Barts

Tucked behind a black door in the Chelsea Cloisters apartment block on Sloane Avenue, Barts is London's original speakeasy: a 1920s Prohibition fantasy dressed up as the hideout of fictional Chicago gangster Uncle Barts. Inside, every wall is crammed with antique clocks, vintage portraits, fringed lampshades and curios, and the whole room glows a deep crimson. It is theatrical and unapologetically fun, with cocktails served in teapots, paper bags and the occasional puff of smoke, and a costume trunk of wigs and hats by the door.

The bar is intimate by design, holding up to 80 standing, which makes it a natural fit for a takeover with a DJ rather than a sprawling party. Out back, a hidden cactus-filled garden room painted in warm terracotta tones gives the venue a second mood entirely, sheltered, heated and weatherproofed for year-round use. Late licences run to the small hours at the weekend, and resident DJs keep the room moving once the cocktails are flowing.

For private events Barts hires as a whole or in a semi-private section, with bespoke cocktail menus, in-house canapes and a DJ setup built into the space. It is the one we reach for when an intimate Chelsea party needs character over polish.