Visiting Club Soda’s Pop-Up

club soda pop up

As you may recall last month I ventured into London to check out the alcohol-free off-licence popup project between Anya Hindmarch and The Dry Drinker.com. It was a great tie-up where they recreated the look and feel of an authentic shop licence that was completely ‘dry’. So it was with much anticipation that I headed to Club Soda’s project in central London.

Club Soda helps to empower people to choose better alcohol-free drinks, make connections, and discover how to change drinking habits … so they certinly know a thing or two about non-alcoholic products.

On entering the store in Great Portland Street I felt like Charlie entering Willy Wonka’s factory.  I was greeted by a large array of shelves containing all manner of colourful alcohol-free drinks. In one area a vast selection of alcohol-free bars, on one wall, rows and rows of unique and familiar spirits and mixers, on the opposite side a great collection of alcohol-free wines. What a choice!

As you may recall last month I ventured into London to check out the alcohol-free off-license popup project between Anya Hindmarch and The Dry Drinker.com. It was a great tie-up where they recreated the look and feel of an authentic shop licence that was completely ‘dry’. So it was with much anticipation that I headed to central London to check out Club Soda’s Pop-Up Off-licence.

Club Soda helps to empower people to choose better alcohol-free drinks, make connections, and discover how to change drinking habits … so they certainly know a thing or two about non-alcoholic products.

On entering the store in Great Portland Street I felt like Charlie entering Willy Wonka’s factory.  I was greeted by a large array of shelves containing all manner of colourful alcohol-free drinks. In one area a vast selection of alcohol-free bars, on one wall, rows and rows of unique and familiar spirits and mixers, on the opposite side a great collection of alcohol-free wines. What a choice!

club soda pop up

Taste-testing alcohol-free drinks

The main difference between Club Soda’s pop-up and the previous one by Dry Drinker was the fact I could taste-test near enough every product on display. In the middle of the store was a tasting area where they had a number of open bottles/ cans which they would pour into your waiting glass.

The three staff manning the shop were experts in the contents sitting on the shelves. A chap name Johnny, owner of a great alcohol-free app ‘Better Without’ (I recommend downloading this free app as it details how/ where you can purchase all these different drinks) was working there. He helped guide me through the various drinks I’ve not yet tried; there were so many on offer I barely scratched the surface.

I thought this pop-up was a great success – helping to raise awareness of alcohol-free drinking and I came out laden with new products to try (soon to be reviewed on My Dry Bar). If you are at all cynical about the quality and consistency of non-alcoholic drinks I recommend you get down to their store before it closes at the end of the month and get the team to take you on a booze-free journey.

taste testing alcohol-free