The bar and lounge area at Parichat at Sohe in Jesmond has been transformed after a cash injection of £100,000 from owners Cairn Group, and two recruits have joined the team to deliver a fresh concept.
A new-look social space has been created, lined with cushioned booths and decorated with oriental wallpaper and atmospheric hanging lighting, with cocktail blends designed to complement the vibrant interior.
The bar’s drinks offering has had a complete shake-up by newly appointed award-winning bar manager Kieran Grieves and seasoned head bartender Will Townsend. The duo are well-known on the North East hospitality scene and further afield, with Kieran recently ranking as one of the top 10 bartenders in the UK in this year’s GB final of the prestigious Diageo World Class cocktail competition.
Between them the pair have shaped a drinks menu of bespoke Pan-Asian cocktails featuring rare Asian ingredients, including 12 single serve cocktails, two sharing cocktails and three mocktails. Additionally, guests can order a high-end blend of mature whisky paired with a one bite dish for a multi-sensory experience.
The bar will offer table service and be open seven days a week, welcoming customers for drinks as well as diners keen to enjoy a pre or post-dinner cocktail.
Parichat at Sohe launched last year when the established restaurant partnered with award-winning, Thailand-born chef Parichat Somsri-Kirby. The restaurant delivers a dynamic dining experience serving up highly-regarded Asian fusion plates.
Naveen Handa, director at Cairn Group said: “Following the partnership with Parichat which has set the restaurant’s food offering up there with the best Asian cuisine in the region, the natural next step was to add the same spice to the bar. I’m excited about the finished look and feel we’ve brought to life, and paired with our new cocktail selection it makes for a totally unique concept.
“As we are the Group behind the likes of Juniper in Edinburgh, we want to be known in Newcastle for doing things differently and rival the top bars in London and the Scottish capital. We’re all about the guest experience, from first impressions of the venue through to the presentation of our drinks and their taste.”
Bar manager Kieran added: “It’s been great to have the backing of Naveen and work with Will and the team at Parichat at Sohe to bring our shared vision to life. We’ve been bold and created some amazing flavour combinations based around Pan-Asian influences. It doesn’t stop at our drinks, as we’ll be hosting regular events in partnership with industry brands and we can’t wait to see the response.”
Parichat at Sohe is owned and managed by premium hotel and bar operator Cairn Group. For more information visit www.sohe.co.uk or call 0191 2818161.