I previewed the Bristol Cocktail Weekend which will feature drinks from more than 30 dazzling bars

From Thursday, September 26 to Sunday, September 29, Bristolians will be able to enjoy an exclusive cocktail from more than 30 of Bristol’s venues.

I went on a preview of the weekend, visiting just five of the amazing venues - Bambalan, Golden Crane, Granary Club, 6 O'Clock Gin and Filthy XIII - across one evening. 

As well as plenty of delicious drinks to try, Bristol Cocktail Weekend is also a chance to discover a dazzling array of the city’s bars and hidden gems.  

We started the evening at Bambalan, a good place to start any party, and enjoyed a Hendricks gin-based Summer of Spritz cocktail.      

We then took a short walk to Golden Crane - an East Asian inspired cocktail bar I never knew existed despite the amount of times I’ve passed it going up Park Street - for the Pass Me Mighty Spice cocktail, alongside a bit of origami.     

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Next we had a Clarified Pina Colada at the Granary Club, somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit to see where the famous 'falling through the bar' scene from Only Fools & Horses was filmed.     

Then we enjoyed an Old Fashioned at 6 O’clock Gin, which has already established a presence in the city since taking on the iconic Glassboat around a year ago.  

And finally, we finished the night by taking a short taxi trip up to Filfthy XIII - Bristol’s top entry into the UK Top 50 Cocktail Bar list - with a Jack N Bump Fizz and one of their delightful hot dogs.     

For just £12 for an entry wristband, and £6 for a cocktail from each venue, it has to be one of the best cocktail deals going in the city.    

Each venue is also offering a mokctail for £5, and some of the bars and restaurants will also be offering exclusive food pairings and discounts. 

Wristband holders can visit as many, or few, venues as they like during the event, with most within walking distance.      

And despite being described as a 'weekend’, the event is actually taking place across four days, which makes the deal even better. 

Bristol Cocktail Weekend runs from Thursday, September 26 to Sunday, September 29. Tickets are available here: www.designmynight.com/bristol/whats-on/festival/bristol-cocktail-weekend-2024