It’s back for the entire month of October: 275 bars, £7 cocktails, one wristband. London Cocktail Week 2021.
That’s right, folks! London Cocktail Week is back this year for the world’s biggest annual boozy bonanza, only this time it’s running throughout the entire month! Lucky for you, it couldn’t be simpler to get involved. Just one wristband – available for £15 – is needed to get access to no fewer than 275 of the best bars in London. Ready to sip on everything from tequilas to gins, piscos, whiskies and vodkas? We know we are. (All images by London Cocktail Week)
What do you get, you ask? Delicious signature cocktails from each participating bar for a mere £7 each – and free entry to tons of events and pop-ups across the city. However, London Cocktail Week are also throwing some ticketed events that are well worth checking out:
Courtesy of zero-waste spirits brand Discarded Spirits Co., you’ll be treated to a unique 3-day event where, in their words, “waste, taste and purpose beautifully collide”. “The World’s Most Rubbish Bar” is an all-new immersive pop-up aiming to reshape how waste is perceived while offering a bougie cocktail experience from October 15 to 17.
Meanwhile, pitching up at Covent Garden’s Carriage Hall from October 1 to 24 is the Essence House: An experiential, multi-sensory event created to “inspire imaginations and impart the tools to create cocktails, distinctively designed for individual palates.” With the help of flavour and aroma tests, you’ll learn how to make cocktails specifically tailored to your taste palate.
Now, where are the fabled 275 bars the wristband gives access to? LCW’s full list is on their website – you can even search for your ideal bar by area, spirit or type of experience – whether it’s rooftop, basement, tiki or speakeasy, date night, wine bar, whisky joint or hidden gem you’re after – the organisers have this down to a fine art.
Here are our top picks for the month by area:
North
Guinness fans will love the cosy surroundings at Islington’s Irish Homeboy Bar. However, their signature cocktail is a must-try: Hitchhiking to Cuba combines Eminente Ambar Claro Rum with Apricot Liqueur and Apple Sherbet, resulting in a tart, delicious tipple.
East
East London Liquor Co. in Bethnal Green has a gorgeous indoor and outdoor space, but the best part is, they have a distillery on full display behind their bar. So while you sip on your signature cocktail — like the Brown Butter Betty featuring Vodka Fat-Washed With Brown Butter, White Chocolate, and Coffee Beans — you can watch the booze being created right before your eyes.
South
Nine Lives might be tucked away down an alley, but it’s worth a visit for their delicious LCW offerings. Your wristband will get you either a Chance the Highball (The Singleton 12yo, Talisker, Avocado Pit Orgeat, Tepache Syrup, Fig liqueur and Lemon Juice) or a Bandana (Talisker, Banana Peel & Pandan Syrup and Lemon oil) for £7.
West
A fan of gin? Step into Notting Hill’s Fiend, a brand new Bohemian-style bar on Portobello Road. Aside from Cooling High Balls and House Martinis, they offer three signature cocktails for LCW: We highly recommend you try the Van Gogh Sunflower made with Bergamot-inflused Martin Miller’s Gin, Lemon Juice, Honey Syrup, and Soda Water.
Central
The Delaunay Bar sits right in the heart of the West End and sports dark wood panelling, green leather banquettes, brass fittings and low lighting. Their Le Figue signature drink is made with Tanqueray gin, Lillet Blanc, Dry Vermouth, Crème de Figue, and Cacao Bitters, while The Schladerer combines Belsazar Rosé Vermouth, Elderflower Cordial, Gobelsburg Rosé Wine, and Soda Water.
If, like us, you love cocktails but don’t want to break the bank, London Cocktail Week is the perfect time to get your fix!
London Cocktail Week runs citywide Friday October 1 – Sunday October 31. Get your £15 pass here! The World’s Most Rubbish Bar: The Ditch, Old Street, EC1V 9LT. Opening Hours are Friday 15 – Sunday 17 October: 6pm – 11pm. The Essence House: Carriage Hall, 29 Floral Street, WC2E 9DP. Opening Hours are Friday October 1 – Sunday October 24: 12pm – 11pm.