A dive by design without coming across as contrived, Aces & Eights has been open a few months offering Tufnell Park a low brow ensemble of “rock, liquor and pizza”.
The “rock” is a stroll down memory lane (with excursions along Skid Row, Thunder Road and the Highway to Hell) and should satisfy both 'dad rockers' and irony craving hipsters. The “liquor” is an impressive list of whiskies and bourbons and a noteworthy range of cocktails. On our invited visit, Londonist was pleased to sip a Parma Violence (Plymouth Gin, violet liquer and lemon, £7) and would not mind returning for more of their no nonsense Manhattans and proper Old Fashioneds. Good stuff. As for the pizza, it's made fresh on premises by Il Bacio, an independently owned pizza company. We liked the Eights (peppers, onions, chorizo and mushroom) and il Bacio (Parma ham, rocket, Parmesan and asparagus) and reckon £7.95 for a 12” or £15.95 for a 16" ain't bad value.
An Amero-centric beer list (Brooklyn Lager, Blue Moon), a pinball machine and a “booze for boobs” policy (ladies: a flash'll get ya a free drink while a donated bra is currency for a bottle of Champagne) add up to a potentially rowdy night out.
Daily happy hours and plans to offer live music in the new year make Aces & Eights - located stumbling distance from Tufnell Park Station at 156-158 Fortess Road, NW5 2HP and online at www.acesandeightssaloonbar.com - one to watch.
