Aberdeen’s new alcohol-free bar SOBR has unveiled its plans for ‘constant collaboration’ with a host of local independent food and drink suppliers.
Following its official opening last month in Thistle Street, SOBR is adding more detail to the unconventional offering it is putting before the Aberdonian public.
Alongside the bar’s drinks range, which include zero options, alcohol-free cocktails, and ‘functional’ drinks with health giving properties, there is to be a bar snacks menu that is rotated every few weeks, enlisting a range of different artisan pâtissiers, cheesemakers and bakeries in the city.
To launch this local sourcing concept, this week was declared ‘Cheese Week’ at SOBR, in collaboration with The Gourmet Cheese Company, an independent cheesemonger run by Kathryn Figueiredo in Rosemount.
For a limited time, customers are being offered a choice of three to four artisan cheeses, including at least one Scottish cheese, along with chutney and crackers.
Future snack collaborations are planned with Fellow Thistle Street businesses Pera Palace, a Turkish Bakery, known for delicious pogača and baklava; Almondine, which specialises in handmade French style macarons; and social impact charity, The Bread Maker, which supplies bread products to many restaurants in the Granite City.
“We’re very excited to announce our first ever Cheese Week, and all the forthcoming food collaborations we have planned at SOBR,” said Kate Kenyon, the bar’s owner.
“Although we have only been open a few weeks, we’ve already had lots of people saying they particularly love a nice bit of cheese with drinks, so a cheese collaboration made perfect sense to kick things off.
“We are thrilled to be partnering Kathryn who runs The Gourmet Cheese Company; she has some incredible choices. If you are a cheese lover then you are in for a treat in the coming weeks!”
A volunteer with Aberdeen Inspired, which looks to put the vibrancy back into the city centre, Kenyon said her desire to showcase small independent businesses ‘fits with our concept of supporting local and celebrating entrepreneurship’.
“I’d like to thank all our customers so far that have come along to support us. It has been fantastic to get this business, a real passion project of mine for so long, off the ground,” she said.
“Our drinks are going down very well with our clientele who have remarked that they appreciate the thought that has gone into them.
“By reaching out to these independent food and drink businesses in the city, and selecting high quality, delicious options that will keep changing, we are ensuring that there is as much care and attention in our snacks.
“And we are certainly not short of inspiration. This area has a huge selection of different cuisines on offer from all over the world. Aberdeen has always been something of a melting pot of cultures and tastes.”
