Gintime spies are everywhere and a big thank you to Anita for telling us about this cool spot in up and coming Dulwich. Black Cherry has it all - stylish décor, chilled tunes, fantastic service, and a really friendly laid back atmosphere. The food is superb with smoked salmon salad, seared swordfish, and raspberry crème brulee popular choices. The vegetarian sharing platter includes garlic mushrooms, tomato and basil bruschetta, and chargrilled skewers of vegetables and hollumi cheese. Tasty meat and seafood platters are also available. Good taste in gin too with Beefeater, Hendrick’s, Martin Miller’s and Plymouth all lined up on the bar back. Black Cherry specialises in delicate fruity cocktails and their signature gin cocktail is the Gingita. It’s new to us but this combo of ginger infused gin, passion fruit puree and freshly squeezed lemon tastes fantastic.

This new bar and restaurant in Parsons Green exudes retro style, evoking childhood memories of classic British police dramas and 70's gangster films, thanks to Ford Cortina inspired banquette seating, glamorous Foscarini glass chandeliers and a truly 70's chocolate colour scheme. If you like gin you'll love The Establishment. Bar wizard Tim Oakley is a gin maestro and stocks around 19 gins including the pick of the Gintime crop – Beefeater, Beefeater Crown Jewel, Plymouth, Hendrick's, Martin Miller’s, the London Gin and loads more. With a nod to the heritage of the drink, the list also boasts a selection of genevers, the aromatic Dutch ancestor of gin. In keeping with the theme of the food menu. Establishment cocktails are traditional British with a modern twist. Drinks are designed to highlight the taste profiles of different gins with home made syrups and garnishes using authentic British produce. The signature Old English Martini for example uses mead from Malmesbury garnished with a wild flower honeycomb. Even more delicious is Tim's other creation and this issue’s cocktail offer: 'Love on the Green' - a combination of gin, fresh, mint, lovage cordial and a hint of cinnamon gently stirred over crushed ice and the topped with soda. Mmmm!

• Monday – Friday 5pm – 12 midnight
• Saturday - Sunday 11am – 12midnight

Lost Society is a fab drinking spot in South London that was awarded Best Bar 2006 by Time Out for its cocktails, food, ambience and service. Located in a two-storey 16th century former barn, Lost Society consists of a series of lavishly decorated interconnected spaces with a bar on each floor. There's also a Secret Garden for summer sundowners. The bar's stated manifesto is to bring back the fun and, as you would expect, gin is big here with Gintime favourites such as Beefeater, Hendrick's, Plymouth and Whitley Neill. Lots of innovation in the cocktail list too with a new one to us – the 'Mo-ge-ta' made from Beefeater Gin, bitter marmalade, fresh mint, lime juice brown sugar and cloudy apple juice. From Thursdays to Sundays DJ's spin funk, hip hop, house and retro beats from 8pm onwards. Our top tip – find Lost asap.

Roast

Floral Hall,Stoney Street,
Borough Market, London, SE1 1TL

Tel: 020 7940 1300
www.roast-restaurant.com

Roast Restaurant and Bar is in the middle of London’s Borough Market where 10,000 food lovers flock each weekend to buy from Britain's best farmers and producers. The restaurant’s ‘Best of British’ theme has been carried over to the bar menu which changes regularly to reflect ingredients in season. Roast is big on gin with lots of top Gintime brands like Beefeater, Hendrick’s’ Gin and Blackwood’s Vintage. Martini fans will have a great time here with an excellent selection of classics and moderns. Or try the house specialities like the Venetian Island, a light, fresh combination of gin, fresh raspberries and elderflower cordial. Then there’s the Damson Flip made with Roast’s own infusion of damson flavoured gin and lime juice. Fantastically well made drinks in a fabulous setting with all day Bar Food add up to a sophisticated, particularly British cocktail experience.

Open for lunch every day.
Open evenings 5.30 to 11 pm Monday to Friday, 6.00 to 11 pm Saturday.