The Four Thieves

In medieval times lavender saved the lives of the nefarious Four Thieves, and 650 years later Battersea’s famous crop is again bringing life to the district. The Four Thieves – a pub with culture, history and, yes, lavender at its heart – will launch in late September in Battersea. Located off Lavender Hill in a Victorian music hall previously the site of the original Jongleurs comedy club, the pub will brew its own ale and distil its own gin onsite while hosting accessible leftfield entertainment from comedians to alternative cabaret stars and vintage DJs.

The pub will be made up of a main bar, split over two levels, the Boat House, which will host much of the entertainment, and a gin yard perfect for autumnal evenings (complete with a lavender roof, the harvest of which will be used to make the house gin). It’s a space that brings the inside outdoors, with heated and covered areas, soft furnishings – and lots of sun in summer. Hidden away is a private dining room that will be able to seat up to 12. The décor will include weird and wonderful artefacts and furnishings from throughout the pubs history, with elements of Victorian music hall, masonic symbolism, 60s kitsch, which all combine to create an eclectic environment. The pub will also give nods to the darkness of the Four Thieves legend that saw the Black Death corpse robbers spared their own lives to reveal the secret that made them immune to the plague.

Drink

With its own onsite brewery producing up to 40 casks a week – 1440 pints – there’ll be a steady flow of craft ale at The Four Thieves. Laine Brewing’s London head brewer, Jim Wilson, will be using his highly regarded recipes for IPA, ESB, RPA and Porter - ales that are already loved at The Four Thieves’ sister brew pubs, The People’s Park Tavern and The Aeronaut. In addition The Four Thieves will have its own keg pale ale. Laine’s will also be bringing its own brewery fresh lager – a Czech style pilsner that is served straight into the glass from the brewery tanks.

The passion for drinks doesn’t end with beer. As well as it’s own distillery making Four Thieves Gin, the pub will house around 45 of the world’s best gins and a range of tonics that will allow for roughly 260 different gin and tonic options.
“We are really excited to be able to challenge most people’s perceptions of what a gin and tonic actually tastes like,” says The Four Thieves manager Dan Luker. “With so many different gin and tonic combinations we will be able to create a flavour experience tailored to the individual customers taste. Whether you like a big zesty citrus bitter drink, or a soft, savoury and fragrant one, we’ll have something for you.”

Food

Head chef Hayden Smith – has put together a menu of British pub classics made with seasonal, fresh local sourced ingredients. The menu will include street food, European and pan Asian cuisine with dishes ranging from braised BBQ ribs to ceviche of yellowfin tuna with spiced peppers and pea shoots; from kimchi and pulled pork, to a Laines beer battered haddock and chips.

Entertainment

Although at its heart a great place to drink, meet friends or eat great quality food, there is a full week of entertainment at The Four Thieves, much of it happening in The Boat House room. From the familiar faces of Simon Munnery, Jarred Christmas and Patrick Monahan headlining the Wednesday comedy nights, to the dance classes from Swing Patrol each Monday, the calendar is offbeat, upbeat and accessible.
That continues through to the live music on Thursdays that takes in gypsy, vintage Americana, Latin ska (and much more). On Friday DJs add northern soul and jump blues to those genres, while pop up performers will showcase the best of the alternative cabaret scene.
The perfect pub Sunday manifests itself in a roast with unlimited veg and gravy, and live jazz from key players in London’s 20s jazz scene. A four-piece New Orleans-style hot swing outfit picks up the pace in the evening to round off a lively, cultural week.