London Cocktail Experiences
If you’re looking for something a little more out of the ordinary for your next date, head to one of these original London cocktail experiences. Whether you’re dating a history geek or simply want to try some new drinks, there’s something for everyone here!
The Moonshine Saloon has an immersive vibe, with guests gathered around poker-style tables to watch expert waiters make their favourite spirits into delicious cocktails. It’s one of the most fun immersive cocktail bars in East London.
Moonshine Saloon
Moonshine Saloon is one of London’s most immersive cocktail experiences and is a must-try if you’re looking for a unique night out. This Wild West-themed speakeasy is located among the skyscrapers of Houndsditch and features a storyline that unfolds around you. Actors take over and enact a number of characters throughout the evening, including The Sheriff and Clyde Cassidy.
The experience begins when you step off the street and into an imaginary Wild West town. You’ll be measured up for a Stetson hat and other western attire before being led down to the bar, where you’ll begin to experience life as an outlaw. You’ll be greeted by the self-styled King of the Moonshiners, Clyde Cassidy, who will guide you through your journey as an illicit liquor smuggler and distiller.
Guests are then whisked away to the tailor, who will ensure they look their best in a stetson hat and other outlaw attire. From there, you’ll be escorted to the Saloon, where you can try your luck at card and dice games, exchange tales of the Wild West and enjoy personalised cocktails made with the booze that you brought along.
At the end of the evening, you’ll be ushered to the upstairs “General Store” for a final refreshment before leaving the Wild West. This immersive cocktail bar is the brainchild of the team behind the pop-up prison bar Alcotraz and promises to bring its own twist on the Wild West theme.
The concept is based on a fictional outlaw gang, who run an illegal booze operation in 1904. You’ll be invited to bring your own liquor and join the gang for a fun filled night of smuggling and drinking. During the night, you’ll also be introduced to a series of bespoke cocktails that are created by the bar’s world-class mixologists. Whether you’re looking for a special night out or an unusual corporate team building event, this is the place to go!
Wizard Exploratorium
A wand-powered science museum spread across multiple floors, Wizard Exploratorium is a magical destination for anyone who wants to embrace their inner witch or wizard. Located in a bright pink Soho townhouse, it offers an array of spell-binding experiences to keep your little ones (and you) entertained and intrigued.
The Wands & Wizard Exploratorium is divided into three sections that showcase how concepts from fantasy can be made real through science and technology. The ground floor plays host to a retail shop, while the rest of the venue is devoted to interactive and engaging science-based installations.
There are several different experiences that you can book at the wand-themed venue, including a magic wand experience, a potion making class and an afternoon tea. All of the experiences are a magical way to spend an afternoon with your family, and there is even an attic workshop where you can build your own illuminated magic wand.
With uneven wooden floors, large window displays and an underground stone vault, the interior of the venue feels like it’s been taken straight out of a fantasy novel. The self-guided interactive exhibition teaches visitors how to levitate, disappear and cast spells.
To top it all off, there’s a magical tea experience too that’ll take you on a journey through the subtle science of tea brewing, molecular gastronomy and technology. Choose your wand and you’ll be guided to interactive workstations where you can choose ingredients and brew two different magical teas – one that focuses on transfiguration and the other on experimentation and iteration.
The wand-themed venue is also home to a number of different rooms that can be hired for private events, and it’s conveniently located within walking distance from Covent Garden tube station. There’s no need to book in advance, and the venue is a magical place to visit for any occasion.
Cell Block Two One Two
As the world slowly gets back to normal, bars and restaurants are trying to attract customers by coming up with new experiences. They are also trying to modify their menus and offering discount coupons to lure people in.
One such experience is Cell Block Two One Two, which opened in Shoreditch, London. It is a prison-themed bar that allows its guests to immerse in the world of imprisonment. The bar allows its visitors to put on orange jumpsuits and get locked in replica prion cells while drinking cocktails.
At Cell Block Two One Two, a total of 10 cells can house 50 ‘prisoners’. Those who are successful in smuggling liquor past the warden will be rewarded with a bespoke cocktail, made with the spirit of their choice.
The boozer has got its own system for hiding contraband, but it asks the customers to be as creative as they can. They will be able to try their best to smuggle alcohol into the replica prion cells.
Those who are not successful in their attempts can be guided by bootleggers and crooked prison guards who have their own system for storing contraband. If they are able to successfully smuggle hard liquor into the cell, their expert inmates will create them a bespoke cocktail.
The experience is a great way to spend a night with friends, and will give you a taste of what life is like in a prison. It’s also a great place to celebrate birthdays, hen and stag parties.
ABQ
ABQ London is the UK’s first immersive molecular cocktail bar that lets you cook your own cocktails using science equipment. Based in an RV, this immersive break from normal bars has been hailed as the best new thing to hit the streets of London.
Located on Hackney’s Bohemia Place, it’s a quick 5-minute walk from Hackney Central station. It’s a lively street full of hip bars, breweries and shops with plenty to keep you entertained while you’re there.
It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a unique london cocktail experience with your friends or loved ones. They serve a welcome drink to each guest, and you can choose from the a variety of molecular drinks on offer.
You get two crafted cocktails and a welcome drink for PS30 per person, so it’s perfect for a date night or a fun group activity. Once you’ve donned your yellow hazmat suit and goneggles, you’ll get your hands on all the paraphernalia needed to create mind-bending cocktails like bubbles, foams and dry ice.
There’s a smattering of cocktails on the menu, but we highly recommend the Gale – a mix of tequila, mezcal, Kahlua, cold-brewed coffee and cinnamon espresso with green cardamom and pink peppercorn hydrosol air. It’s a delicious drink, and it also comes with a fun little quiz to complete!
It’s a little on the pricey side, but it’s worth it for the novelty. It’s a completely interactive experience, and you can even bring your own ingredients to make something unique for yourself. It’s a fun evening of drinking and entertainment for all ages, and it’s the kind of thing you’ll be talking about for years to come!
Alcotraz
Alcotraz is one of London’s first – and most popular – immersive cocktail experiences. It was the one that showed the world what a prison-themed drinking experience could be and it has helped kick start a love affair with the genre.
The experience involves smuggling liquor past the warden and into the hands of ‘bootlegger’ bartenders in orange jumpsuits, who will then transform it into personalised cocktails. During your visit you will be part of the story, which is brought to life through characters including The Warden and Guards (all played by actors).
Guests will need to bring their own alcohol, which can be in a sealed bottle that is used for blending and mixing drinks. There are a number of different cocktail flavours available at the bar, so be sure to pick one that suits your taste buds.
You can also buy a drink package to make the most of your visit and get a selection of bespoke cocktails. The price includes a ticket to the experience, a bottle of your own spirit and four personalised cocktails throughout the night.
This is a great activity to do with friends or family, or even for a stag or hen do. Alternatively, you can hire it out for private events like birthdays and Christmas parties!
A new prison-themed cocktail bar is set to open in Liverpool city centre next month. It will be three times larger than the previous location, and it’ll include a range of secret areas, according to the ECHO.
The new site is located on Seel Street and will house 10 individual cells, which can accommodate 50 inmates for public experiences, or be hired out for stags, hens and Christmas parties. It will also feature a Visitation Area, Laundry Room and Warden’s Office, which you can unlock by getting the Guards on your side.