Post #61 by theandrewssister on Mon, Mar 25, 2002 5:49 AM

Honest, Trader Woody, I wasn't trying to throw you off the scent! (see below)

As some of you will know, rumours have been doing the rounds for some time about a planned new Tiki bar in Kennington (South London, England). The creator is a guy called Heilco van der Ploeg, impresario of the lengendary, long-running Club Montepulciano (lounge/cabaret club), and the bar is called South London Pacific (340 Kennington Road, London SE11, Kennington tube, tel 020 7820 9189).

Well... quite by chance (HONEST) this Saturday I drove past the venue, which has been under construction for a while, and spoke to a builder who was stripping paint off the outside. He said it was opening the next day. This seemed extremely unlikely, but we turned up... and there it is in all its glory; an uncompromisingly gorgeous Josh Colllins creation. It looks a hundred years old and the detailing is beautiful, as you'd expect from Mr Collins (who is, as I understand it, emigrating to Oz to build a Tiki theme park).

How to describe it? It's quite large and is comprised of different sections with varying degrees of intimacy, including a stage and small dancefloor, surrounding a central bar. Tikis, naked wahines, crocodile skins and skeletons of all descriptions abound. The furniture, and the bar, is of course bamboo. I could only stay a short while so only managed two cocktails -- the "Trader Vic's Mai-Tai" and the "Pago-Pago" -- both dangerously good, and reasonably priced. And you can drink 'em in tiki mugs -- provided you can leave a pounds 7.50 deposit (which will also buy you the mug if you so desire). Only problem with the feel of the place was that it was a bit (physically, not atmospherically) cold -- but then, it was empty.

As we walked in, Heilco turned around and asked us if we would like him to change the Hawaiian music. After agitatedly assuring him that he should not change it, ever, we got chatting. He doesn't seem to have done any publicity for the place, and we were the only customers the whole time I was there. This worries the hell out of me, as Kennington, whilst an up-and-coming area, is about 1 mile out of central London and is mainly lived in by parliamentarians. The pub used to be a rather scruffy gay bar which I don't think encouraged passing trade at all, and the exterior of the bar as it stands wouldn't encourage anyone to think anything had changed. Heilco has a great audience in the Club Montepulciano crowd and I'm surprised that he's not made more of an effort to push it to them -- but I'm sure he will. He has plans for a house band (probably comprised of members of the Club Montepulciano house band -- v. good) and will be doing food -- tiki tapas!

So -- this place exceeded my most hopeful expectations; it's truly beautiful and I urge anyone within 100 miles of the place to get down there and support it. Trader Woody, Tiki Chris -- what about you guys? Are you up for coming down either Friday or Saturday this weekend? (I might finally get to meet you). Anyway, if anyone is up for it please email me off-line and we'll work something out.