Gin Bar of the Month: Simpsons Gin Bar, Sutton Coldfield

Simpsons Gin Bar

7A High Street
Sutton Coldfield
B72 1XH
0121 354 4474
simpsonsbar.com

It’s always wonderful to see Craft Gin Club members introducing their favourite spirit to friends and family. But Anne-Marie and Derek Simpson have taken their love of gin one step further, by opening the beautiful Simpsons Gin Bar in Sutton Coldfield!

Having moved to this lovely spot in the West Midlands from Newcastle 25 years ago, Anne-Marie and Derek loved being part of the community. But as time went by – and their personal gin collection kept growing – they wondered why no local bars or restaurants were offering superior-quality cocktails in a relaxed yet elegant environment.

Anne-Marie explains, “Whilst we enjoy some of the great pubs in town, we thought that it would be fun to open a bar with a different slant: table service and great cocktails in a luxurious environment. There was no question as to what our focus would be: gin!”

They decided to open their own gin joint, and just this February they opened the doors to Simpsons Gin Bar. This beautiful storefront right on the High Street is an elegant, fun, carefree place for a prohibition style knees-up – and the cocktails simply can’t be beaten. 

“Simpsons Gin Bar is unique in Sutton Coldfield,” says Anne-Marie. “Not just because of the focus on gin, but also our approach to table surface and the surroundings, which reflect a 1920s, Art Deco feel.”

With the vibe just right and the service unassailable, Anne-Marie and Derek got down to the most important thing: putting together a list of gins to set any spirit lover’s heart aflutter. They started simply.

“Our initial gin list was a solid list of house gins to give our guests a list of familiar favourites or a bit of an introduction,” says Anne-Marie. “Then we created a specialist range that were a little less known, a little more adventurous and demonstrated the diversity of gin available.”

Altogether, Simpsons has pulled together an amazing list of more than 70 gins, each paired perfectly with a mixer and garnish or mixed up into a fabulously creative cocktail like the signature cocktail below. Whether you’re looking for an old favourite, a new taste or some of the weirdest and wildest gins on the market, the staff at Simpson’s Gin Bar can walk you through the wonderful world of craft gin.

Anne-Marie says, “This has proved a popular approach with our guests, but it has created some issues with the size of the printed menu! Fortunately, our fabulous team are all very experienced gin masters, and take great pleasure and pride in helping guests with their choice of spirit, mixer and garnish.”

The friendly staff – and fabulous cocktails and G&Ts they deliver right to your table – are the core of what makes Simpsons special. Anne-Marie continues, “Service is at the heart of what we do, and we want to leave our guests delighted with the whole experience, from the food to the service to the drinks.”

Getting peckish? Partake in one of Simpsons fabulous sharing plates, overflowing with British cheeses and finely cured meats, recently re-introduced due to popular demand. Or pop in for a wine or gin tasting, one of the many events hosted in this beautiful gin joint every month.

And there are more changes afoot for summer: as of this month, you can while away your summer Saturday evening in a brand-new outside space.

“We’re very excited about our new terrace,” says Anne-Marie. “It will be open over the weekends in the summer, and we’ve created outside seating in a cosy, candlelit environment to allow our guests to enjoy the warm summer evenings.”

A G&T on the terrace? Sounds like a perfect way to spend an evening – and with the whole Simpson family so passionate about delivering fantastic drinks, delicious food and unimpeachable customer service, you’re sure to have a wonderful evening here (and might even meet Jess, the family dog).

Anne-Marie says, “Our vibe is relaxed luxury. Come to Simpsons to forget the grey and step into a cosy, chilled atmosphere where you can relax and have fun. Our little bar is a real family venture, and we’re very passionate about it.”