Pelicans & Parrots

Let me give you some context: I wouldn’t describe myself as ‘cool’ (not that cool people ever do!). My little sister yes, effortlessly so. But I think I’m just a bit too silly to make it as a hipster. Which is why I was *especially* pleased to discover this place for the final stop on my bday drinks crawl.
It’s a Caribbean-​themed rum bar hidden under a vintage clothes store in Dalston. Even just saying that to invite people made me feel cool! The key is not to confuse it with the real Pelicans & Parrots vintage store further down the road at number 40. This one is at no.81 and also a shop by day — but downstairs is where the fun happens by night…
The bar here is simply called ‘Below’ and available for private hire on Fri and Sat eves. They allow up to 60 capacity but 40 is probably a comfortable top. The guy who runs it is super laidback so can take a while to reply on email, but was a gem in person and really enthusiastic about making sure I had a great night. You also get a doorman upstairs on the night to whom you can give an amusing secret password of your choosing — I had great fun thinking mine up ;)
It’s probably exactly what you’re picturing a Dalston basement to look like but with some tropical themed touches. The décor is sparse though; think more subtle vintage signs on the walls than full blown tiki bar. There’s chairs and candlelit tables plus a good space to dance — I got a mate to DJ to make it more special but you can just as well plug in an ipod. I was told Paloma Faith actually DJ’d there the week before for her boyfriend’s bday party (in some shameless name-​dropping from the manager!).
The drinks set the theme off with a great selection of rums (to dangerously high strengths) and rum-​based cocktails. We had 2 lovely ladies behind the bar who by the end of the night had a dance with us and were swapping fashion tips with my sister (the cool one). We covered the minimum spend by a mile and I defo wasn’t the only one to have had a few too many Rum ‘n Tings by the next morning!!!
It’s a great spot for a party, esp if like me you want something unpretentious and without the worry of a big group all getting in. Extra bonus is all your mates thinking you’re the new epitome of Dalston chic ;) ahh it made my night watching everyone come down the secret back stairs from the shop, wondering where the hell I’d brought them, then emerging wide-​eyed to the sounds of Bob Marley! They don’t really publicise it either, so go take a look if you’re venue-​hunting. You heard it here first ;)