Game of Thrones pop-up bar opens in Antwerp

If you know where Winterfell is, then you are one of the many fans of HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones – or GoT as you no doubt refer to it. The massively popular TV programme started its eighth and final season this week.

GoT is broadcast in Flanders on Telenet’s premium services, Play and Play More, at the same time as the US broadcast. To celebrate the last season, Telenet has launched a GoT-themed pop-up bar inside Antwerp restaurant Black Smoke.

Until 19 May, fans can immerse themselves in the world of dragons, direwolves, feuding families and endless winter. Décor runs the GoT gamut, from candles to goblets to swords to – yes – dragon’s eggs.

The bar is freely accessible without a reservation evenings from Wednesday to Sunday. But four Wednesdays are particularly special.

On those nights – beginning tonight – the pop-up will host special events, with a different celebrity superfan each week. Expert mixologist Matthias Soberon will start things off tonight with three original cocktails inspired by the show’s characters and locations.

Next week, beauty guru Sabine Peeters will recreate the elaborate hairstyles worn by Daenerys, Cersei and Sansa. Compact Disk Dummies will bring their danceable cover of the show’s theme music on 8 May, while stand-up comedian William Boevawraps things up with some GoT humour on 15 May.

Each of the “experience nights” will also include a GoT-themed three-course dinner. Unfortunately, they were all booked up in less than an hour.

Still, anyone can attend the fan nights and order a drink, but it’s best to arrive early as seating is limited. All of the evenings end, by the way, with a viewing of the most recent episode on a giant screen.