April Jackson to open second cocktail bar in Pop Brixton

London restaurateur April Jackson has revealed plans to open a second bar in Pop Brixton this year.

It follows the launch of her ABV rum cocktail bar at the shipping container development in 2021.

While ABV is based around rum cocktails, the new bar will focus on tequila and will be called Batanga. A batanga cocktail is made with tequila, lime juice, and coke.

Jackson and her partner, operations manager Lee Tan, are hoping to open the venue at the end of October or beginning of November.

Jackson told The Caterer that the approach to design and service would be similar to ABV which she said offered the same attention to detail and level of service as a bricks and mortar establishment.

The former Miss Jamaica Universe and contestant on BBC's The Apprentice opened Three Little Birds restaurant in London’s Brixton in 2015. She relaunched the restaurant as the more upmarket concept Wood & Water in November 2021, with Three Little Birds now operating as the catering arm of her business.

A Three Little Birds sister site in Clapham closed last year due to staffing shortages and Jackson confirmed that future expansion plans would be focused on bars rather than restaurants.

“Bar operations are far easier than kitchen operations. It’s a lot more simplified, it’s easier to staff, it’s easier to manage," she said.

"When you add in a kitchen it adds a whole different layer of complexity to the operation.

“Even when you have people eating out less, we have seen that people are still drinking out, so from a business perspective, I do think that it’s a smarter move.”

See this week’s copy of The Caterer for our interview with April Jackson.