There is nothing that says summer like sipping a gin and tonic in the sunny weather in the very beautiful and popular place like Florida Road.
The Gin Gallery, is a brand new pop-up bar in the hub of activity for tourists, locals and all those who enjoy to party until dawn, has officially launched just in time for Durban’s high season.
Thamsanqa Nhlumayo, co-owner of The Gin Gallery
PICTURE: Leon Lestrade/ANA
Speaking to the bar co-founder, Thamsanqa Nhlumayo, he said this pop-up bar is a first of its kind on Florida Road.
“The whole concept about the gin pop-up bar was to roughen the fact that the demand for gin is very high now, people love it and people are enjoying what gin offers in terms of variety and how you can make cocktails as well.
It’s the festive season and we looked at Durban in terms of offering and we were like, you know what? There is no place in Florida Road that really caters for the type of crowd that we would like to entertain, so we decided let’s build up a space where people can come through, relax and unwind in this cheerful season. And the great thing about gin is that it touches every single person, from your student, to your middle class worker to your prestige, it speaks to everyone. We want people to feel at home and also allow a proper centre of conversation hence when it comes to our place music is very light, that’s what we want to drive”, he said.
As for what’s on the menu for this new bar, visitors can expect a wide range of gins and gin-based cocktails with decadent ingredients like fresh lavender sugar syrup and freshly picked herbs and fruit.
Patrons can also expect brands like Beefeater, Tanqueray, Whitley Neill, and the popular Musgrave Pink Gin and Hendricks’s served with refreshing tonics, as well a selection of classic gin cocktails such as the classic martini, watermelon basil, negroni or mojito.
Gin cocktails at The Gin Gallery
PICTURE: Leon Lestrade/ANA
“We do simple pour and serve, secondly we do signature cocktails which I don’t think there is a space here on Florida Road that you can actually go to for signature cocktails and that’s what we strive on doing and developing. As much as there is all different kinds of gin you can think off, there are also other beverages to suit those who aren’t so keen on gin”, said Nhlumayo.
“We were planning to stay just for the festive season and chances are we are going to be here even after the festive, long term we want to stay but we are also depending on the growth and support of the business and then decide if we want to keep it long term or short term”, he added.
The Gin Gallery pop-up bar opens Monday- Sunday from 12pm until 12am.
And as from the 4th of January 2018 it will open from Thursday until Sunday . The bar is situated at 94 Florida Road.