THE CITY’S FIRST WEEK-LONG COCKTAIL FESTIVAL WILL LAUNCH IN SEPTEMBER, SERVING UP AN EXCITING PROGRAMME OF EVENTS AND, PERHAPS EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, FANCY COCKTAILS FOR JUST £5. ERM, DID WE MENTION, THERE WILL BE COCKTAILS?

What the organisers say: “The city’s coolest venues will come together to celebrate the art of mixing and showcase the North West’s incredible cocktail scene. The festival takes place in partnership with Abelforth’s Bathtub Gin, Rumbuliion and Re’al Puree.” What we say: “You had us at cocktails.”

Taking place between 18th & 24th September, the festival will feature seven days of mixing, shaking, creating, drinking, tasting, clinking, debating and sipping across some of the city’s coolest bars, restaurants and venues.

Participating venues include: Mojo, Some Place, Aloha, El Bandito, Red Door, The Alchemist, Filter & Fox; The Cosy Club; Constellations; Santa Chupitos; Miyagi; Heebie Jeebies and Furnivals Well;  with more to be announced soon

The festival is taking place in partnership with Ableforth’s Bathtub Gin, Rumbullion and Re’al purees who will host the festival hub at Furnivals Well, which will act as the wristband exchange and information point, as well as host a series of special events during the week.

Other participating brands include: Pussers Rum; Chase Distillery; Casamigos Tequila; Portobello Road Gin; Jack Daniels; Nikka Whiskey; Campari; Ketel One Vodka; Chambord; with more to be announced

A must-attend for any cocktail lover, the festival will play centre stage to a host of one-off events, tasting dinners, live music, parties, masterclass sessions, competitions and tastings to celebrate the art of mixing drinks and the city’s wonderful cocktail scene. Previous ‘Loves Cocktails’ festivals in Leeds and Manchester have seen events take place in partnership with some of the world’s best bars such as The Savoy, Callooh Callay and The Dead Rabbit in NYC. A similar calibre of events is planned for Liverpool’s festival with the timetable being announced within the next few weeks.

There will also be a series of specialist events, tastings and masterclasses designed for bartenders and discerning drinkers; with world-famous brands heading to the city to showcase unusual blends and share their expert knowledge.

In addition to the unmissable event programme, each of the venues will collaborate with one of world’s best spirit brands on a one-off exclusive cocktail menu. Available during week of the festival, each cocktail will be priced at just £5 and will be available exclusively for wristband holders only.

Liverpool Loves Cocktails was founded by entrepreneur and drinks enthusiast Nick Fox. The festival has taken place in Leeds for the past 5 years, Manchester for 2 years and debuted in Nottingham in April 2017. Last year’s Manchester Loves Cocktails saw more than 3,000 cocktail fans take part in the festival in celebrating the art of mixing.

Founder of Loves Cocktails Nick Fox says: “Liverpool is one of the UK’s most iconic destinations and we can’t wait to bring the Loves Cocktail festival to the city’s cocktail fans! The standard of cocktails in the city are on par with top bars of London and New York and it’s about time that the city has a festival to celebrate Liverpool’s incredible talent and diverse cocktail scene. The north definitely has a lot to offer, and I want us to celebrate that fact with a week-long cocktail festival’.

“Liverpool Loves Cocktail is the ultimate drinks festival; with a week-long programme of unmissable events and bespoke discount drinks for just £5 that are guaranteed to have cocktail lovers licking their lips.

“Over the 7 days we’ll be encouraging guests to ‘drink better, not more’ by exploring the story behind people’s favourite spirits, as well as some spirits they may not have come across before. Festival-goers can expect a diverse programme of events to satisfy everyone tastes, from music and parties through to expert masterclasses and unique tastings”.

To gain access to the events running throughout the festival and to purchase cocktails at the discounted price of £5, attendees must purchase a Liverpool Loves Cocktails wristbands. Half price concessions are available for drinks/hospitality industry workers, NHS employees and students. Tickets are available from Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/liverpool-loves-cocktails-tickets-34967747474

For a full list of bars and restaurants that are taking part in this year’s event or for more information about Liverpool Loves Cocktails visit www.lovescocktails.co.uk or check out the following on social media: Twitter @LPLCocktails and Instagram @loves_cocktails or using #LPoolCocktails17

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