London is set to welcome a truly unique drinking establishment this week: the world's first cocktail bar dedicated entirely to the pickled onion. The innovative pop-up, a collaboration between Garner's Pickles and Bar Swift in Shoreditch, will serve a menu where the tangy, crunchy staple is the star of every drink.
A Menu Built on Brine and Innovation
The bar, dubbed the Garner's Jar Bar, will feature a range of inventive cocktails crafted by expert mixologists to suit various palates. The signature serves include the 'Pickleback Buck', a highball combining bourbon with Garner's sweet baby pickles, spicy fresh ginger syrup, and tangy lime. For a festive twist, patrons can try the Winter Spiced Cranberry Sour, which is enhanced with brine from the savoury treat.
Other pickle-inspired libations on offer will be the 'Pickleada', a blend of cherry tomato juice and brine finished with pale ale, and the signature Garner's Gibson. This chic martini features off-dry vermouth and gin. Some creations will be served straight from a Garner's jar, offering a luxury take on the humble pickle.
The Dua Lipa Effect: From TikTok to the Bar
The trend for incorporating pickles into drinks has seen a surge in popularity, a movement widely credited to global pop star Dua Lipa. In 2024, she appeared in a viral TikTok video adding pickle and jalapeño juice to a soft drink before taking a satisfied sip. This sparked countless online recipes and videos exploring the benefits of adding this unusual, briny element to various beverages.
Elaine Miller from Garner's commented on the novel concept, stating: "Pickled onions have been adding a tang and crunch to sandwiches and stealing the show from cheese boards for years, so it was only a matter of time before they crashed the cocktail party. Turns out, they mix just as well with gin as they do with Gorgonzola."
How to Experience the Briny Pop-Up
The one-of-a-kind Garner's Jar Bar will operate as a pop-up for one day only. It will be open from 3pm to 11pm on Friday, 5 December 2025. Fans of the trend or the curious are encouraged to secure their spot by booking online in advance.
Miller added: "This Christmas, we are sharing our premium pickles in a way never seen before. The Jar Bar is going to be open for lovers of cocktails – and of pickled onions, of course. Prepare for expertly mixed creations served straight from the jar to the glass – a one-of-a-kind experience for the most wonderful brine of the year."
