Seven days of summer drink sins with Leeds' hottest cocktail bars

Hot stuff at The Thewliss

Get ready to shake up your social calendar next week for seven days of cocktail crackers.

The Summer Cocktail Experience Week has landed and starting on Monday until Sunday, the Leeds city socialites are in for a treat as 21 of the very best bars and restaurants invite you to join them for seven days of cocktail-centric experiences.

The line-up includes a 90’s themed bottomless brunch, food and cocktail pairing at an award-winning fine dining restaurant, a Yorkshire rhubarb and gin themed night at the city’s hippest hotel and DIY cocktail making with French macaroons.

Organised by the PR team at the city’s party experts Pink Gorilla Hairy Lemon, you know you’re in for a good time as they were behind epic party launches at Issho and East 59th last summer and three roof-top parties in the last month.

In a change to the ‘under one roof’ approach of previous events, these one-off experiences will take place within the confines of each participating venue, allowing you to pick and choose when and where you go as you please.

With rumours already circulating the city about what is happening where, what is it that takes your fancy?

Could it be the worst kept secret hipster hotspot, The Maven? Garnish an Espresso Martini with your own face, Over at The Alchemist, it’s time to re-rewind back to the 1990s with the supa-fly Saved by the Brunch. Block-rocking beats as you kick back with a brunch dish and three of their finest cocktails. Schwiiiiing!

Meanwhile, over at Millennium Square, the Rockstar bartenders at Be At One are gonna knock your socks off with their lightning fast mixing skills, as they take you through the hottest new pours from their latest menu. Always a bar to outdo themselves in the creativity stakes, new drinks include a Toast and Butter Daiquiri, the A-Pear-Ol Spritz and the Viking Punch.

When Luke Downing and his team are not taking home the silverware at various industry award ceremonies, they’re crafting forward-thinking tasting menus to satisfy the Leeds fine-dining fans. Vice & Virtue has created a breath-taking three-course menu, chock full of the finest local produce. Dishes include Harewood Lamb Roulade and a Burdock Root Meringue, and each course is teamed up with a cutting-edge cocktail creation.

Fine food and drinks at Vice and Virtue

Let’s be honest, DIY is normally dull as dishwater, but not at Manahattas. The popular Greek Street haunt is giving you and your crew the chance to try your hand at some DIY cocktails, as you feast on the lush Manahatta Platter. For just £40 per group, you and three friends will receive a bottle of Prosecco with Chambord, Aperol and Peach puree, a mixology guide and the aforementioned platter.

The platter at Manahatta

Blackhouse raises the steaks (pun intended) as it cooks up a 1kg Tomahawk sharing steak, paired with a Smokey Old Fashioned and over at Epernay, afternoon tea British and French style is served with classic tipples from both countries so expect gin and champagne.

Other bars on board are Angelica, Banyan, Blind Tyger, Botanist, Chida Cantina, East 59th, Lost&Found, Malmaison, Oracle, Pintura, Revolucion de Cuba, Liquorist, Thewlis, Victoria Gate Casino.

For full details see www.thecocktailexperience.co.uk