York Cocktail Week is making its return, marking its second year running in the city since being launched in April last year.
With more than 30 venues scattered across the city, all you need to do is buy a wristband online which unlocks discounted cocktails in all of the bars and restaurants who’re taking part over the 10 days.
The prices of the drinks vary, ranging from £5-£7 per drink, as well as some venues offering price reductions on food.
So where can I go?
Many different venues across York have signed up to take part in this year’s event, with notable examples such as Revolution, The Botanist, Dum Dum’s Tikki Bar, Slug & Lettuce and many more.
A wide range of options for cocktails is reported to be on offer for customers at different venues, giving the choice of vegan-friendly as well as non-alcoholic mocktails for the public.
Bar Manager, Angus Ivel, from the Whippet Inn who are taking part, says: “Anything that’s in York we really want to be a part of because we’re all very passionate about the city.
We just really love getting involved in being able to do all these sort of events that just help boost the city’s economy.”
In terms of the cocktails on offer at The Whippet Inn, Angus says: “We are showcasing the Knickerbocker… It’s got that nice, raspberry flavour in there… a nice little bit of a lime… little bit of orange just to get all those fruity flavours that you’d get from a Knickerbocker Glory.”
Looking at the impact on footfall for the restaurant, he says: “Hopefully it’s going to have a huge impact, a nice boost in sales, a nice boost in exposure as well, just so everyone knows us because we’re not down the most pretty straight in York likes to be called the least aesthetic street in the city, but since we are down a little alleyway, it just helps us.
Strawberry Cheesecake cocktail?!
One cocktail enthusiast, Liv Darville, can’t wait to try out some venues, “I love a good mix of cocktails, definitely more fruity ones. I once tried a strawberry cheesecake cocktail and it was so nice, very sickly though.”
“Bar Dusk is one of the best places I think because of the range of cocktails, the names too are amazing; a few examples are Beelzebub and Graham Norton.”
“Cocktails are supposed to be fun, getting creative is great, some people believe its a form of art when it comes to… new drinks and naming them.”
When asked what her favourite cocktail overall is, Liv said: “My go to cocktail no matter what is a passionfruit martini, it’s so fruity and sweet but not too sweet to the point it makes you feel a bit sick.”
The event this year will be taking place from 17th to 26th April 2026.
