Everything you need to know about taking part in the festival
Thinking about joining us for Bristol Cocktail Weekend 2023? Have a read of our festival guide to help you get the most out of your experience!
Buy a ticket
First things first, head over to Eventbrite and buy yourself an e-ticket. Pricing starts at just £10 + booking fee. You must be over the age of 18 to participate in Bristol Cocktail Weekend.
Visit the Naked Malt Hub at Bambalan
Once the festival starts, you simply take your e-ticket down to The Naked Malt Hub at Bambalan. Be sure to check the opening hours and full details of the Hub here.
It’s at The Hub that your cocktail adventure really begins. Show your e-ticket to our friendly team and they will issue you with your exclusive wristband and a super handy guidebook.
Pop your wristband on your wrist and then you’re nearly ready to begin! Before you set off on your cocktail journey, head over to meet our friends from Naked Malt for a complimentary dram (only on Thurs/Fri/Sat).
Sip £6 signature cocktails
After a little complimentary dram at The Hub, it’s time to take a selfie (or three) then head to the bar at Bambalan to sample your very first signature cocktail.
Your wristband gets you access to a £6 signature cocktail at every participating venue. Yes you did read that right – just £6! With cocktails at our venues often normally priced at over £10 a pop, you’re getting fantastic value even if you just fancy a couple of drinks. Simply show your wristband at each bar to gain access to their £6 signature cocktail, exclusively available to festival go-ers. Some of our participating bars are small (but perfectly formed of course) – check our venues page for the lowdown on the handful of bars that are recommending you make a reservation if you want to try their £6 cocktail.
Sip more £6 signature cocktails
We don’t tell you exactly which drink is where – that’s part of the adventure of Bristol Cocktail Weekend! Think of it as a chance to try something different! Keep an eye on our Facebook Page, if you want to see the full line-up of drinks before the festival begins.
Whilst you’re sipping that first signature cocktail, have a read of the guidebook. In it you’ll find a handy map, all the details of the participating venues plus the low-down on all our food offers and events. Some people like to follow a set route but you can plan as much or as little as you like. Venues that are further away from The Hub are likely to be a little less busy, so if you fancy a quieter time, head out and explore.
Vote for the ‘Bristol Cocktail Weekend Cocktail Of The Year’
You might see other festival go-ers scribbling down notes in the back of their guidebook. That’s because at the end of the festival you’ll be invited to vote for the ‘Bristol Cocktail Weekend Cocktail Of The Year’. Make sure whoever purchases your tickets looks out for that email and forwards on the voting link to anyone else in the party.
Your votes and the votes of a panel of industry experts will be combined and the winning venue will receive a much-coveted trophy, and some major bragging rights!
Have a feast
Believe it or not, Bristol Cocktail Weekend is not just about cocktails, your wristband also gives you access to some fantastic food offers. Our participating venues put on a whole host of deals to keep you fuelled up over the long weekend. Take a look at all the 2023 food offers here. We do recommend booking tables for lunch and dinner.
Attend an exclusive event
There is a whole programme of awesome events for wristband wearers. Our events are mostly taking place from 28 Sept–1 Oct but there are a few in the run up to the festival to help you warm up for Cocktail Weekend! From a drink-a-long film screening and an ice carving experience to a gin-filled boat trip and even an art class! There really is something for everyone…. We’re expecting a lot of these events to sell out in advance of the festival so take a look at the programme now and once you’ve bought your Cocktail Weekend tickets, get booking!
So there you have it, your guide to the inaugural Bristol Cocktail Weekend. Remember, you can dip into the festival as much or as little as you like. Your wristband is valid for all four days; from when the first venue opens on Thursday until the last venue closes on Sunday. That means you can join us for just a couple of signature cocktails on Friday night or you can spend the whole long weekend exploring the city, trying something new and having a blast!
See you then cocktail lovers…
