest bartenders returning to Lab and the closing parties will be announced shortly via social media, follow @LABclosingparties on Instagram and @labclosingparty on Twitter to stay updated.