Fizz in the Fifth
London’s Harvey Nichols have opened their new champagne bar
WHEN THE FIFTH FLOOR BAR OF HARVEY NICHOLS CLOSED FOR A REFURBISHMENT, regulars expected it to be jazzed up but pretty much the same as before. Instead, when it recently reopened as a champagne bar, the bar had been transformed with a modern interpretation of the turn-of-the-century art nouveau style by design firm Shaun Clarkson ID (known for the Atlantic bar and the Wallace Collection).
Connoisseurs who know their Perrier-Jouet champagne from their Perrier water will spot the brand’s signature white anemone design decorating the walls. Order a glass of fizz and there it is again – adorning the famous flutes.
So it’s no surprise to discover that Harvey Nichols has collaborated with the champagne house to offer them an exclusive presence (apart from Harvey Nicks’s own brand champers which is on offer for £12.50 glass/£27.50 a half bottle). This new type of subtle branding is far more sophisticated than the days when drinks companies would ensure their name was emblazoned across the bar.
Eadaoin O’Brien, the Fifth Floor’s hospitality manager, explains: “We have a similar customer base, combining the worlds of fashion and art. Inspired by the floral anemone from the belle epoque bottle, we’ve also done a botanical cocktail menu.” Robina Dam Fifth Floor Bar, Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1; www.harveynichols.com; www.perrier-jouet.com
Word up!
Informal phrases from around the bmi network
MOSCOW: Limon
NOUN: one million
Though the word literally means ‘lemon’, it is also slang for one million, as the old 1,000,000 ruble note was a light yellow colour.
YEREVAN: Rabiz
NOUN: Armenian turbo folk and its accompanying fashions
Rabiz originally described the electronically enhanced pop-folk music of Armenia. However, it’s become a common term for the accompanying, trashy fashions.
CAIRO: Fokak menny
COMMAND: leave me alone
To untie or disconnect is fokak menny’s direct translation. It is used colloquially as ‘get lost’ or ‘buzz off’ might be used in English.
TBILISI: Amerikuli
ADJECTIVE: cool
In Western-looking Georgia, the word for American also used mean ‘cool’ during the 1980s.
ETHIOPIA: Ugugumo
NOUN: revolution
Though this word means revolution in the northern Afar language, it also doubles as the name for the region’s local militia.
