Shaking up September at ‘Thomas’ by Tom Simmons

Pontcanna’s fine dining restaurant Thomas by Tom Simmons is joining forces with one of Cardiff city centre’s hippest cocktail bars Lab 22, to launch an exclusive cocktail and culinary event on the evening of Sunday 20th September.

Hosted by former MasterChef: The Professionals contestant Tom Simmons, Thomas is opening its doors to host this unique dining and drinking experience.

Customers are invited to shake off the shackles of lockdown and spice up their September with top-notch nibbles and liquid libations. Tom has devised a selection of posh bites to perfectly accompany Lab 22’s fresh assortment of alcoholic concoctions.

Guests can enjoy up to five hand-crafted cocktails with an accompanying selection of nibbles in the relaxed atmosphere of Thomas’ prohibition-style bar area.

Cocktails will include the intriguing ‘Toasted Plantain Old Fash’ to a ‘This is not a Pina Colada’. These extraordinary blends will be married with the likes of Tom’s crispy short rib of beef and his much-loved fish and chips. The rest of the menu will continue to delight, with the expert team at Lab 22 serving up classic tipples with a Tom Simmons twist. Guests can expect to have a Green Strawberry Bellini in one hand, and caviar in the other.

It will be the first time Tom and his team has joined forces with Lab 22, and the new collaboration is set to go off with a bang - 6pm to be precise.

Tom said of the new partnership: “We are really excited to be teaming up with Lab 22 for this end-of-summer event. The effects of lockdown have been a rollercoaster for the hospitality business, especially independent enterprises like us. We have been keen to dial up our offering since lockdown - from the takeaway service, fresh fish counter and limited sit-ins, to a more exciting experience for our customers.

“Lab 22 are constantly innovating in the drinks and cocktail arena and we are really excited about what they do, so the idea to partner up for an event like this seemed perfect, as we love to innovate with the dishes we create. We can’t wait to introduce our guests to our new bar, with new dishes and cocktails to match.”

Tani Hasa of Lab 22 said: “It is an amazing opportunity for us as a bar! We were always looking to come out of the quarantine strong and hit the ground running. Our bottled cocktail range from Lab Bottling co. was a great way to kick it off. But with this partnership, of two local heroes of independent business, we're looking to further improve what we can offer to the guests in terms of quality and unique experiences.

“The food Tom produces, and it's intricate attention to detail, really excites us as a bar. We cannot wait to get to grips with the menu for the evening & to start creating some wild concoctions! Here's to the first, of hopefully many more."

The one-off exclusive event is available to book for an all-inclusive ticket price of £60.

To purchase a ticket for 20th September, email: info@thomas-pontcanna.co.uk