Magazine / Coco Bayley for Balans National Porn Star Martini Day is upon us (yes it’s a thing…) Celebrations are planned at Balans (responsibly), and artist Coco Bayley has created some very special works to capture the ‘je ne sais quoi’ of the drink, for Balans. On Sunday 6th September, Balans will pay homage with Art, cocktails and chocolate will celebrate the drink on the street where it was invented.
Alongside Coco’s illustrations, which will be hung at No.60 on the day, the flagship Balans No.60 Old Compton Street will celebrate with 2 for 1 Happy Hour on Balans Porn Star Martinis all day, a handmade luxurious passion fruit chocolate truffle for each guest enjoying one of the drinks.
The Porn Star Martini cocktail was invented on Old Compton Street in 2002, a few doors down from Balans No.60 at a sadly missed bar, The Lab, by renowned bartender Douglas Ankrah and is today the nation’s most popular cocktail according to research. Balans’ bar team were taught the cocktail by Douglas after a shift, in the early hours, with the strict stipulation we must make the accompanying shot champagne to temper the sweet rather than prosecco. Balans has stuck to this ever since.
Coco Bayley is an artist obsessed with dining and restaurants. Her irreverent and playful style showcased in recent commissions from Vogue to Spain’s national broadsheet El Pais’ ICON Magazine has a wit and charm that Balans felt made her the perfect person to capture the spirit of the drink. Coco knows the industry having established numerous bars herself including Lant Street, Peckham Refreshment Rooms and The Peckham Hotel** and working more recently as a creative consultant for new hospitality ventures. This sensibility and deep feeling for the magic and theatre of hospitality, comes through in her work.
Balans’ Porn Star Martini
Tito’s vodka,
Vanilla,
passion fruit,
with a shot of Lanson champagne on the side.
Soho No. 60 (the big one)