Junior The Pocket Bar
August 2017 – Birth of Junior The Pocket Bar
An outpost of Proof & Company, a spirits distribution company and bar consultancy firm, Junior The Pocket Bar was an incubator for ideas and concepts.
To the public, Junior launched as a platform to showcase our most beloved terrains and traditions in the world of cocktails and spirits through intimate, authentic experiences.
Just as an art gallery changes exhibitions, Junior presented two original concepts each year. Every change in concept was accompanied by alterations in the space, from décor to music and more.
Our original home was tucked away in a tiny space behind the sister venue – Crackerjack – accessed via a non-descript door in a back alley. Once inside, one would find themselves in a stairwell with another random blue door on the left. After two doors with no signage, you would finally enter the 10-seat cocktail bar.
In this space, Junior has paid homage to agave spirits in Volume 1: Norma, paid tribute to New Orleans in Volume 2: Magnolia, paid respect to authentic Tiki traditions and unrivalled tropical escapism in Volume 3: Pacifica, and honoured the alpine après ski fantasy in Volume 4: Petite Chalet.
Sometime in September 2019, Junior The Pocket Bar decided to leave the nest and go independent.
2020 – Year of many firsts
January:
During the final month of Petite Chalet, we celebrated Christmas proper by flipping the ski chalet into a Christmas cabin full of ornaments and snow-capped mountains.
This then got us thinking. Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is a huge celebration here in Singapore, so why not show it some love? January 2020 saw us launch the first of what is now an annual month-long instalment of Junior’s very own CNY special.
Think of the whole of Chinatown in our tiny, cosy space—a menu featuring heavy influences from Singaporean and Malaysian CNY traditions and cuisine.
February:
Volume 5: Washi was one of our most colourful concepts yet. It was inspired by the bar in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai and the funky vibes of 1980s bubble-era Tokyo.
This concept saw us working with many new friends who started as guests, turned regulars, and eventually became creative partners.
The space included iridescent elements, fan-favourite street foods, and a cocktail menu inspired by origami animals.
March:
We started looking for a new location as the landlord had plans to revamp the whole strip. This would leave us homeless for a few months and then back while the rest of the renovations continued.
This also came at a good time; we were doing well and had slowly outgrown the 10-seater space. We wanted to have a few more seats and more space to accommodate more guests. We hated turning friends and visitors away.
After a long time, we finally settled on a space. It wasn’t too far away from our current home, it had a few cool features we liked, and we enjoyed the neighbourhood.
We decided to take the plunge and signed the lease.
April:
Two weeks after we signed the lease, the Singapore government put the nation into Circuit Breaker.
These were some highly uncertain times. Without seeming to gloss over the global tragedy, this is likely a chapter none of us wants to discuss too much.
June:
Circuit Breaker is lifted, things are slowly opening up, and we’re rolling with the punches.
While operating out of the cosy space, we did our best to push construction works along. Social distancing was a challenge, but we made it work.
October:
After months of hard work, a few weeks’ worth of deep cleaning, packing and unpacking, preparations and everything else in between…
Junior The Pocket Bar has a new home. 6 Ann Siang Hill.
While the world and Singapore navigated the pandemic, we dealt with multiple regulations and dining rule changes.
All whilst welcoming guests and friends back for Volume 5: Washi, launching a Peruvian adventure in Volume 6: Khipu, dancing the night away to the tunes and backdrop of 1960s French Discotheque in Volume 7: Discotheque, and throwing it back to the soda shops of 1920s Prohibition in Volume 8: Drugstore.
2023 – The New Era
Through the ups and downs of running an F&B venue in Singapore, we have made it this far.
While we had to bid farewell to our partners, we also gained a few new supporters.
An ode to the millennial childhood of 1990s cartoons in Volume 9: Toons! A throwback to OG K-drama in Singapore with 1392 Joseon Dynasty Korea in Volume 10: Dynasty.
Hazel remains the Head Bartender, overseeing all of Junior's creative aspects. Since Volume Seven, Junior’s vision has been to refocus and emphasise their core motivation: education. Everything remains the same: two original concepts yearly, an annual CNY instalment, and an add-on Christmas menu every December.
Every city and civilisation has experienced many changes throughout time in terms of culture, music, cuisine, arts, fashion, etc. It would be tunnel-visioned to peg a country or city by only one aspect. In that respect, Junior would like to delve deeper into an era-specific exploration with each concept, where we expand a singular period within a country or city in the fabric of time.
We (read: Hazel) love to go down the rabbit hole of research. Our research will cover music and cuisine, what people hang out and do in their free time, how people live, and how people struggle. And from that knowledge, the team will curate a menu of food and drinks that is inspired and reflective.
The fun part is creating a space that can translate our vision and share curations—the inspiration behind every dish, drink, tune, and décor decision.
- Hazel, 10 October 2024