Yo Ho! and a bottle of rum. Me and some others of Love Pop Ups London community set sail and boarded Pirates of Hidden Spirit an immersive pirate cocktail bar on a complimentary basis in return for a Pirates log.
Pirates of Hidden Spirit by Inventive Productions
Before I give you the low down of our captains log here is the undercover story of what Pirates of Hidden Spirit is about.
The Pirates of Hidden Spirit is a new immersive cocktail experience which will transport guests, or should I say pirates, into an exciting world of mischief and theft as they steal the hidden treasure from the grasps of the U.S Government all whilst enjoying delicious cocktails on board.
For three days each week, Sir Francis Drake’s The Golden Hinde will transform into The Hidden Spirit.
“Legend has it, decades ago, over $2 million in riches were dumped in an unknown location and hidden at sea!
Following the discovery of a cipher stating “The Secret Lies With Elizabeth”, the U.S Government commissioned The Hidden Spirit, which has undergone an epic journey to London to recover the hidden treasure.
The commanding Governor has hired Captain Jack Cassidy to find a new crew to safely bring home the riches, but with over $2million on board, Cassidy has his own ideas and needs recruits prepared to break the law and turn to a life of piracy!
Step aboard The Hidden Spirit this winter and join the undercover crew!
Take your share of the world’s finest collection of precious metals & jewels, liquors & liqueurs and enjoy some delicious cocktails on board to make the journey and time at sea all that bit richer.
Set on board a real ship docked in London, those willing to join Captain Jack Cassidy’s undercover crew will be taken on an epic journey of mischief as they steal the hidden treasure in this unique immersive cocktail experience.”
Inventive Productions founder, Sam Shearman says
“We’re thrilled to welcome aboard guests and give them the opportunity to be fully immersed in a night of raucous pirate adventure and world-class cocktails on one of the most significant ships in history. Pirates of the Hidden Spirit continues our commitment to offering unforgettable, quirky and fun nights out across the capital.”
Love the sound of Pirates of the Hidden Spirits or if Pirates are not for you then you can always go along to Inventive Productions other immersive bars for either Alcotraz or Moonshine Saloon instead.
So if you like a bit of drama with your drinking, look lively, pirates, prisoners or cowboys/girls as with Inventive Productions you can.
The Golden Hinde
The Golden Hinde is the first English ship to circumnavigate the globe between 1577-1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake. She was originally known as Pelican, but was renamed by Drake mid-voyage in 1578, in honour of his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose crest was a golden ‘hind’ (a female red deer).
The Golden Hinde is a full-sized, still sail-able reconstruction containing original pieces of the galleon which exist in London, on the South Bank of the River Thames.
Becoming a pirate on Hidden Spirit
Love Pop Ups London log by Curls (aka Joanne me)
All hands on deck for the famous Golden Hinde for our rum-fuelled journey back in time to 1795.
Firstly we were greeted by some crew members and told of the treasure and stash of Gold Shimmer before being suited and booted with a pirates three-cornered hat and sea-faring jacket before heading below deck for our 1 hr & 45 min session.
Upon donning our clobber feeling like part of the crew it was time to meet the Governor who told us about his treasure and made us sign a contract before we headed on down to the gun deck. 
Here we met Captain Jack who told us why he needed new crew and the reason was because his old crew was unable to set sail back to America as they mysteriously all fell ill. So Jack needs new landlubbers to form a new crew, only this time he is looking for…PIRATES!
Once all of us crew mates were in order and ready to help bring home the plunder. We learnt more about the Governor and the vast treasure, including all of the liquor and spirits contained within the chest.
However before taking on our pirate duties Jack gave us a secret message.
Shhhhhhh, question is are you the right pirate for the job and turn your back on the Law?
We were then handed our first drink of the night which was a small bottle containing a rum cocktail called Gold Shimmer and it really did look like gold liquid. Perhaps that is because this luxurious cocktail was actually formed from pieces of gold taken from the treasure so it had to be sipped surreptitiously to avoid falling foul of the Governor.
The grog was zesty and made my tongue tingle. After I was just yearning for more and more as Yo Ho Ho! a bottle of rum is a Pirates life for me.
It was then down to the barrel deck for yet more cocktails to celebrate the spirit of adventure.
We privileged, we plundered, we rifled, our way through, ok maybe not quite but we certainly drank our way through much grog.
Sitting around large barrels we could have another two cocktails of our choise.
You could opt from St Mary’s Margarita, Soho Gold, Cannon Street, Royal Docks, Mile End Mule and Beneath the Bridge.
I opted for a Beneath the Bridge which was Salted Caramel Old Fashioned made with Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit Rye, Salted Caramel infusion, Wakame & Sansho Bitters. Sweet caramel taste which I loved but the alcohol was too over powering for me.
For my second drink I had a Mile End Mule which was an Electric Mule combing Ketal One Vodka, Ginger, Citrus Flavouring and Japanese Sansho pepper. Was tasty and a tad spicy with a little heat but I loved it.
Whilst sitting around talking and drinking some old salts (actors/actresses) came over to say ahoy and told us stories of their travels, played a game of Liar’s Dice with us and had our fortunes told. One crew member even gave me a pirates name of Curls.
Avast ye though whilst swigging back the rest of your Golden Shimmer and other grog as the Governor is always lurking around checking if anyone has found their way into his loot. Otherwise if you get caught you might be told to walk the plank.
Before the night was out and swigging back our last cocktail we were taken abaft to a secret area in which we heard more stories by Jack and had a shot of very strong rum, enough to make any pirate fall off the plank accidentally.
With all the drink you might as well say I was nearly three sheets to the wind “Yo Ho Ho! and a bottle of rum”.
A gem of a night
It was a swashbuckling evening from the interacting with the old salts to swigging back the cocktails and having a laugh with friends.
However even though I loved my whole experience I would of loved a mission to of been set up to find some real gold (ok maybe gold chocolate coins) on board the ship but apart from that I loved all the interacting elements of the night.
My favourite drink was the Golden Shimmer I just wish I could of bought more or even won more as it was pure gold.
So Yo Ho, Yo Ho! it’s a pirates life for me on Hidden Spirits.
If you love immersive experiences and drinking then I highly recommend grabbing your crew and adventuring on the Golden Hinde. Forget the pub head on down to Pirates of Hidden Spirit.
My vlog of the night
Watch at your own peril as there is spoiler alerts.
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Join Pirates of Hidden Spirits and you’ll be rich beyond your wildest dreams and drunk on the world’s finest liquor!
Where to find us
Pirates of the Hidden Spirit can be found at St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral St, London SE1 9DG
HIDDEN SPIRITS NOW SADLY CLOSED DOWN
I ain’t no pirate
Don’t like Pirates then check Inventive Productions other immersive cocktail bars:
Moonshine Saloon which is London’s first Western cocktail experience
or
Alcotraz the world’s first prison themed bar
Thanks to Inventive Productions for letting me and some other members of Love Pop Ups London come along to be a pirate for the night. The experience was complimentary but all views are my own honest opinion.
Click below to read the blogs from other community members whom joined me on the night. All their views are of their own honest opinion
Pirate slang:
All hands hoay = Everyone get on the deck
Avast ye = Pay attention
Abaft = Back area of the boat
Ahoy, matey = Hello, friend
Old salt = A sailor that has a great deal of experience on the seas
Three sheets to the wind = Someone who is quite drunk
Walk the plank = A punishment which entails someone who walks over the side of the ship off of the plank. Their hands are often tied so that they cannot swim and they drowned.
Yo Ho = There is often used to express some sort of cheer but also can be used to call attention to the speaker.
“I love going out discovering new and existing restaurants, theatres, immersive experiences and so much more but I also love staying in and discovering new gadgets, gaming and cooking.
