A hidden bar in the High Street

Incognito a ‘theatrical, speakeasy’ experience

A new hidden bar ‘pushing the boundaries of mixology’ has opened in Windsor High Street.

Incognito offers a ‘theatrical’ table service experience in a ‘speakeasy’ setting and opened to the public on Wednesday.

Owner Nick Robinson told the Express he’s ‘excited’ about Windsor being the fourth location for the bar, which is currently open in Winchester, Kingston and Richmond.

“I felt the people of Windsor are perfectly suited to us,” he said.

“The stars aligned really.” The entrance to Incognito is virtually indistinguishable on the High Street aside from a small brass plaque on the front door which leads onto a tunnel and adjoining staircase.

Nick said: “We wanted to market it as a hidden tunnel from the castle that takes you to a secret drinking den – when you come in, that sets the tone.

“The experience starts the minute you open the door.

“It’s part of what we do.

It’s incognito.

“We market ourselves as Winchester’s worst-kept secret and it’s very similar to what we’ve been saying to people around here.”

Adding to the wacky interiors, filled with portraits of animalistic characters and Incognito's fictional owner, Chadwick Smithfield, are the ‘pretty crazy’ jungle-themed toilets playing a David Attenborough narration over the speakers.

Nick said: “If you walked into any Incognito, you’d know but they’re incredibly different buildings.

“In every Incognito venue, you get a top hat or bowler hat but in Windsor, we wanted to do something completely different, so we made crowns – they’re all handmade, beautiful and from around the world.”

Nick said Incognito has ‘always tried to push the boundaries of mixology’ since it opened its first Winchester branch in 2018.

“There’s nobody that does what we do in terms of our drinks,” he added.

“We serve our cocktails in hot air balloons, bathtubs, divers helmets and we try to push that experience as far as we possibly can.

“Our drinks have moving parts or edible elements and they’re real works of art and quite multisensory so we use a lot of smokes and aromas to enhance the customer experience.

“It’s kind of like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory for drinks.”

Originally hailing from the Isle of Wight, Nick and his wife Hayley ‘fell into hospitality’ more than 15 years ago and ‘wanted to get off the island and do something different’.

“I’ve always been a fan of Heston Blumenthal and his Fat Duck and wanted to create a cocktail bar version of that, and I’m a big fan of the Ivy Group and wanted to way to bring it all together and create an immersive cocktail experience,” Nick said.

“Every few months we introduce a new cocktail and take off one of the weaker ones so it’s constantly evolving.

“It’s a venue for people in Windsor that haven’t got somewhere they can enjoy a nice drink, table service and lovely surroundings.

“It’s ideal if you wanted to come in on a first date, there’s always something to talk about because of the drinks.

“If you wanted to bring your nan in for a cocktail and show her something wacky, it’s also just as cool. We try and be open and accommodating to everyone. Quite unpretentious.”

Incognito based on 13

High Street, is open from 5pm to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 3pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday.

Tables are for no more than six people, and reservations can be made at tinyurl.com/5a5zafwm