Trailer Happiness is an intimate lounge bar, den and kitchen on Portobello Road serving the finest classic and original cocktails with a Tiki Twist. We had a chance to catch up with the Owner and Managing Director Sly Augustin of the Trailer Happiness establishment. The interview went a little like this:
Please tell us a little about yourself.
SA: My name is Sly Augustin and I was born and raised close to Notting Hill. Before I had the opportunity to take ownership of Trailer Happiness cocktail bar I considered myself their Number one customer. I still do.
Give us some history on the Trailer Happiness Venue. What was the vision and tell us a bit about the name?
SA: Trailer Happiness was opened by Jonathan Downey 2003, a man who has gone on to become quite a legend in hospitality. It’s widely recognized as the bar that led the tiki cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s. It was then sold to Rick Weekly who owned it up until 2012 which is when I took over. There are a few different stories on the origins of the name. No one seems to have a definitive answer to this one so it remains something of a mystery. Although saying that, once you take in the décor, atmosphere, and drink a few cocktails the name starts to make perfect sense.
What does your job entail?
SA: Aside from keeping the lights on my job is to make sure Trailer retains its position as the UK’s leading rum bar and always feels like home to anyone who walks down our stairs. I try to remove as many obstacles from my staff as I can to allow them to produce drinks and service at the highest possible standards. I’m also an ambassador for Trailer and try to spread the good word wherever I can!
I am sure you had some proud moments so far, can you share some of those with us?
SA: Being nominated for Tales Of The Cocktail, two years in a row for The Best International High Volume Bar has been quite an achievement, especially considering we are going up against some younger and fresher bars. Trailer Happiness is almost 14 years old which is a pensioner in the bar years! Also, watching some of my former staff go on to flourish in different roles around the world is definitely rewarding to see.
How do you stay current with all the latest rums? With all the independent bottlers and small craft distilleries.
SA: To be honest it isn’t that difficult to stay current. Our motivation is not necessarily to stay current by having lots of new products. It is more to make sure we have and keep anything that is worthwhile on our back bar and that can be done quite easily just through our network of rum lovers. We have quite a large rum loving family who come to our rum clubs and we look to them to try out all the new rums and then based on feedback from them and our team, we determine whether we get it in and give it go. It is definitely a fun exercise to partake in!
How many different types of rum do you have available at your venue?
SA: We have anything between 180-200 bottles at any one given time. Often, and understandably so, our customers can be quite ravenous and insatiable, they do their best to deplete our numbers but our holding stock doesn’t drop below 180 different types of worthwhile rum at any given point.
Is Trailer Happiness known for anything else besides great Rum selection?
SA: Absolutely. It is known for great party music to get everyone up and dancing especially at the weekends. We are also known for our laid back and friendly service. We keep things as unpretentious as possible to make sure anyone who comes in feels comfortable.
What kind of crowd does your venue attract?
SA: Trailer Happiness, more than any other bar, has probably got one of the broadest demographics in terms of our crowd. I can’t think of a group of people who wouldn’t feel at home here whether you’re part of a super dressed up Chelsea crowd or hip, east end Shoreditch or you’re in your 60’s. We have a lovely couple in their 70’s come in every time they’re in the area for a few cheeky cocktails too. Our demographic is everyone.
Is there any particular type of rum that sells more than the other?
SA: Not particularly but we do partner up with various rum brands and when that happens we obviously sell that rum more than any other we would have. Just on the basis of customers choosing rum, it really depends which bartender is working on that night. Each one has a rum they keep close to their hearts so they will probably end up recommending that above all else.
What are the top 3 coveted cocktails at Trailer Happiness?
SA: First I’d say would be the Hell In The Pacific, which is our really tasty play of a classic with a delicious Trinidadian over proof as its base. Then we have the Polynesian Princess. It is a simple but tasty mix using Grey Goose vodka and Veuve Clicot champagne. Very pretty and one of our best sellers. Last but not least would have to be our Trailer Colada. It is a great party drink and a bit of a treat. It comes as a sharer too!
How big is the rum scene in London?
SA: The rum scene is massive and has actually been so for a while now. It is continually expanding. Trailer Happiness used to be one of very few rum bars in London then in 2012 a few more started to pop up particularly in mainstream venues. I guess it just goes to show people have caught on to the versatility and the value that can be found in rum.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of Tastethedram?
SA: Buy rum! Buy it now. If you see a decent aged rum then strongly consider getting it. A good place to check out is The Floating Rum Shack for really good guides on rum. Build on your collections now because five years from now I’d say you’re going to be paying probably three times if not more for the same quality of rum. It is definitely a good time to be getting into rum.
