Set within the grounds of Updown, Ruth Leigh and Oli Brown’s award-winning hotel and restaurant in Betteshanger, Deal, Kent, a new cocktail bar, Bar Vita, has officially opened.
Designed by Ruth and Oli, Bar Vita is an ode to the glamour and bustle of classic Roman cocktail bars, featuring plenty of marble, lacquered wood and banquette seating.
The bar is housed in one of the former stable blocks of Updown and will accommodate up to 30 guests, with a long marble bar with stools and banquette seating on the ground floor.
On the mezzanine sits a semi-private snug looking over the main seating area, and in the summer, there will be a large covered terrace for another 20 guests who want to take in the view of Updown’s ancient woodland.
Customers can expect classic serves expertly administered by bar tenders clad in crisp cream jackets – from ice-cold Martinis to Fig Leaf Negronis, as well as plenty of grappa and some choice wines from the Updown cellar.
A simple snack menu will complement proceedings: croquettes cacio e pepe, chopped liver toast, anchovy & lardo bruschetta, deep fried apple with pecorino & honey, and pizzetta bianca.
Founders Ruth and Oli said: “Bar Vita is a love letter to the country that has stolen our hearts. It’s everything we love about Rome; the bright lights that tempted us down untrodden paths to hidden gems, the simple but delicious cocktails paired with inventive snacks.
“It’s got the glamour of Harry’s with the charm of Bar San Callisto and an atmosphere that makes it open to all, from hotel guests to those just popping in for a drink.”
