Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration is gearing up for an unforgettable summer as the Covent Garden based bar will transform its interior into a setting reminiscent of the African Sahara. Launching in early June, Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration has partnered with Whitley Neill to host their anticipated Summer Safari, an immersive experience where adventurers and the curious will be invited to explore what lies below the streets of London.

In a nod back to the Victorian age of the bar’s inspiration, Around the World in 80 Days, staff will be attired in full safari khakis and pith helmets, while the venue will be engulfed in vines, plants and traps. The decor will echo the African desert plains, and the menus will reflect exotic finds and libations abundant on the great continent.

Guests are invited to embark on a palatable adventure of flavours and tastes throughout the months of summer. Adventurers will be issued tourist visa upon arrival before they travel to Africa via their taste-buds, sampling libations and bold food pairings inspired by the rich and interesting history of the continent.

Once guests are in the venue, they each tick off their safety checklist to ensure their vaccinations are complete, malarial measures are taken and they are protected against the searing Saharan sun. Mr Fogg’s team will be on hand to offer each and every explorer their Liquid Vaccinations, offering a welcome treat for guests taste buds, before serving up Edible Victorian Sun Ointment, a coconut flavoured tropical, boozy mousse. For the third and final safety check, guests will be served a Whitley Neill Original Handcrafted Dry Gin & Tonic, featuring a quinine-rich tonic, of course, known to be a traditional mosquito deterrent.

Visitors to Mr Fogg’s Summer Safari will also be encouraged to spot ‘The Big Five’ animals will be dotted around the venue in miniature form. To get them in the safari mood, every guest and explorer who enters Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration will be given a safari hat to adorn during their adventure. Guests should be on the lookout to see an African Elephant, Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo, African Lion and African Leopard, within the venue, and will be awarded a unique Fogg’s surprise per group should they be able to spot all five with their magnifying glasses. Of course, it won’t be the real thing, like you would spot on a south africa safari; you’d have to embark on some once in a lifetime world travels in order to see these animals firsthand in their natural habitat.

Liquid concoctions on ‘The Big Five’ menu will be served in authentic African vessels such as African kubo cups, small hand-held mugs with no handles whilst the drinks menu itself will come in the form of a Victorian Binocular Contraption, meaning guests will be able to bring the menu to their eyes and flip through the variety of daring and expressive cocktails. Whitley Neill handcrafted gins and vodkas, which are praised for their unique mix of innovative, African-inspired botanicals like cape gooseberries and baobab fruit, will be present in every cocktail on The Big Five menu. Delectations will include Feline Fine a mix of Whitley Neill Original Handcrafted Dry Gin, Martini Riserva Speciale Ambrato vermouth and maple & physalis syrup served in a wooden cup alongside edible insects and pollen as well as Elephant in the Room made using Whitley Neill Blood Orange Handcrafted Vodka, juniper, maize honey water and fresh lime served with a chocolate and lemon salt rim.

The food menu will be a sensory journey for both the eyes and stomach, featuring insects and game meat. Guests to this underground Safari can sample dishes like Biltong, a form of dried, cured meat that originated in Southern African countries, and Curried Tempura Grasshoppers & Courgette with a Sweet Chilli Sauce. Other dishes will include Cricket and Chili Rice Cakes andCricket Powder Brownies.

Set to run until the start of September, the summer safari will offer a window into the wild world of Africa. For like-minded individuals who are keen to be transported via experiences andexplore the magnificent Sahara plains, an off-the-beaten-track adventure awaits.

Mr Fogg’s Summer Safari

From 4th June

Price: £30 on mr-foggs.com or available in venue.

£30 includes two tasters (vaccination and sun ointment), a Whitley Neill Gin & Tonic, and two cocktails from the ‘Big Five’ menu

Address:

Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration

1A Bedford Street

London, WC2E 9HH