The ‘mindful drinking specialists’ tasting room and shop

AN alcohol-free bar is looking for a new home after announcing it will be moving out of its Covent Garden tasting room, writes Richard Osley.

Club Soda insisted its departure from Drury Lane when its lease expires later this month would not be the end of its story and that a new location was being sought.

“We’re at the end of our lease and the landlord needs to finally sort some long-standing drain issues (honestly… if you know, you know ?),” a social media post said.

“Don’t panic – this isn’t the end. Not even close. Thank you for being part of this with us, you’ve helped prove that great drinks don’t need alcohol to be special.”

The company has promoted “mindful drinking” and customers are given drinks to sample free of charge each week, including “adult soft drinks” and “mood enhancers”.

Its promotions said “reducing the pressure to drink unlocks real choice: individuals reclaim control, and society evolves towards a richer, more balanced relationship with alcohol.”

The bar in Covent Garden was opened in 2022 by businesswoman Laura Willoughby, a former Liberal Democrats councillor and parliamentary candidate in Islington.

Although regularly making appearances in our sister newspaper, the Islington Tribune, she described the other, the CNJ as a “s**t paper – they are tossers” after local election defeats in 2014.

She gave up drinking more than a decade ago and has described the alcohol-free drinks movement as an “equality campaign”.

She once told The Drinks Business industry magazine: “We need nice tasty drinks instead of J2O or half a pint of Coke, because I’m not 12.

“I always say when I go out, ‘My money is as good as anyone else’s; why don’t you want it?

“I’m happy to spend as much money as people who drink, you just have to give me the things to spend the money on’.”