As summer once again sweeps across the capital, Bedford Square Gardens is preparing to transform into a vibrant haven of cocktail culture and open-air indulgence with Cocktails in the City 2026. Our favourite cocktail event of the year, what makes Cocktails in the City wonderful is that everything is in one place. It really is a showcase of London’s very best cocktails and mixology.`
London’s most unique and intriguing festival has returned for yet another summer of fun, sun, and the best drinks. Bringing together some of the city’s most celebrated bars, world-class bartenders, and spirit brands, Cocktails in the City offers far more than a traditional drinks festival.
Coming to you soon is an immersive celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and connection – where guests can wander between beautifully curated pop-ups, discover emerging cocktail trends, and experience the very best of London’s ever-evolving bar scene beneath the summer sky.
London’s Bars Take Centre Stage
Of course, no cocktail festival would be complete without the bars themselves — and Cocktails in the City has assembled an exceptional line-up for both its July and August editions. Bringing together some of London’s most celebrated venues, guests can expect everything from glamorous rooftop favourites to hidden gems beloved by the industry itself. Look out for newcomer Hidden Society and their superb creations.
Returning names include Sabine Rooftop Bar, known for its effortlessly chic skyline setting and elegant botanical-inspired serves. Meanwhile, Aqua Kyoto and Hutong will be bringing Asian-inspired flavours to the garden, promising vibrant ingredients, delicate spice, and beautifully balanced creations. Of course, The Coral Room returns with Gio and team spreading love and great cocktails.
Elsewhere, guests can wander between the tropical escapism of Laki Kane, the timeless glamour of Quaglino’s, and the warm European elegance of Ognisko. And it would not be Cocktails in the City without the pickle martini from Ognisko. Each is transforming their signature style into exclusive festival serves designed especially for Cocktails in the City.
Andrew Scutts has gathered London’s finest bars but has done more than create a cocktail festival; he has built a community. Through Cocktails in the City, he has given bartenders a stage to tell their stories, showcase their creativity and connect directly with the people who appreciate their craft. At a time when hospitality faces constant challenges, Andrew continues to champion the talent, passion and innovation that make the industry so special, creating opportunities for bars and drinks brands of every size to thrive. The success of Cocktails in the City is a reflection not only of Andrew’s entrepreneurial vision but also of his genuine belief in the people behind the bar and his commitment to ensuring their work receives the recognition it deserves.
Spotlight: Modern Heritage with Trevethan Gin
Among this year’s most compelling trends is Modern Heritage, a movement celebrating classic craft and historic spirit recipes reimagined with contemporary flair. Leading the festival’s August edition is Trevethan Original 1929 Dry Gin, partnering with the award-winning team from The Gin Bar at Holborn Dining Room (Rosewood London). Rooted in a 1929 Cornish chauffeur’s recipe later refined by chemist-turned-master distiller John Hall, this science-backed London Dry Gin bridges nearly a century of Cornish tradition with modern mixology.
To showcase the spirit’s versatility under the summer sky, Rosewood London’s expert team crafted two exclusive festival serves. Guests can look forward to the Eden Highball, a light, effervescent creation pairing Trevethan Gin with elderflower, tropical tea, fresh lime, and a delicate elderflower jelly garnish, alongside Zest & Stone, a bright, seasonal blend of yuzu sake, juicy peach, lemon, and aromatic fig leaf soda. It is a flawless example of how London’s finest bars take iconic heritage liquids into exciting new territory.
Cocktails Worth Talking About
One of the festival’s biggest draws is the opportunity to experience cocktails you would usually travel across the city — or even across the world — to try. Every participating bar creates bespoke drinks exclusively for this event, turning Bedford Square Gardens into a playground of flavour, creativity, and experimentation.
Expect smoky mezcal concoctions layered with citrus and spice, refreshing tequila highballs designed for warm summer evenings, and elegant champagne cocktails perfect for sipping beneath the gardens’ fairy-lit trees.
For rum lovers, tropical punches and contemporary tiki-style drinks are likely to dominate the menus. From bold and theatrical to refined and minimalist, every drink has been crafted not simply to impress, but to create a memorable moment within this spectacular cocktail intensive.
The Cocktail Collectives
At the heart of Cocktails in the City is The Cocktail Collective — serving to introduce each curated drink experience taking place at the festival. Ranging from partners all over the world, each Collective brings together leading bars and spirit partners around a shared concept, offering a closer look at the brilliant ideas shaping modern cocktail culture.
Rather than simply serving cocktails, each experience has been designed as a moment of discovery. From emerging flavour profiles to culturally inspired techniques, every Collective invites guests to explore the stories behind the glass while connecting with the bartenders redefining contemporary drinking culture.
The Bartender’s Edit
Perhaps the festival’s most personal experience, The Bartender’s Edit transforms insider recommendations into a carefully curated journey through London’s bar scene. Each bartender has tailored a list of places they would send a friend, based on their own opinions and expertise. This Collective offers a rare opportunity to discover the places these renowned bartenders return to time and time again.
It is an experience rooted in authenticity rather than trend, allowing guests to leave not only with memorable cocktails but with a newfound knowledge of the city’s most respected drinking destinations.
Coffee and Cocktails
We all know the infamous Espresso Martini and how it has stolen the show at almost every bar in the country with London bar experts like Daniel Kaizen championing this wonderful creation. This Collective explores the next evolution of coffee-led drinks, showcasing the bartenders and producers pushing the category into exciting new territory.
Expect cold brew highballs, fermented coffee spirits, and cascara-infused creations; the options are truly endless. It is a showcase of experimentation and craftsmanship, proving that one iconic serve has sparked an entirely new movement within cocktail culture.
Pan Asian Collective
Pan-Asian influence is one of the most compelling forces in contemporary mixology, and this Collective is celebrating the breadth and sophistication of that impact. From crisp Japanese whisky highballs to Southeast Asian-inspired sours layered with spice and citrus, this offers a vibrant exploration of flavour and technique.
Bringing together bars and partners with genuine cultural understanding and authenticity, this Collective highlights how Asian ingredients and traditions continue to inspire some of the most exciting cocktails being created today.
Showcasing: UK Rums
British rum is the new thing, and it is taking the cocktail world by storm. A new generation of distillers, from the Caribbean-heritage producers who have been here for decades to the newer craft operations, are making a strong case for the UK’s most exciting spirits.
All these new and improved rums will be found here in one place, so you can see, taste, and enjoy the creations from blenders and bartenders who are rewriting what British rum can be, in real time.
Mexican Collective
Our favourite topic and liquid. Although we are all familiar with the magic that Mexican culture has created, here we can find a new introduction to tequila and mezcal. Going far beyond agave giants, this Collective of Mexican drinking culture is a celebration of its full breadth.
Celebrating the diversity of flavours, traditions, and regional influences that define Mexican spirits, this experience brings together bartenders who have built entire menus around these expressions, alongside emerging producers introducing new labels to UK audiences. The result is an immersive journey into one of the world’s most vibrant and influential drinking cultures.
Activities
Beyond the cocktails themselves, Cocktails in the City offers a vibrant programme of different activities designed to celebrate every aspect of cocktail culture. You can enjoy cocktail workshops, mastering different classics, tasting sessions, and masterclasses led by the infamous bartenders and producers.
All while experiencing the garden coming alive with entertainment and fun, being led by a DJ, silent disco, live music, and the best socialising intertwined within the festival. There is so much to enjoy alongside your drink, making this the best way to spend your weekend with friends, or spend it making new ones.
The Food Village
Making its debut this year, The Food Village introduces a dedicated culinary element to the festival experience. Bringing together a curated selection of London chefs and restaurants, the space offers globally inspired small plates designed to complement the festival’s diverse drinking programme.
From vibrant street-food influences to smaller sharing dishes, the addition of The Food Village ensures the experience extends well beyond the bar, creating a more immersive and indulgent celebration of food, flavour, and summer entertainment.
Overall
As London’s cocktail scene continues to evolve, Cocktails in the City 2026 remains one of the few events capable of capturing its energy, creativity, and sense of community all in one place.
From boundary-pushing drinks and globally inspired flavours to live entertainment and an unforgettable summer atmosphere, the festival offers far more than an evening of cocktails – it delivers a complete sensory experience.
Whether you are a seasoned cocktail enthusiast or simply searching for the perfect summer event in the capital, Cocktails in the City promises an immersive celebration of flavour, culture, and connection that lingers long after the final drink is poured.
To discover more, visit: cocktailsinthecity.com/tickets
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All images courtesy of: Cocktails in the City.