Roll up, roll up – Circus

I was invited the other day to attend Circus Christmas showcase.  That’s right their Christmas showcase.  Christmas seems to get mentioned earlier and earlier each year. Sometimes I wonder if I ever should take down and pack away my Christmas tree.  However this was a fantastic Christmas spectacular.

I enjoyed the evening along with some other community members of Love Pop Ups London. We got to lounge in the Circus cocktail bar whilst enjoying circus / cabaret style acts and indulging on Christmas pan-Asian canapés.

Read on to find out more about Circus and about my experience.

Circus

Circus is collaboration of cabaret, restaurant and a cocktail bar venue which serve pan-Asian cuisine.

You can either go along and eat in the restaurant area (booking recommend) or pop in and enjoy their cocktail bar area whilst sipping and nibbling on tapas style food whilst watching four different acts throughout the evening.  All the acts are performed on and around the main stage table in the centre of the restaurant.

Their pan-Asian cuisine is created and overseen by Executive Chef Andrew Lassetter, who is constantly transforming the menu with new ideas and exciting dishes.

It can be found tucked away amongst the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden.

To discover more about dining at Circus or which drinks and food you can enjoy at the cocktail bar click here.

Circus Christmas Showcase taster 

If you are looking for a night of performance but don’t want to go to the theatre then Circus is most certainly a good alternative as throughout the night if you are dining or just chilling in the cocktail bar area you will be entertained with short, sharp bursts of entertainment all intriguing, skilful, weird and wonderful.

As I entered into the venue and stepped into the restaurant I noticed a long opaque table which the performers use and an open kitchen viewing area which I love as I love watching chefs at work.  There was also several booths and tables scattered around the restaurant area all with comfy looking chairs.

Cocktail bar

However I was not here to sit and have a 3 course dining meal I was here to sample Circus Christmas delights from the food to the entertainment.  I and my blogger friends we were whisked off to the back of the restaurant and taken to the cocktail bar instead where we sat and indulged in some amazing canapés whilst watching the acts throughout the evening.

The Christmas canapé bites which we sampled on the night:

Yellow Tail Sashimi
Truffle, soy, jalapeno & pickled beetroot

Chilli Salt Squid
Sweet chilli, salt & pepper

Aromatic Crispy Duck Wonton Dumpling
Pickled cucumber, coriander, spring onion & yusu plum sauce

Chilli Miso Chicken Skewers
Baby leeks, sesame & lime

Pumpkin Spring Roll
Chilli, spring onion & plum sauce

Truffle & Spinach Parcel
Yuzu soy

Date & Water Chestnut Gyoza
Spinach & red sweet vinegar

All the canapés looked stunning and tasted delicious.  However for me the Chilli Salt Squid and the Chilli Miso Chicken Skewers certainly were my favourite.

The Chilli Salt Squid was cooked to perfection and had just the right amount of batter and saltiness to it.  So if you are a fan of squid I highly recommend.

The Chilli Miso Chicken Skewers were exceptionally mouth-watering and very spicy.  It certainly did get my taste buds in a frenzy.  So if you are looking for that extra spice then I highly recommend ordering these skewers.

Also on the night we got various wines to taste and sampled their Christmas punch.  I am not usually keen on punch but wow I can certainly say that this punch was exceptional, I could not stop going back for more.  The punch consisted of vodka (which I am a fan of), grapefruit and gingerbread syrup.  It really did start to make me think of Christmas with its ginger notes.

However it has to be said the best part of this venue is the in-house entertainment as the performers were all so skilful.  I was told that performers during the week start from 6.30pm to 8pm and until late during Friday and weekends every half hour a new act comes on and performs for approx. 10 minutes entertaining everyone.

The performers are always different and are a variety of aerialists, to contortionists and acrobats, fire-breathers to hula-hoopers, burlesque and drag queens.  Whenever you go you will be sure to experience something different and amazing.

The night we visited we were entertained by fire eating performers, a drag queen singer, an aerial display and an acrobatics show leaving us all wowed.  We was even treated to some card magic by a female magician which left us wowed.

If you decide you would like to pop in for in for a drink and a snack at Circus cocktail bar entry usually is free except on Fridays and Saturdays where there is a £5 entry charge.

Circus for over Christmas

Small party booking  

Christmas bookings can be made from 1st of August for tables from 26th of November through till the 22nd of December.

Bookings for the Christmas menu require a minimum booking of 8 guests.  The 3 course Christmas menu can be found here.  Booking is required.

There are two sittings, 6:30pm and 7pm for the earlier sitting or later at 9:30pm if you would prefer to keep your table for the evening. Please note that reservations for the earlier times will be allotted 2 ¼ hours.

Over lunch they are open from 12pm until 5pm and take reservations at midday and 2:30pm. Each reservation will be allocated 2 ¼ hours.   Venue will close promptly at 5pm.

Prior to dining you are welcome to make use of the cocktail bar and lounge area.

Exclusive hire

This Christmas if you are looking for a venue to hold a large Christmas party or a Christmas social event Circus can make this happen.

The whole venue can be booked exclusively for either lunch (midday – 5pm) or dinner (6pm – late).  In booking out the whole venue a minimum spend will be required.  Minimum spends range from £6,000 – £16,000 for lunch hire and £14,00 – £35,000 for evening hire depending on date.  Plus the venue can be set for either seated (maximum 140 guests) or standing (300 guests).

Included in the private hire cost:

Four performances (which can be accommodated to your requests)*

• DJ (evening only)
• Registered security
• Manned cloakroom
• Friendly, professional & attentive staff
• AV facilities, wireless microphones, projector & screen
• Dedicated AV engineer

* The performers are not exclusive to Circus, so will be therefore be subject to availability.

To discover more about Circus and the food and drink which can be pre-ordered in advance click here.

Roll up, roll up this is my verdict

The whole evening was a delight from the food, drinks to the entertainment.  I never knew that you could enjoy the delights of Circus with just a cocktail at the bar, I always thought you had to eat in their restaurant to experience the wonder of Circus.

So no matter if you are looking for a sit down meal with a difference or just to be entertained and enlightened whilst sitting in the bar sipping on a cocktail or two then Circus is definitely the place to go.  You will leave chuckling and feeling very happy like a clown.

Book

Click here to book.

Bookings can be made up to six months in advance.

So roll up, roll up and head to Circus.

 

Thank you to Circus London for letting me and some others from Love Pop Ups London roll up to your Christmas showcase. This experience was complimentary but all views are my own honest opinion.

Click link below to read others latest blogs/reviews of their experience.  All their views are of their own honest opinions.

Circus London