Popular cocktail lounge celebrates first year after filling gap on Northants market town high street
The founder of a popular cocktail lounge is celebrating a successful first year after filling the gap on the high street of a Northamptonshire market town.
The Vault Cocktail Lounge opened on Watling Street East in Towcester in September 2025, with the aim of becoming a relaxing haven where every detail is carefully considered.
The venture was founded by Anthony Walker, who signed a five-year lease of the building after leaving his former role as manager of The Watling Street Village pub.
He managed the venue for more than two years and was employed by the wider pub group for almost six years, with previous experience in different areas of the country.
Anthony’s hope was that the premium cocktail lounge would complement the existing food and drink establishments on the high street, and meet the demand from the changing dynamic in the town with many new houses going up.
The Vault also offers wines, spirits and coffees, and having introduced food five months after opening in February 2026, many have praised the venue as what the area was missing. The venue also now offers two draught products, Asahi and Cornish Orchards Cider, which have been received well by regulars.
“It’s been amazing, especially over the last four-to-five weeks of summer,” said Anthony, reflecting on The Vault’s first year open. “Weekends have been really busy and we now offer bottomless brunches from 12pm to 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.”
There is an open invitation to The Vault’s first anniversary celebration on September 5, when a DJ will be performing at the high street venue for the community to come along and enjoy.
Anthony has struck a collaboration with Georgina Williams from Gs Private Dining to offer sharing board Sunday roasts, which align well with the charcuterie that was already available at The Vault.
“We wanted to bring something different to Towcester and the food element has taken off,” said Anthony. “Towcester is expanding and this is somewhere chilled to meet your family or friends with a relaxed atmosphere. We could do with more similar places to this.”
Georgina has also been hosting three course meals at The Vault in kitchen takeovers, and Anthony creates cocktails to pair with the dishes. Other separate events like paint and sip have also proved particularly popular.
The hope is to expand the venue onto the first floor both inside and where the outdoor roof terrace is, but Anthony knows this will be a long-term goal as planning permission will be required for what he has in mind.
The venue is having outdoor heating and an additional cover installed in the courtyard next month, ready to be enjoyed throughout the autumn and winter months.
Looking ahead to Christmas, The Vault’s menus and offerings will be released in mid-September – and 2027 is already looking busy with the goal of expanding the kitchen and first floor, to be utilised for private functions and possibly with a premium champagne bar.