Parlour bar prepares for opening

She said: "This is a new neighbourhood bar for Canary Wharf. It's not a chain or a stuffy old fashioned place, it's an individual concept with a lot of character.

"The design is modern and our brand is about individuality. For example, we'll have seafood boards which are served in old bank deposit boxes and we'll have chocolate money on sale for the bankers. It's about matching the brand to the area and being a bit quirky."

The Parlour is Drake and Morgan's second bar venture, of a planned 10 in London. The first was the Refinery in Southwark, which opened last year and Jillian, 44, has been careful to learn lessons from there.

She said: "It's right next to IPC Media headquarters so we've had a lot of journalists giving us feedback. We'll adapt the Parlour to the demands of the Wharf clientele, because that's what will keep them coming back.

"We're going to play it by ear. Things start pretty early in Canary Wharf so we'll cater for that by offering brunches and coffee from 8am. We have a late licence and will have DJs on Thursday and Friday nights because that's when people want to go out and party."

The concept of The Parlour owes something to time Jillian, who lives in Bermondsey, spent on the west coast of California and in Arizona, which is reflected on the menu and the drinks list.

She said: "An idea popular in America is the punch cocktail. There's a trend for people to share drinks now and punch is very popular, so it's something I think people will embrace in Canary Wharf.

"We'll also be offering skinny cocktails like the French Rose martini, which has less than 70 calories, because everybody is counting calories these days."

The Parlour is primarily a bar but food makes up an important part of its service with the emphasis on quality.

She said: "We'll have a fresh fish counter, while the produce on sale will be organic and seasonal but affordable. It's good quality and reasonably priced."

Despite the recession, and the hammering the hospitality industry has had from alcohol tax and the smoking ban, Jillian is convinced the time is right to expand into Canary Wharf.

She said: "I've been encouraged by the success of Jamie's Italian and, although we haven't quite got the big name I think our opening, along with the other businesses in the Pavilion, will be equally successful.

"It's about getting people to try new things. I believe The Parlour is new, fresh and a bit vibrant and I think Canary Wharf will love it."

For more details visit theparlourbar.co.uk.