Mr Fogg's Market Tavern

For those who are unfamiliar Mr Fogg’s, it is one of several themed bar brands from Inception Group.

These also include Cahoots (in Kingly Court, off Carnaby Street and Borough), which celebrates the wartime ‘spirit of the Blitz’: Bunga 90 (Drury Lane) which raises a glass to the decade of karaoke, arcade games and video rentals: Barts, a 1920’s Chicago speakeasy concept (Sloane Avenue): Control Room B (Battersea Power Station), a sort of 1950’s spy venue and Maggie’s (Chelsea): an homage to Margaret Thatcher and the 1980’s.

For those looking for entertainment and fun, Inception Group’s bars and restaurants hit the spot.

And Mr Fogg’s is no exception.

These are a collection of Victorian-inspired bars and pubs themed around Jules Verne’s character Phileas Fogg in Around The World in 80 Days.

The ten venues across London from Liverpool Street to Mayfair, offer ‘immersive experiences, adventurous libations in experiential locations’.

Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern has now opened inside the central Market Building in Covent Garden’s piazza.

The new venue, the largest of the Mr Fogg’s Taverns, features 130 covers inside and 60 covers on the covered outdoor terrace, bedecked in resplendent stripes.

Inspired by a traditional public house, the bar features multiple rooms, connected by original brickwork arches and polished flagstone floors, immersing guests back to the Victorian era.

Each of the arches, which can be reserved for private parties or enjoyed as communal seating areas, contain design cues taken from the history of the location, and Jules Verne’s famed novel from 1873.

A standout feature of Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern is The Guinness Saloon, which was opened by broadcaster, writer and Guinness enthusiast Jack Guinness.

An eclectic space with its own Guinness bar for enjoying a pint or two of the Irish stout.

As each pint of Guinness is poured, a counter will show the number of pints of Guinness that have been sold since the opening.

For every 1000th Guinness, the customers’ picture will be added to our wall of fame and they will be offered a round on Mr Fogg.

The person to order the 10,000th pint will win an all expenses trip to Ireland to visit the Guinness brewery.

Those who miss out on the big prize are free to take a short walk to the newly opened Guinness micro-brewery in Mercer Walk, a stone’s throw from the piazza.

The concept of Mr Fogg’s is a good fit with the style and age of the Covent Garden market building and it is appropriate that Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern should become the brand’s flagship.

It looks and feels like it’s been there for decades, which is exactly the type of product that Covent Garden should champion. Tourists and locals alike will love it.

Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern photo credit:  Johnny Stephens Photography