The Drunken Chef UK

The Drunken Chef UK I love cooking, baking and a good gin. I'll share these dishes I love to make accompanied by a big glass of something.

I'll also share dishes from eateries I have visited. I enjoy food photography and styling so all pics are taken by yours truly.

23/06/2026

Summer cocktail season officially starts here ☀️🍹

Nothing says summer quite like firing up the BBQ, gathering with friends and family, enjoying a refreshing Spiced ‘N’ Stormy.

Made with the NEW Bajan Spiced Rum, now available in stores across the UK, this easy summer serve combines authentic Mount Gay rum with natural ingredients and notes of ginger, citrus and warm spice.

What really stood out for us was just how refreshing it was. The combination of Mount Gay Bajan Spiced and Fever-Tree ginger beer was a definite winner around the BBQ table and the perfect accompaniment to a summer evening with friends ☀️

🍹 Spiced ‘N’ Stormy Recipe

• 50ml Mount Gay Bajan Spiced
• 80ml Ginger Beer
• Grapefruit wedge garnish
• Plenty of ice

Method:
Fill a tall or rocks glass with ice, pour in Mount Gay Bajan Spiced, top with ginger beer, stir gently and garnish with grapefruit.

Perfect for BBQ season, garden gatherings and golden hour evenings.

Fun fact: Crafted in Barbados, the birthplace of rum, by the world’s oldest running rum distillery established in 1703.



18+ Please Drink Responsibly.

20/06/2026

Ever fancied cocktails in the sky?

Perched 100 metres above Portsmouth Harbour, at the iconic offers one of the UK’s highest bar experiences, pairing panoramic views with cocktails inspired by Portsmouth’s maritime history.

We tried four of their flagship cocktails along with some bar snacks:

🍸 Nelson’s Demise – Brandy, Pedro Ximenez sherry, chocolate and orange.

🍸 Spice Island Trader – Portsmouth and Jamaican rum, pineapple, lime and scotch bonnet.

🍸 Sunk in the Solent – Tudor gin, violet, elderflower, lime, apple and cherry.

🍸 Spinnaker Tower – Salt vodka, banana liqueur, coconut and soda.

The cocktails were so delicious, but what makes them special is the story behind them. Each has been carefully created to reflect Portsmouth, its people and its seafaring past.

Whether you’re celebrating, planning a date night, catching up with friends or simply fancy feeling a little extra fancy, this is a unique way to experience one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.

Your £10 ticket includes a glass of Moët & Chandon on arrival, access to the viewing deck, and yes, you can take your drinks up with you to enjoy the view. Sky Bar currently operates with sittings at 7pm and 9:30pm, with advance booking is a must.

[Invited]

📍

06/06/2026

⚠️ LOST VISITOR FOOTAGE RECOVERED ⚠️

Hidden beneath the streets of London lies Hexmoor… a secret wizarding prison filled with magical cocktails, dark corridors and suspicious inmates.

From the second you enter, you are handed prison overalls to don before being placed into your cells as the experience begins.

The actor interactions are incredible and the drinks feel more like potion experiments than cocktails. You genuinely forget you’re in London for an hour and a half.

Would you survive Hexmoor and escape its walls? ⚡️

Mocktails are also available for those wanting the full immersive experience without alcohol.

🎥 Filmed from my POV experience
📍 Hackney Rd, London, E2 8GY

Gifted experience with:



25/05/2026

Another fun evening at with Lulu from 🌱

This time it was a Korean Street Food Workshop through , and it was great catching up with Lulu again alongside such a lovely group 😁

We started by making the sauces and chilli dip for the bulgogi lettuce wraps and dumplings. The dumplings used jackfruit. I’ve never used this ingredient before and it’s amazing, the texture was so much like chicken thigh, and it’s like real meat! 🥟🔥

Lulu is such a fun and relaxed teacher, along with her team, making everything easy to follow while still packing huge flavour into every dish. I’ve loved both workshops I’ve been to with her.

What always surprises me is that everything is totally plant based 🌱 You genuinely wouldn’t know from the flavour and richness in the recipes.

Would totally recommend giving one of these workshops a go 👨‍🍳

24/05/2026

🧀 NEW MENU LAUNCH at 🧀

I was invited along with to try the brand new menu at Churchur Cheese inside at .

Think proper indulgent, cheesy comfort food in one of the best chill-out spots in Portsmouth. A big win for the local food scene ❤️

⸻

📍 THE VENUE

The Fossil Thief is such a great place to hang out, especially when the sun’s out and you’ve got views across Gunwharf. It works just as well for a coffee stop as it does for cocktails, craft beer, or a full-on food session. Fridays and Saturdays it also stays open until 10pm.

Now with Churchur Cheese in the mix, it’s officially a go-to for serious comfort food 🧀🔥

⸻

🤝 LOCAL PRODUCERS DONE RIGHT

One of my favourite things about this concept is how much they champion local businesses:

🥐 Patisserie from
☕️ Coffee from
🥩 Smoked meats from
🥖 Baguettes from the Isle of Wight
🥪 Sourdough for the toasties from a local baker up in Waterlooville

It’s great food, but also a proper shout-out to Portsmouth and surrounding producers 👏

⸻

🧀 WHAT WE TRIED

•HAMen Cheese Toastie
BearBones smoked ham with four melted cheeses. Absolute comfort food heaven.
The Smoke Pit gravy on the side was dangerously good… everything ended up getting dunked in it.

•Smoked Brisket Holy Macaroni
Rich, cheesy, loaded with bacon and seriously generous toppings.

•Cheese & Bacon Tater Tots
Fresh made, crispy and next level cheesy. You can really taste the difference.

We shared everything between the two of us and it was more than enough.

⸻

Big thanks to Churchur Cheese & The Fossil Thief for having us along 🫶

If you’re into cheese, comfort food, and supporting local, this is a definite one to try ❤️

19/05/2026

POV: you book yourself a Cake & Sip afternoon and suddenly realise cake decorating is WAY harder than it looks 🍰

Spent a Saturday afternoon at with talented baker .lauren and honestly had the BEST time.

2 cocktails, cake decorating, endless buttercream patience, all the decorations, plus a cake box to safely take your masterpiece home 🫶

Lauren had SO many colours, sugar decorations and bows to personalise your cake too 🎀

I’d never iced or decorated a cake before so I was genuinely proud of how mine turned out 😂

Would really recommend booking onto one of Lauren’s fun workshops at one of the local venues she collaborates with. Such a wholesome activity and you leave with a tasty decorated cake to take home afterwards 🍰

And trust me… if I can do it, anyone can ⭐️🎂

13/05/2026

Southsea has a stunning new spot and it’s one to know about 🍽️🍸

Set inside the iconic corner building on Kings Road and Flint Street, has had a full transformation by the owners Rob Lee, Jodie Day and Ben Hamer. Locals may remember the buildings past lives, but it’s now been completely reimagined into something fresh, stylish and full of atmosphere.

Inside, it’s all high ceilings, warm lighting and rich textures that give it a luxe, Pacific inspired feel while still staying relaxed and social. It works perfectly as both a midweek dining spot and a lively weekend destination.

The concept brings together Asian and Latin flavours through a sharing style menu inspired by the Pacific, made for bold flavours, creative plates and cocktails to match 🍸

My favourites from the night:
• Chicharrónes 🥢 super crunchy and addictive
• Kimchi Bravas 🌶️ a tasty twist on a classic
• Sesame Chorizo 🔥 juicy and full of flavour
• Karrage Chicken 🍗 perfectly crispy and moreish
• Bang Bang Prawns 🍤 seriously good
• Chilli Calamari ✨ perfectly cooked and full of flavour

You can really feel the passion and experience that Rob and the team have put into creating something fresh for Portsmouth’s food scene, and I can already see this becoming a summer favourite ☀️🌴

[invite]

19/04/2026

I was invited to try the NEW evening menu at Delaneys Southsea bistro plus it has recently been refurbished and celebrated 20 years, it’s giving bright, airy, luxe Mediterranean energy while still feeling cosy and relaxed for the evening.

And with Castle Road now pedestrianised, this is going to be SUCH a summer spot ☀️🍸

I went with and thank you for arranging this 🍽️

What I had:
🐟 Smoked chalk stream trout with potato & samphire salad – fresh, light and full of flavour
🐑 Lamb rump with dauphinoise, spring greens & redcurrant gravy – rich, comforting and so tasty
🍮 Bergamot panna cotta with pink rhubarb – silky, light, perfect finish

Other seafood options on the menu also include:
🦀 Hampshire crab cakes
🐟 Cod cheek curry

I’ve only ever been during the day, but it fully holds its own in the evening. One of those places you can settle into, take your time and actually enjoy dinner.
Basically your all day spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner & bottomless brunch 👀

If you didn’t know they did evenings now you do 🍽️🍸

18/04/2026

Such a wholesome evening at Pauline’s new macaron studio 🍬

I was invited down to celebrate the opening of Les macarons de Pauline new space and it was honestly the loveliest vibe.

We decorated our own macarons (harder than it looks but so fun), enjoyed sweet treats and drinks, and had a little peek behind the scenes of her kitchen.

She’s also hosting workshops at the new studio, including a gin and macaron pairing and a vintage cake inspired decorating class, which both sound so fun.

Such a cute and creative thing to do in Portsmouth. Book via her website before spaces go 🎟️

Thank you Pauline for inviting us, this beautiful space was meant to be and I’ll definitely be back for the gin and macaron pairing 💗

Address

Castle Road
Portsmouth
PO5 3AY

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