25 OF LONDON’S BEST BARS UNDER ONE ROOF ONE WEEKEND OF COCKTAIL INNOVATION NEW EXPERIENCES FOR 2020
The UK’s best cocktail festival is back this spring – and will be bigger and bolder than ever.
The latest edition of Cocktails in the City will take place at The Vaults, an underground warren of railway arches and secret passageways near Waterloo Station. For one weekend only, the space will be transformed into a maze of bars and drink experiences, with each railway arch hosting either a new bar, tipple or experience for Londoners to explore.
Guests will sip their way through tons of show-stopping drinks while exploring hidden rooms, masterclasses and immersive experiences, all while watching the capital’s best mixologists in action.
This year’s line-up is getting better by the day, with some of the capital’s finest bars confirmed already. So far, the line-up includes 68 & Boston, Bloomsbury Club Bar, Bourne & Hollingsworth, Burlock, Ella Canta, Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Knightsbridge, Heads + Tails, Homeboy, Laki Kane, Merchant House, Nightjar, Opium Bar and Trader Vic’s, who are set to showcase their skills to thousands of Londoners.
This year, ticket holders can expect new, interactive and innovative experiences created especially for 2020. With many aspects incorporated from different bars, guests can take part in sensory cocktail journeys, garnishing workshops, masterclasses and state-of-the-art cocktail theatre. More to be revealed at a later date.
Building on the underground atmosphere of The Vaults, Cocktails in the City have curated seven new arches to explore – adding another level to the interactive drinking experience.
They will include:
Sustainability Arch
Embrace the future of drinking, including innovative pop-ups and workshops from some of London’s leading bars and spirits. Learn about low and no alcohol alternatives, micro- garden garnishing and using your coffee, food and drinks waste to create delicious cocktails with brands such as Discarded Spirits and Bourne & Hollingsworth.
Around the World Arch
Sip your way around the continents with curious cocktails from bars such as Opium, Ella Canta and Trader Vics, as they whisk you away to Mexico, China and the Caribbean. Whisky & Live Music Lounge
Escape the crowds, sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious dram from 68 & Boston and Nightjar, in this hidden lounge, with eclectic live music.
Golden age of cocktails
Headline bars include the Bloomsbury Club Bar and…. Stylist Loves will be hosting an exclusive pop-up bar with Champagne Laurent-Perrier, which will celebrate London’s top female bartenders with a menu of delectable champagne cocktails created exclusively for Cocktails in the City 2020.
Festival Vault
Leave the dreary streets of London behind and discover a tropical paradise where Tiki bar meets summer festival. Laki Kane will be bringing a whole lotta colourful energy to the Vaults.
Good Times Vault
The drinks are strong and the music is loud at the Good Times Vault, where favourite party bars such as Islington haunt Homeboy Bar and dive bar Heads & Tails will be located. Step back in time and explore this hidden underground arch full of speakeasy bars, secret drinking experiences and illicit good times.
In addition to the themed arches bursting full of new experiences, guests can take a journey through three flavour chambers with The Tasting Rooms, where they will taste a collection of the finest craft spirits currently available in the UK. Also, bartender favourites London Essence Lab will be hosting the ‘London Essence Lab’, an interactive journey of flavour discovery where a bespoke alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktails will be scientifically matched to visitor’s palates.
To add to the fun, each bar will be competing throughout the weekend to be named “Best Bar” – meaning every mixologist will be showing off their skills at every opportune moment. Those attending will have the opportunity to vote once for their favourite bar.
To wash down the delicious drinks, some of the city’s best-loved food vendors will also be lining up to serve everything from nibbles through to street food classics. The perfect pairing for cocktails.
Leave the world behind and explore 25 bars across seven sprawling arches, hidden beneath Waterloo station, with Cocktails in the City, a drinks festival celebrating the best of London’s cocktail scene.
Address: The Vaults, Leake St, Lambeth, London SE1 7NN Ticket link: https://www.cocktailsinthecity.com/events/london
Tickets cost £20 including a cocktail.
All drinks £7.50 on the night
