Dishoom Permit Room

The Permit Room is the cocktail bar-led venue from the Dishoom group, with a Bombay prohibition-era theme inspired by the permit rooms of 1950s Mumbai, where residents needed an official permit to buy alcohol. The dataset lists a bar at 12 Upper St Martin's Lane in Covent Garden, London, England, near Leicester Square and the West End theatres, in the same area as the original Dishoom café. The concept is a dim, atmospheric bar with a speakeasy mood, using the same vintage Bombay styling of dark wood, period posters and soft lighting that characterises the group. The drinks menu centres on cocktails built around Indian spices and ingredients, such as chai, tamarind, cardamom and masala, alongside beer, wine and Indian-influenced spirits. Small plates from the Dishoom kitchen are served, including pau bhaji, a spiced vegetable mash with buttered bread, plus other street-food style bites. Cocktails typically cost around £11 to £14, and plates around £6 to £11, so an evening of drinks and snacks usually costs £25 to £40 per person. The atmosphere is lively and sociable in the evening, with after-work and pre-theatre crowds, and noise levels rise as the night goes on. There is no dress code, though many guests dress smartly for an evening out. The bar operates largely on a walk-in basis, so reservations are not typically available, and queues may form on Friday and Saturday nights. Opening hours run into the late evening, and visitors should confirm times before travelling. Early evening visits improve the chance of a seat without waiting.