Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Konbini -196: an immersive Japanese convenience store transports you to Japan from East London

Konbini -196: an immersive Japanese convenience store transports you to Japan from East London

Suntory celebrates the UK launch of Japan's favourite alcoholic ready-to-drink sensation

If you love to live in the moment then book your ticket to Konbini -196! Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind Japanese-inspired convenience store "popping up" right in the heart of East London on Thursday 16 May celebrating the UK arrival of -196 (minus 196), a unique Japanese pre-mix alcohol brand.

Everything about the Konbini is pulsing with the spirit of Japan and minus 196’s flavour innovation. As soon as you and your friends cross the Konbini -196 threshold you are transported to Japan in the Konbini before being immersed in a sensory experience through the freeze-crush walkway, inspired by Suntory’s proprietary freeze crush technology.


Playing on the brand’s rich heritage, your journey ends in an Izakaya (Japanese bar) to enjoy minus 196 accompanied by music from our DJ, all with a minus 196 can in hand, delivering an icy explosion and bold fruity flavours of lemon or grapefruit. The Japanese bar offers a Tokyo Twist of vibrant neon lights and Japanese iconography celebrating the experience of Japanese pop culture and surprise goodies for select guests to start their minus 196 journey.

196 Konbini

Minus 196 is available in lemon and grapefruit flavour and is produced by Suntory, a global Japanese drinks company. It is made from shochu, vodka and soda using Suntory’s propriety freeze crush technology that freezes the whole fruit by using liquid nitrogen at -196°C. The frozen zest, pulp and juice are then crushed into powder and infused with vodka.

The Konbini -196 launch experience is hosted at Newspeak House, 133 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG on Thursday 16th May, from 4pm – 10pm. Tickets will be on sale at Eventbrite 196 hours before the store opening so get calendar ready to secure your tickets.

The Konbini -196 is a must for those who love to live in the moment and if you want to be some of the first in the UK to experience minus 196 then get ready for the ticket countdown.

More for you

Britvic growth in annual revenue and profits

Strong numbers for Britvic

Britvic, the soft drinks manufacturer set to be acquired by Carlsberg, has posted robust annual results after investment in marketing and product innovation helped it maintain demand for its brands.

Over the year to Sept 30, the company’s pre-tax profits climbed 10.5 per cent to £173.2 million despite a £21.3m hit related to the proposed Carlsberg deal. Britvic stated that its growth was driven by both volume and price-mix, with strong demand for brands such as Pepsi, Tango, Lipton, MiWadi and Ballygowan.

Keep ReadingShow less
Met Police identifies four suspects in Post Office Horizon scandal

Met Police identifies four suspects in Post Office Horizon scandal

The Metropolitan Police has identified two new suspects in its investigation into possible criminal offences as part of the Post Office Horizon scandal. This takes the total number of individuals to four as the force also revealed it believes more suspects will be identified as the inquiry progresses.

Scotland Yard said members of the investigation team met with Sir Alan Bates, the leading Post Office campaigner, and fellow victims to update them on the development.

Keep ReadingShow less
Discover Britain's top hotspots for independent shops

(Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

Discover Britain's top hotspots for independent shops

New research by American Express Shop Small reveals the nation’s top 10 hotspots for independent shops, showcasing the small businesses and the valuable role they plan in their local communities.

American Express partnered with retail experts GlobalData to identify the top high streets for independent shops through ranking factors such as the number of independent outlets, variety of business types, and vibrancy of the high street.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Walkable high streets boost economy'
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Getty Images

'Walkable high streets boost economy'

Shoppers who walk and wheel spend more than those arriving by car, states a recent report, demonstrating the significant economic and social benefits of investing in walkable town centres, challenging traditional views on urban accessibility.

The findings published in third edition of "The Pedestrian Pound Report", recently published by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, come at a critical juncture for British high streets, with a record number of retail failures in 2022 and a vacancy rate of nearly one in seven by the end of 2023.

Keep ReadingShow less
Yvette Cooper

Home secretary Yvette Cooper speaking at the annual conference hosted by the NPCC and APCC on 19 November 2024

Photo: GOV.UK

Home secretary pledges to restore neighbourhood policing

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to rebuild neighbourhood policing and combat surging shop theft as part of an ambitious programme of reform to policing.

In her first major speech at the annual conference hosted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on Tuesday, Cooper highlighted four of the key areas for reform: neighbourhood policing, police performance, structures and capabilities, crime prevention.

Keep ReadingShow less