Taking inspiration from listening bars in Japan in the early 50s Jazu bar is a relatively new kid on the Deptford scene.
Moving between residencies and pop-ups, the trio of co-founders have been building up to opening their own space for some time now
Bringing each of their expertise and working to refine the offering, Jimmy Hanmer, Scott Addison and Rosie Robertson are now welcoming you inside their very own four walls on Deptford High Street for what they brand as their idea of “a good night out”.
They opened up a few months back. Jimmy heads the kitchen, Scott the bar and Rosie is the “social mover” of Jazu, says Jimmy.
The space in Deptford came to be thanks to a Kickstarter campaign they ran, for which the three give a nod to all the supporters.
What is now Jazu came with a great late license, which they definitely welcomed. Bringing their focus of good drinks, good food and good music, it’s a space that “made sense” to them, says Rosie. “Deptford seems quite open to late nights; with the music being so important to the business, that became a central feature we were looking for.”
Jimmy explains: “People are still very interested in nightlife, obviously, but in terms of clubs, I think that appetite is not what it once was. There’s this sort of pressure of a whole ‘night out’ thing. But places that do a combination of things, like a nice sound system and good drinks, it ticks a lot of boxes for people – and I think that’s where we come in.”
Inside, Jazu has created a vinyl-only setup, with a bespoke DJ booth and sound system, both made in southeast London. A sleek, curved concrete bar and a record wall boasting over 3,000 vinyl. On Friday and Saturday nights, the decks welcome everyone from high-profile DJs to local selectors, playing from 7pm through to 3am.
Jimmy says that there is a “huge want and desire for nightlife across the UK, so places that are open late are going to be beacons”. Especially for music, he adds.
“There’s such a big scene in south London for live music, DJs and producing, but at the same time, I don’t think many spaces nurture it or capture it.”
Rosie adds how what they are doing at Jazu is for such a broad bracket: “It’s nice to be a night out for anyone from like 20 to 60. This hybrid space, you get a more interesting, broader crowd, I think it’s nice.”
For drinks, Scott explains how it was created with balance in mind. “We use really good base spirits, with interesting flavour combinations,” he says, “with lots of inspiration from classic cocktails, but making small tweaks that we think improve them.”
After finding a distributor with a good agave portfolio, Scott says they lent into that mezcal and tequila scene heavily. Although fewer may feature on the menu now, tequila and mezcal-based drinks are still a staple, and “we try to keep an interesting selection of mezcals on the back bar for people to try, too”.
And their Jazu cocktail favourites? The Mezcal Mule for Scott (Lost Explorer Espadin Mezcal, ginger, lime, soda and Angostura bitters).
“It’s been on the list for three years now, it ticks all of the boxes for me,” he says. “It’s got an intense ginger flavour because we press the ginger fresh and add bitters, with a really good mezcal that I don’t think anyone else would use.
“It’s a great way to start the night because it’s long and refreshing, but then you can also carry on drinking them throughout, too.”
Rosie will take a Mezcalita (Lost Explorer Espadin Mezcal, lime, agave, jalapeño and Tajin), and for Jimmy, a Guinness: “I said when Scott put it on the menu that it’s not going to take off, but it has.”
The evening menu of small plates is concise and loosely inspired by the cocktails they serve, which change with the seasons.
Featuring dishes like smoked cod’s roe with courgette fritti, pan-fried rare breed pork chop with homemade jerk sauce and smacked cucumbers, and a monkfish burger with garlic mayonnaise and chimichurri sauce.
For brunch, you can take the eggs Benedict with house-cured bacon using rare-breed pork or go sweet with the French toast with caramelised brioche and pistachio, yoghurt, blackberries and bourbon caramel.
The fresh takes on classic brunch dishes will be accompanied by a line-up of cocktail specials. The rotating menu will kick off with a House Bellini, Bloody Mary and Oaxacan Lemonade.
Of the food offering, Jimmy explains how they “always try our best to source the finest quality available” built around “nibbles you can eat with your hands”. But you can also expect food pop-ups – they recently welcomed LÁ LÔT serving up Vietnamese delights – as well as takeovers during special weeks. Think tacos during Mezcal Week, and Kentucky-themed dishes during Old Fashioned Week.
“They’ll be some sort of thematic dramatization of food menus as we go along, just to keep things interesting,” adds Jimmy.
What else can you expect from Jazu? Well, they recently hosted an album launch party for artist Rosie Lowe where she played her new record in full.
“It was a good, immersive experience,” says Jimmy, “and you’re getting the best out of the speakers and your surroundings”.
Enjoying the “deep listening” of music, recreating you “basically at home with your headphones on”, Jimmy says they will look to do more similar events.
Rosie explains how, when they had the idea of Jazu, they were taking inspiration from listening bars in Japan in the early 50s – “quiet, serious listening”. And now it feels “like completing the circle”.
Jazu in its new home really does seem like a circular moment, and they’ll stay spinning on the decks just enough to keep you on your toes, too.
2 Deptford High Street, SE8 4AF
www.jazudrinks.com