Sip, stir and explore: Bristol Cocktail Weekend unveils 2025 events and final venues

Bristol Cocktail Weekend, the city’s most spirited celebration of the Bristol bar scene is back from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 September 2025 and the festival has now revealed a jam packed programme of special events, dining deals and the final list of participating venues.

With more than 30 bars now confirmed and an eclectic mix of unmissable events, this year’s festival is set to be the best yet. Returning favourites and exciting new additions make up the final venue line-up, which includes 6 O’clock Gin at The Glassboat, Be At One, Bomba Tapas & Cocktails, The Bootlegger, Bristol and Bath Rum Distillery, Cosy Club, Crying Wolf, Golden Crane, Jaded Dragon and more. These join previously announced venues including Blame Gloria, The Botanist, Bambalan, Death Disco, Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Clayton Hotel, Flight Club, Rick’s, Filthy XIII, Harbour House, The Lost & Found, Dirty Martini and more. 

All participating venues will be serving a £6 signature cocktail designed specially for the festival, with no-alcohol versions available for £5. A whole host of venues will also be offering exclusive food deals to keep festivalgoers fuelled throughout the long weekend. Wristbands are the key to unlocking access to all of the festival’s cocktails, mocktails, food offers and event discounts. These are valid for the entire four-day festival allowing cocktail and mocktail lovers to dip in as much or as little as they like across the event. Wristbands available now for just £12 plus booking fee via Design My Night.

This year’s events programme brings over 20 unique experiences to the city, many of which are either exclusive to wristband holders or are available at a significantly discounted rate. The festival warm-up begins on Wednesday 24 September with Wildjac Distillery’s Guided Tasting Experience at Harbour House, where guests can enjoy seasonal spirit tastings, food pairings and a cocktail-making challenge. The festival then begins on Thursday 25 September with a series of standout experiences, including Cocktails in the Dark at The Lost & Found, a blindfolded tasting session designed to surprise your senses and Drink & Draw: The Art of Agave at The Milk Thistle, an after-dark life drawing class hosted by burlesque performer Antonia Purdie and fuelled by Arquitecto Tequila.

Image - Bristol Cocktail Festival Saturday 2024

On Friday 26 September, guests can enjoy a Sunset Session with Los Arcos on the Bambalan rooftop, Off The Wall, a walking tour that pairs Bristol’s iconic street art with bespoke cocktails by Filthy XIII and the Salcombe Gin Distillation Dinner at Harbour Kitchen, where diners will sip cocktails and enjoy a two-course meal as a unique gin is distilled live before them. Rick’s Bar at The Bristol Hotel will host a laid-back vinyl DJ session with DJ Gareth that same evening, providing the perfect soundtrack to a Friday night of sipping.

Saturday’s highlights include Collage & Cocktails with Lillet at Spirited, a relaxed afternoon of creativity and spritzes hosted by Bristol Art Junkie and more Off The Wall experiences throughout the day. The action continues into Sunday 28 September with Splash & Sip, a collaboration with Bristol Wild Swimmers that begins with a refreshing dip at the Harbourside and ends with lunch and cocktails at Rick’s Bar. The weekend will come to a vibrant end with the official Closing Night Party at Filthy XIII, where the bar team will hand over the reins to a surprise guest bartender for one night only, accompanied by next-level drinks and juicy smash burgers.

The Festival Hub, sponsored by LOS ARCOS, will once again be hosted at Bambalan. Ticket holders will be able to collect their wristbands here, as well as sampling LOS ARCOS Blue Weber Agave Spirit with brand experts from the world of Tequila, Mezcal and other agave-based spirits. This year, festivalgoers can also book onto mini-tasting sessions to dive deeper into the world of agave and LOS Arcos have plenty of surprises in store for ticket holders as they start their cocktail adventure.

Alex Nicholson-Evans, Founder & Director of Living For The Weekend, said: “We were blown away by the festival buzz last year and have worked hard to make this year even more exciting. This year’s programme of events is incredibly diverse and the number of excellent cocktail venues involved shows just how special Bristol’s hospitality scene is. Bristol Cocktail Weekend really is  the ultimate long weekend for cocktail lovers.”

Sabrina Shutter, Project Event Manager at Bristol City Centre BID, added: “Bristol Cocktail Weekend is a fantastic example of how events can positively impact our city centre businesses. It’s a celebration of the city’s incredible hospitality talent and a chance to showcase our vibrant bar scene. With so many venues taking part, the festival not only celebrates Bristol’s thriving hospitality scene but also delivers a boost to the local economy by encouraging residents and visitors to explore, spend and support throughout the weekend.”

Whether visitors are joining for one evening or all four days, Bristol Cocktail Weekend promises a flavour-packed journey through the city’s most creative and welcoming venues.