Opening in May, Sister Ray promises to bring something a little different to the city fusing laid back European cafe culture with the effortlessly chic and cool vibes of the New York bar scene.
By day, Sister Ray is a hangout for all. Drink coffee, work, waste some time, most importantly, make the place yours and stay as long as you desire. As the moon comes up Sister Ray will travel in the direction of the guests it houses; afterwork drinks, cocktails with the girls, date night, mate night – Sister Ray is a roof under which all can gather.
As founder of Sister Ray Chris Edwards states:
“The bar takes its name from a Velvet Underground track I love that starts with a pretty reliable rock ‘n’ roll groove that descends into a debauched soundscape via riffs of, funk, disco, post punk, jazz and grunge. It’s much how I see the bar evolving from day to night, a quiet reliable workspace by day, that gets a little looser as the night creeps in.”
Guests can walk up to the bar and just grab a beer or find a comfortable booth and have beautifully prepared cocktails made using some of the best spirits and ingredients delivered to the table. The beer is perfectly cold, served in frozen glasses; the wine menu showcases small producers from all over the world. The cocktail menu is home to perfectly made classics and chaotic unusual combinations. The first half of the menu is inspired by the team’s numerous visits to New York over the last 20 years, with a list of 10 drinks ranging from timeless classics such as the Old Fashioned and Martini alongside modern classics including Attaboys Paper Plane and the Dead Rabbits Bankers Punch.
In addition the team have created 20 unique serves inspired by everything from the Crosby coastline to the team’s Yorkshire roots (and love for Rhubarb) Some examples of the drinks include A Paloma-style Tom Collins riff that uses rhubarb wine and habanero, A lapsang souchong and black peppercorn infused Armagnac Old Fashioned and an Gin martini ode to Liverpool’s coastal heritage flavoured with oyster leaf and kombu.
Whilst the drinks will be the star of the show, the talent behind them can not be ignored. Founder Chris Edwards, previously owned Filter and Fox, a Top 50 bar whose stories are still told around many tables in the city; he is also co-founder of some of the city’s favourite eateries, Belzan and Madre. Joining Chris will be Lewis Jenkins previously of Hawksmoor and Swift (no. 30 in World’s Best Cocktail Bars) and Carey Hanlon most recently of Present Company and formerly Head Bartender at Amsterdam’s SuperLyan within the world famous Mr Lyan drink groups.
Chris Edwards comments:
“Investing in the team for Sister Ray was a priority for me, with this talent concentrated on one venue we can be sure to render the most creative, meticulously crafted and best tasting drinks in the city.”
The soundtrack is curated by Chris and various local DJs and musicians whose playlists cover everything from disco to funk, to rock & roll, jazz and calypso. No music is off limits and whilst there’s no Jukebox, guests are actively encouraged to request music.
Above all Sister Ray aims to welcome everyone, encouraging them to come as they please and enjoy whatever kind of night they desire; a proper egalitarian spot in the heart of the city where great cocktails, good Guinness, all sorts of music and all kinds of people can be together.
Sister Ray will open to the public on Saturday 11 May.
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