London Cocktail Week, the world’s original festival, will return from October 3rd-13th, with a schedule of more than 100 events showcasing the very best of the city’s world-leading bar scene. In its 15th year, 2024 will also see the return of the festival’s £8 Signature Cocktails – available at more than 200 bars across the city – and the Connoisseur’s Collection, a series of luxury, one-of-a-kind experiences for the most dedicated drinks enthusiasts.
A popular mainstay of London Cocktail Week since its inception, the Curated Cocktail Tours will see hundreds of bars across the city offer £8 Signature Cocktails, that have been specially created for the festival. Cocktail lovers will be able to explore the best of London’s bar scene by making their way through the curated selection of participating bars, with the cocktails available to those who show their festival wristband.
The festival’s wide programme of events ranges from masterclasses and tastings, to cocktail-paired dinners and unique takeovers from renowned bars travelling into London from across the UK and internationally. The Connoisseur’s Collection returns with a schedule of exclusive experiences held at London’s most prestigious bars, with each offering representing the pinnacle of cocktail service.
As part of its continued focus on supporting the bar industry, London Cocktail Week will also host numerous trade-exclusive experiences. Its Bartender Knowledge Exchange programme will return for a second year, giving bartenders visiting the city from around the world the chance to learn from some of the very best in the business. The series offers experiential learning on-site at some of London’s most celebrated bars, including a class on flavour extraction at Bar With Shapes For A Name; a session on the creativity of drinking at Tayer + Elementary; masterclasses on cracking ice by hand at Swift Borough, and behind the scenes tours at The Connaught Bar and Lyaness.
2024 will also see the introduction of SIP Sessions, a new 2-day series of roundtables, discussion panels and seminars for drinks industry professionals, supported by Pernod Ricard’s global advocacy program SIP (Share. Inspire. Pioneer). Sessions will cover a wide range of pertinent topics within the global drinks industry, from diversity and inclusivity, mindful drinking, wellness and sustainability, to explorations into the rise of agave spirits and the role of AI in hospitality.
London Cocktail Week co-founders Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne have shared their top ten highlights from the festival, showcasing a selection of the most exciting, unique experiences on its unrivalled roster:
Curated Cocktail Tours
A curated selection of hundreds of top London bars will offer £8 Signature Cocktails to £20 wristband holders (with over half offering £6 non-alcs too). Grab your guidebook, and explore.
3rd-13th October – Info HERE
Connoisseur’s Collection
A series of luxury experiences at London’s most prestigious bars, from an exclusive tasting of homemade spirits at Nipperkin, to ‘French 75 Roulette’ at The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy.
3rd-13th October – Info HERE
Bartender warm-up party
A way for the London Cocktail Week team to say thank you: this evening of food by Hawksmoor and drinks from Brown-Forman is open to the bar teams from all participating venues.
30th September – Info HERE
Bartender Knowledge Exchange
A series of unique opportunities for bartenders to take part in on-site learning sessions at some of the best bars in the world, from masterclasses to tours, exclusive tastings to creative sessions.
3rd-13th October – Info HERE
SIP Sessions
A brand new series of discussion events aimed at tackling the biggest topics in the bar industry, from a zero waste seminar with Douglas McMaster to mindful drinking sessions with Camille Vidal.
7th-8th October – Info HERE
Agave A Go Go takeover at Side Hustle
Four of the world’s most renowned agave bars will join forces, as Side Hustle at NoMad London plays host to Limantour from Mexico City, Candelaria from Paris and Leyenda from New York.
3rd October – Info HERE
The Dead Rabbit x Lyaness takeover
New York City’s celebrated Irish bar The Dead Rabbit will be heading to the Southbank for two nights of live music, its famed Irish Coffee, Guinness on tap and Taytos on the backbar.
6th-7th October – Info HERE
BACARDÍ x Portobello 177 Rum Dinner
Hosted by 6th-generation Bacardí family member Adolfo Comas, a four-course meal will explore Caribbean and Japanese flavours, paired with limited-edition Bacardi rums and cocktails.
9th October – Info and bookings HERE
The Pinnacle Guide Bar Tour
Join London Cocktail Week and Pinnacle Guide co-founders Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne for a tour of three PINNED bars listed in their recently launched guide to the best bars in the world.
10th October – Info HERE
Caretaker’s Cottage x Seed Library
Closing the festival in style, award-winning Melbourne bar Caretaker’s Cottage will bring its famously laid-back hospitality to the Shoreditch bar from the Mr Lyan team*.
13th October – Info and bookings HERE
London Cocktail Week 2024 will take place from 3rd-13th October. Wristbands are priced at £20 and are now available to buy HERE.
Publisher of Hospitality and Leisure News, 365 Retail, Retail Source and organiser of the Creative Retail Awards.
