Dover Yard, the serene, sustainably minded bar inside 1 Hotel Mayfair, has unveiled a new cocktail experience that goes far beyond taste. The new menu, titled Regenerative Forces, explores nature’s capacity for renewal through the lens of the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Curated by Director of Bars Giulio Guarini, the menu offers imaginative takes on classic cocktails, all grounded in a philosophy of sustainability, seasonality, and storytelling.
It is no secret that we love Dover Yard. The depth of talent in the team and the quality of mixology and hospitality are some of the very best in London, if not the world. There is always a great vibe in the bar, making Dover Yard somewhere you want to linger for a long time.
Elemental Flames: The Bold Pulse of Reinvention
Elemental Flames, the Fire chapter of the menu, represents passion, transformation, and intensity. Here, traditional cocktails are reimagined with smoky, spicy, and toasty nuances that spark the palate. As Giulio said, “There is no regeneration without the structure.”
The standout is Tingly Jam, a fiery Margarita that pushes boundaries. Casamigos Blanco tequila is beurre noisette-washed to add a rich, nutty base, then infused with poblano pepper and Tingly Ted’s hot sauce. A miniature hot sauce bottle on the side adds both playfulness and personalisation. Each fire-inspired cocktail is paired with bold bites from the bar menu—crispy fried chicken, for example, was crafted to complement the Tingly Jam’s heat.
0% ABV option: A non-alcoholic version ensures that even those skipping spirits can enjoy the same sensory kick, with the beurre noisette and chili complexity preserved using alternative bases.
Earthly Revivals: Grounded in Nature’s Wisdom
The Earthly Revivals section channels the restorative power of soil, roots, and flora. These drinks are herbal, rooted, and rich, offering a visceral connection to the forest floor.
Enter Barley & Spore, an Old Fashioned with an otherworldly twist. The bourbon is infused with mushrooms and enriched with mead, Guinness, and earthy botanicals. It’s a deep, almost meditative cocktail that draws on nature’s healing traditions. This is a big step into regenerative mixology with ingredients that are salvaged or repurposed at Dover Yard. Mushroom stems, which might be discarded in a traditional kitchen, become essential building blocks in these earthy concoctions.
Another favourite that really showcases Dover Yard was a highball that is unlike one you will try. Not a Guinness features Fielden Rye, repurposed bread, ginger mead and blackberry. This creation features Kvass, a fermented, cereal-based beverage made by fermenting rye bread (or sometimes barley or wheat) with water, using natural yeasts. This creation is really brilliant and balanced.
0% ABV option: A spirit-free variation uses fermented grains and a mushroom tincture, offering the same grounded flavour without the alcohol.
Celestial Flows: Moments of Lift and Lightness
Celestial Flows explores the sky’s clarity and energy, with drinks that are effervescent, bright, and slightly surreal. Ultimately, it is designed to uplift both mood and mind. “Dedicated to celestial systems that regenerate the planet” – Giulio Guarini.
The highlight here is Cloud Control, a reimagined Paloma that’s equal parts playful and provocative. Mijenta tequila is mixed with tomato, jalapeño, blackcurrant, and Mancino Rosso Amaranto. The result is a cocktail that’s airy in texture, yet grounded with spice and umami. A soft cloud of foam gives the drink its signature “fluffy” texture, a nod to the movement and transformation air represents.
0% ABV option: Crafted with non-alcoholic amaro, jalapeño syrup, and carbonated citrus, delivering the same skybound lift without the buzz.
Aqua Vitae: Flow, Balance, and Renewal
Water is a life-giving source and in the Aqua Vitae section, it’s honoured through cocktails that hydrate, soothe, and refresh. These are drinks of rhythm and reflection, mirroring the body’s need for balance and fluidity. “Dedicated to the different sources of water that regenerate the planet” – Giulio Guarini.
Lost in Translation is a standout, a reinterpreted Bramble that blends sake, coconut cream, and strawberry. Smooth and lightly tropical, it’s built for sipping slowly, like waves lapping against the shore. This category celebrates ingredients with high water content and hydrating properties, showcasing how cocktails can be both luxurious and rejuvenating.
0% ABV option: Uses verjus, coconut water, and strawberry reduction, proving that refreshment and depth needn’t depend on alcohol.
Image courtesy of Eva Makraiova
Sustainability as a Creative Practice
Dover Yard’s identity is a deep reverence for nature, not only in concept but in execution. The bar’s sustainability ethos is rooted in two guiding principles:
1. Repurposed Ingredients: Many cocktail components are made from kitchen by-products. Citrus peels become oleo-saccharum; stale bread is transformed into kvass; mushroom offcuts and spent coffee grounds fuel infusions. Every element has a second life.
Earlier this year, Giulio and Marco travelled to Kentucky to collaborate with Maker’s Mark on crafting a bespoke bourbon: the Dover Yard Private Select 2024. Inspired by the distillery’s innovative mushroom program and farm, they returned to London and built a mushroom lab right inside 1 Hotel Mayfair. The result is Barley & Spore: a rich, umami-laced twist on the classic Old Fashioned, made with Maker’s 46 and finished with their exclusive Private Select bottling. The mushrooms, cultivated in-house, now take centre stage in this deeply grounded cocktail that bridges global craftsmanship with hyper-local ingenuity.
2. Seasonal & Local Produce: Sourcing is guided by the rhythms of nature. Ingredients are local, fresh, and regionally specific, thus reinforcing a sense of place and moment. Guarini notes that “we are making artisanal ingredients that preserve the representation of the programme”.
These practices not only reduce waste but also enhance creativity, encouraging the team to innovate with limitations and find beauty in what’s often overlooked.
Comfort Food with a Conscience
Drinks at Dover Yard are designed to be paired with a menu of modern, nourishing dishes created by Chef Tom Sellers, known for his Michelin-starred storytelling through food.
Guests can expect offerings like:
- Crispy fried chicken with honey-hot sauce
- Grilled flatbreads and dips
- Chimichurri burger (plant-based)
- Seasonal salads, fries, and bar snacks
Each dish is made with the same dedication to seasonal, local sourcing, forming a seamless culinary experience that complements the cocktails.
A Menu that Moves with the Elements
With Regenerative Forces, Dover Yard invites guests on a sensorial journey through the elements. Each drink is more than just a cocktail; it is a tribute to resilience, transformation, and the beauty of the natural world.
Whether you’re seeking Fire’s bold heat, Earth’s grounded depth, Air’s lifted clarity, or Water’s gentle flow, you’ll find a glass that speaks to your moment and perhaps, to your own regenerative rhythm.
For more information, please visit Dover Yard
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Images courtesy of Dover Yard and Eva Makraiova.