Each October, London becomes the cocktail capital of the world, and this year the stage is set once again. From 9–19 October 2025, London Cocktail Week returns for its sixteenth edition, bringing with it more than 200 of the city’s best bars, countless new serves, and a packed line-up of exclusive events. What began in 2010 with fewer than 50 participating bars has grown into the largest cocktail festival of its kind anywhere in the world.

The Connoisseur’s Collection

Returning for 2025 is the rather luxurious Connoisseur’s Collection, a curated series of luxury experiences designed for true cocktail lovers. Developed with industry icon Anna Sebastian, these events take place in some of London’s most exclusive bars and pair rare spirits with imaginative serves.

Among the highlights:

• 

   Aureus Vita Gin collaborations with Artesian London and Eve Bar. One of the names generating buzz this year is Aureus Vita Gin, described as “the biggest innovation in gin this century.” Master distiller John Hall will host select events across the festival, introducing guests to the spirit’s distinctive flavour and innovative production methods. London has long been synonymous with gin, and Aureus Vita’s debut at the festival is a reminder of how the city continues to shape and redefine the category.  At Eve Bar throughout LCW, this exclusive flight features three luxurious serves, each crafted with precision using the rare 2024 vintage of Aureus Vita Gin and paired with caviar and Eve’s signature Snacks. There is also a masterclass hosted by the award-winning Artesian bar team which involves making a number of cocktails, Artesian’s new bar bites, gaining insights from The Book of Phi by drinks author Richard Godwin to take away, and an apron to take home.

• The Guards Bar, under the brilliant eye of Federico Manganaro and team, presents an exclusive Beluga Gold Line Tiny Martini tasting, great for us Martini experts. Enjoy a flight of three exquisite mini martinis, including a Smoky Martini – shaken to deliver depth and complexity. Each Tiny Martini highlights the finesse of Beluga Gold Line Vodka in miniature, carefully crafted serves.

• In celebration of  London Cocktail Week, the Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel presents a limited-edition collaboration that celebrates the artistry of balance and harmony. In partnership with Bombay Sapphire and Chef Adam Byatt, exppect an exclusive menu pairing bespoke cocktails with small plates. The limited edition menu includes a Tropical Fizz paired with Steak Tartare & Caviar Tartlets, a bold interplay where bright, floral notes elevate the tartare’s umami depth in perfect harmony. Next up, the Silent Pearl paired with Dover Sole Bonne Femme. A refined, Vesper Martini-inspired cocktail with a savoury tone. Lastly, a Mai Cocoa Tai paired with Fig Beignets with Orange Sugar which balances sweetness, citrus, and cocoa.

The Connoisseur’s Collection captures the spirit of London Cocktail Week at its most refined: rare, inventive, and unmissable.

The Curated Cocktail Tours

At the centre of the festival are the Curated Cocktail Tours. With a £20 wristband, you can explore bars across the city and enjoy £9 Signature Cocktails, alongside £6 non-alcoholic serves and £12 Moët & Chandon Champagne cocktails. The beauty of the tours lies in their scope. From historic hotel lounges in Mayfair to independent neighbourhood gems in Hackney, the tours turn the city itself into a sprawling, open invitation to experience London’s unrivalled drinks scene.

Expect many brilliant £9 libations. Our favourite list is at Henson’s Bar with three brilliant creations made with Chopin Vodka. Our standout was a Bread and Butter with Chopin Wheat Vodka, mastiha liqueur, apricot, lemon juice, a lovingly home made salted peanut butter syrup and orange bitters. The Red Hook Collins features Chopin Rye Vodka, Savoia Rosso, Luxardo Maraschino, Amaro Averna, Soda. A Collins with a beautiful depth of flavour. The last creation was a clever martini-style cocktail called Floral with Chopin Potato Vodka, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, Savoia Arancio, and Dry Vermouth.

What’s New for 2025

London Cocktail Week always keeps an eye on global trends, and this year, two new initiatives take centre stage.

Tiny Cocktails celebrate the art of the miniature. For £6, festival-goers can sample small-format cocktails that allow bartenders to experiment and push boundaries while giving guests the chance to taste more without committing to a full-size drink.

Home Grown showcases the farm-to-glass movement, putting the spotlight on UK producers and the country’s unique flavour profile. Curated with the new bar maestro of London Angelos Bafas, this programme is all about celebrating provenance and sustainability while highlighting the creativity of London’s drinks makers.

Cocktails and Food

The link between cocktails and food has never been stronger, and this year sees more pairings than ever. Michelin-starred restaurants are teaming up with world-class bartenders to create menus where every course is matched to a signature serve.

A standout from the Connoisseur’s Collection is À la Londonienne: The Art Apéritif at Bar Antoine, Four Seasons Park Lane. Running throughout the festival, it brings French flair to Mayfair with apéritif-style cocktails such as Jardin Éphémère (rosemary, pear eau de vie, Champagne) and On Dirait le Sud (vodka, tomato extraction, sherry, Bénédictine). Each drink is served alongside Michelin-starred canapés by Chef Yannick Alléno — from Mediterranean fritters to delicate quiches. It’s a refined, luxurious addition to any evening.

Another returning highlight is Patrón Tequila Tuesdays at Satan’s Whiskers in Bethnal Green. Here, tequila cocktails come paired with tacos by the Dos Mas Brothers, hip-hop beats, and one of London’s most beloved neighbourhood bar atmospheres. It’s casual, playful, and full of flavour — a different take on how cocktails and food can come together.

Something a Little Different

London Cocktail Week is as much about discovery as it is about tradition. This year’s Ramsbury Soho Martini Tour captures that spirit perfectly. You pick up a Ramsbury “passport” and explore four top venues — Dram, Bantof, Muse at RSA House, and Archive & Myth. Each bar serves its own signature Ramsbury Estate Martini, and guests collect Polaroid keepsakes along the way. Complete the journey and you’ll have not only savoured some of the city’s best Martinis but also created a tangible souvenir of the experience.

This self-guided adventure blends cocktails with exploration, and with its keepsake element, it adds something genuinely different to the festival programme.

Cocktail Parties

Some nights are all about spectacle, and London Cocktail Week delivers.

The Unofficial Launch Party kicks off proceedings at All My Gods in Bethnal Green on 9 October, with £8 highballs, pool tables, music, and an atmosphere that sets the tone for the week ahead. Supported by Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, it promises late-night energy.

London Cocktail Week at Side Hustle

Side Hustle – it is no secret that this is one of the very best bars in London and also the world, with their recent “Best International Hotel Bar” award at the 2025 Spirited Awards ceremony in July 2025. Kick off LCW in style as Iichiko Shochu brings nine incredible bars from across the globe under one roof. Expect world-class cocktails from: Kumiko, Bar Goto, 28 Hong Kong St, Bar Trench, Katana Kitten, Jewel of the South, Barbary Coast, Pacific Cocktail Haven, and Craftroom. This event alone demonstrates why London Cocktail Week has become a magnet for global talent.

On 14th October, expect the Silver Lyan x Side Hustle Takeover where for one night only, Silver Lyan – Ryan Chetiyawardana’s (Mr Lyan’s) award-winning Washington D.C. bar, takes over Side Hustle. A rare London appearance. A day later, there is the Mezcal Del Suelo Launch with Greg Buda at Side Hustle where acclaimed bartender Greg Buda hosts the UK launch of Mezcal Del Suelo, spotlighting sustainability and innovation in agave spirits.

Parasol x FOCO

Cult East London cocktail bar Parasol is set to host an exclusive London Cocktail Week takeover from Barcelona’s trailblazing bar FOCO on Friday 17th October. FOCO will bring their creative energy to London, taking over Parasol with a menu designed in partnership with GREY GOOSE vodka. Look out for a Moscow Mule with GREY GOOSE vodka, cold-pressed ginger, kaffir lime leaf, black pepper, and oat. The Strawberry Fields offers a playful mix of GREY GOOSE vodka, strawberry pastis, rhubarb mascarpone, and rosé vermouth, while the Espresso Martini gets a modern twist with aerated espresso, salted vanilla foam, and toasted hazelnut. The menu will also feature twists on classics, including a Paloma with Patrón Tequila Reposado, sparkling grapefruit wine, and smoky chilli heat, and a fragrant Pisco Sour crafted with Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru and beeswax pisco.

Why London Cocktail Week Matters

London Cocktail Week is more than a festival. It’s a cultural moment for the capital, shining a spotlight on the city’s world-class hospitality industry. Each year, the event connects people to the creativity of mixologists, the passion of producers, and the atmosphere of bars that define London’s nightlife.

The scale is unmatched: eleven days, over 200 bars, exclusive pop-ups, late-night parties, intimate tastings, and experimental new serves. It is both a showcase of where the British drinks industry is today and a glimpse of where it is heading next.

Cheers to London Cocktail Week 2025

From a Champagne spritz in Mayfair to a cacao cocktail in Marylebone, from a tiny serve in Shoreditch to a groundbreaking gin debut, London Cocktail Week 2025 promises to be a city-wide toast to creativity. It is a festival where tradition and innovation meet, where luxury and accessibility coexist, and where London once again proves itself the cocktail capital of the world. And for everyone with a wristband, London itself becomes a festival ground, where every night out can turn into something extraordinary.

For more information and to buy wristbands, visit London Cocktail Week

 

 

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