By place · COCKTAIL CLASSES IN THE UK
Good cocktail classes in the UK fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 11 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Report to Cell Block Three-Four in Manchester for a 1-hour-45-minute prison theatre experience. Bring gin, rum, or whisky to smuggle in, then watch actors turn it into four personalised cocktails while you play your part in the story.
“Awesome experience , will definitely be back, great actors, amazing cocktails and such a good laugh .”
Report to Alcotraz in Hackney, put on an orange jumpsuit, and smuggle in a base spirit for the bartenders to turn into custom cocktails. Inmate Cassidy, the Warden, guards, cells, and live theatrical scenes create a 1-hour-45-minute night out. Bring one bottle per shared spirit group.
“Visited Alcotraz with my partner. Loved the set up. The play acting by the staff members was very entertaining. We were locked up so to speak in our cell the whole time except for a brief visit to the Warden's office. Would have been nice to interact with the other prisoners.”
At Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke Mill, guide-led tours with hosts such as Luke, Naomi, Nick, or Helen cover ten botanicals, glasshouses, vapor infusion, and the old paper mill. You’ll make a G&T at the Turbine Bar, watch a short film, and finish with cocktail options.
“Value for money, and interesting experience. Option of non alcoholic drink was nice. Could've shown Around more stuff.”
Spend an evening at The Magicians Table, starting with entry to Dieter’s Bar one hour before the performance. You’ll watch about 110 minutes of close-up magic from several performers, join in at your table, and enjoy a cocktail-led night out for adults aged 18 and over.
“Each of the 'magicians' performed well and put on a mind blowing and mesmerising show.”
At Bombay Sapphire Distillery in Whitchurch, you’ll make three cocktails, choose a gin for your own gin and tonic, tour the Still House with a Gin Expert, and explore the self-guided Discovery Experience. Allow about three hours, and wear flat, closed-toe shoes.
“Great experience would highly recommend the Bombay Sapphire Tour and Cocktail Masterclass - both our tour guide and cocktail class leader were excellent”
At Avora in London, you join a resistance fighting to save a new world from human destruction. Wear a space jumpsuit, follow actors through a movie-like set, and enjoy three cocktails or mocktails as daylight shifts into bioluminescent night.
“Sachant qu’il y a beaucoup d’étrangers, s’adapter avec d’autres langues”
You enter Cell Block Two-One-Two, pass a metal detector, and report to a cast of actors playing the Warden, Guards, and Inmate Cassidy. Bring sealed liquor, hide it from prison staff, and receive four cocktails made to order. Orange jumpsuits and a movie-style prison set complete the scene.
Join a guide at The Folly Restaurant for a 45-minute evening cruise from Folly Bridge. Sip a freshly made seasonal cocktail while passing Christ Church Meadows, University College Boat Houses, punts, rowing crews, and Oxford’s regatta course. Guides include Joe, Dexter, Henry, and Rory.
“This was a great little tour to start our time in Oxford! The location is easy to find, the drink list has many good options, and our tour guide shared a lot of fun information along the way! Highly recommend, especially in the evening as the sun was starting to set. :)”
In Belfast’s old High Street building, you’ll test your senses, sample four cocktails, and explore the Inhibitor’s audiovisual world before finishing on the rooftop. Hosts including Anton, Sophie, and Paul guide a small group of up to 10 in English.
“A bit unimaginative and pricey for what you got. I thought it would have been more personalised and relevant to cocktail making. The smell shakers were vague and all blurred into each another. All in all a bit amateurish and underwhelming! Sorry, no offence meant, just an honest review.”
At Alcotraz Manchester, you enter a movie-style prison at Great Northern Tower, dress in orange, and smuggle sealed alcohol past the Warden. Actors playing guards and Cassidy guide secret missions while mixologists turn your bottle into four custom cocktails. Bring ID and arrive on time.
“Excellent experience! I was a solo traveller and the team made the experience so enjoyable for me. Would highly recommend!”
Join guide Harry for a 2.5-hour walk through Brighton’s cocktail scene. Visit three bars in North Laine, The Lanes, and Kemptown, tasting one exclusive drink at each while exploring cocktail history from early spirits to modern mixology.
“We learned about the history, visited in 3 different kind of bars where we could drink a cocktail which was made for the tour. The walking distance between the bars short. Great is that we also had some time in each bar to enjoy the cocktails and have a chat. It's a tour for Cocktail Newbies and experienced Cocktail fans. Harry did a great job!”
Pick a bottle and see where it is poured properly.
