It's no secret (now) that speakeasies existed in Chattanooga during the age of Prohibition; in the building that now houses Terminal Brewhouse, for example. But when the nation's short-lived liquor ban dried up, those local establishments went the way of the defunct 18th Amendment - until now.
The speakeasy has returned to Chattanooga with London Calling, a retro-style bar accessed through a secret door in a phone booth on Cherry Street.
James Heely, who co-owns the bar with fiancee Stevi Boling, believes his native London to be the best city in the world, in large part because of its bars. A dream for five years, his newly opened local bar was inspired by other hidden drinking establishments, including London's The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town, located in a basement accessed through a secret door behind a restaurant fridge; as well as New York City's Employees Only, tucked behind a fortune-telling business.
"Some of the best bars in the world are speakeasies," Heely says. "People gravitate toward the exclusivity."
But still, a London speakeasy?
It’s actually not that weird to give a speakeasy a London theme, despite the fact that alcohol’s never been illegal there. While associated with the Prohibition era in the United States, the term “speak easy” originated in Britain, first appearing in a British naval memoir written in 1844, and described a place where unlicensed liquor sales were made. It was adopted across the pond in the 1880s as a term for unlicensed bars, and much later became a term to describe a place to drink illegally when alcohol was illegal in the United States during the 1920s and ’30s.
He sees a lot of similarities between London and his adopted city of Chattanooga, where Boling went to school. (The two met while traveling in Guatemala.) Both cities have a river running through their center, and a vibrant theater scene. Chattanooga's youthful population and positive vibe were also draws, he says.
You don't need a password to access Heely's new speakeasy, and no one is turned away. But there is the aforementioned trapdoor - along with a 30-foot tunnel that gets narrower as you near the bar, eventually opening up to a room with 17-foot ceilings.
"We want guests to question if they're in the right spot almost until they physically touch the bar," Heely says.
While it may seem like a lot of work for a drink, he says the experience and the atmosphere are what it's all about. The goal is to deliver a unique experience and a high-quality product, with a focus on accessible classic and modern-classic cocktails, all of which have some sort of British connection. London Calling also offers a "grazing menu" of imported European cheese, both traditional and vegan, along with butcher board selections for people to nibble and share as they drink.
Get a taste of London Calling, set to open late this month, with this holiday celebration-ready drink created by Heely especially for us.
CINNAMON EARL GREY FIZZ
What you need:
» 1 ounce vodka
» 1 ounce brewed Earl Grey tea
» 1/4 ounce cinnamon syrup (recipe follows)
» Champagne
» Orange zest spiral, for garnish
What you do:
For the cinnamon syrup
» Mix 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a pan. Stir on medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved.
» Take off of heat and add cinnamon sticks to container. Cover and leave to steep in fridge overnight.
» Then, remove cinnamon sticks and strain mixture into a bottle. Refrigerated syrup should last about 2-4 weeks.
For the cocktail
» Add vodka, brewed tea and cinnamon syrup to a shaker.
» Add a good amount of ice and shake hard for 10-12 seconds.
» Fine-strain into a champagne flute or any other fancy stemmed glassware.
» Top with Champagne.
» Use a channel knife to create an orange spiral for a garnish.
» Share and toast with your good friends and family.