The Drift

Two floors of shimmering metal, glass, and carefully curated oddities fill the base of Heron Tower, where The Drift operates as both a working City bar and a surprisingly capable event space. Drake & Morgan's Bishopsgate outpost won Best Standalone Bar at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, and the design investment shows — this is a venue where the interiors actively contribute to events rather than just housing them.

Inside The Drift at Heron Tower

The ground floor runs as an open bar and restaurant with an outdoor terrace, seating areas, and the kind of energy you'd expect from a busy City venue. Upstairs is more considered: a lounge bar with low armchairs and banquette seating, a dedicated mixology table, a fine dining nook styled in gold wallpaper, and the restaurant area with its open kitchen. Connecting the two floors, a glass staircase leads past the cabana — a secluded alcove with views of Europe's largest private aquarium, which is genuinely one of the more unexpected features you'll find in a City bar.

The Drift for Events

Individual floor hire keeps things focused: the first floor takes 300 standing or 120 seated in its own right, while the ground floor operates at 200 standing. Full venue hire across both levels reaches 450 standing or 220 seated. In-house catering runs the full range from seasonal British menus to bespoke event packages, and the late licence — 1am on Thursdays and Fridays — gives evening events genuine runway. The venue sits directly beside Liverpool Street station, making it one of the most accessible event spaces in the Square Mile for guests arriving from across London or beyond.