I love London, it has to be one of my favourite cities in the world. One thing I missed when I lived in Australia was the London city atmosphere and the sheer number of different bars and restaurants you have to choose from- Nothing quite compares.
Throughout recent years there has been an abundance of bottomless brunch options popping up throughout many of the bars in London. These range from a standard bottomless drink with your breakkie through to a drag brunch or a Fleetwood Mac sing-along. And whilst I LOVE a bottomless brunch there is another kind of drinking experience in London that is truly after my own heart….. The immersive cocktail experience.
The Immersive cocktail experience is giving the bottomless brunch a run for its money. If you are not quite familiar with the concept of immersive cocktail experiences, just think of it as theatre meets cocktail bar. and these two elements coming together to give you a fun-filled and boozy evening.
As I mentioned before I am a sucker for a cocktail experience, so I have created a list of the top cocktail experiences in London that I think everyone needs to try, whether you’re heading out for a date night or a night out with your pals!
- The Bletchley
- ABQ
- The Grid
- Alcotraz
- The Murder Express
- The Cauldron
- Moonshine Saloon
The Bletchley
Location
459 King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW10 0LJ
Price
£36 per person
Includes 1 welcome drink + 2 Cryptic/Mission Cocktails and 1h 45m inside the cocktail bunker.
Theme
As you might have guessed from the name The Bletchley is themed around World War 2 Enigma codebreakers at Bletchley Park. Here you will be able to dress up in Military costume that will be provided for you. You will then get the opportunity to use replica WW2 Engima Machines and your detective skills to help the mixologists here create the perfect personalised cocktails for you. The mixologists will ensure that you do not receive the same cocktail twice and if you don’t like what you have been given you can ask for something new without any issues.
ABQ
Location
18 Bohemia Pl, London E8 1DU
Price
£36 Per person
Includes 1 welcome drink + 2 molecular cocktails and 1h 45m inside the RV.
Theme
ABQ is based on TV series “Breaking Bad”. Here you will be able to step inside Jesse and Walt’s RV and start cooking up some cocktails. You will be provided with some cool yellow hazmat suits and a gas mask before you start experimenting in the lab – Remember it’s Safety first kids! 😉.
After your initial welcome drink, you will be able to select 2 molecular cocktails to make/cook up. This will give you a complete throwback to your year 11 science lessons, only a lot more fun, colourful and with alcohol involved. If like me you like to prepare ahead of time you can find the drink options here.
The Grid
Location
Price
£29.99 Per Person
Includes 2 cocktails and 1hr30 mins inside the experience
Theme
The Grid is an escape room infused with a cocktail experience. Here you will find yourself at the ‘offices’ of an evil startup company named ‘Neosight’. Your mission is to outsmart their AI technology and save the world from extinction whilst enjoying some cocktails along the way. The aim of this escape room is to #ActNormal whilst you fool the Neosight team into thinking that you are there to help them.
Alcotraz
Location
212 Brick Ln, London E1 6SA
Price
£35 per person
Includes your prison pack for the duration of the experience, 4/5 cocktails from your smuggled liquor of choice and 1hr 45 mins inside the cell.
Theme
You must bring your own spirit that you have to “smuggle past the warden”. The staff will then take your spirit and make you some delicious cocktails throughout the night. We had 70cl of rum between 2 of us and were given 5 cocktails each.
You are given a quick briefing and then an orange jumpsuit to wear. Your party is then taken to its own cell block where you drink for the night (a pretty perfect COVID set-up). The staff then provide you with entertainment along the way which I won’t go into as it will spoil it for you.
The Murder Express
Location
63 Pedley St, Greater, Bethnal Green, London E1
Price
£60- £67.50 Per Person
Includes 4 course meal (drinks sold separately) and 2 hours inside the experience.
Theme
The Murder Express is in actual fact an immersive dining experience, rather than cocktail so, therefore, is the most expensive on this list. But, in this case, you certainly get what you pay for. Much like the movie ‘Murder on the Orient Express’, the experience takes you back to the early 20th century and is set on a luxury train. The train doesn’t move but the windows do contain LCD screens that show footage shot from a genuine steam railway train in the Welsh Highlands.
During your time here you will be served a 4-course meal prepared by a MasterChef finalist (drinks in this experience are sold separately). Make sure to prepare for some fun and intense theatrical moments during all of your courses.
The Cauldron
Location
5d Stoke Newington Rd, Dalston, London N16 8BH
Price
Option 1: £25 Per Person for Bottomless Unicorn Gin
Includes 1 hour of bottomless gin in a magical booth.
Option 2: £35.99 Per Person for The Magical Cocktail Experience
Includes 1 welcome drink and 2 molecular cocktail potions and 1hr 45mins of spell casting.
Theme
The Cauldron, as you may have guessed, has a wizard/witchy, Harry Potter-esque theme. Here you can find two different cocktail experiences to choose from.
The first is a bottomless unicorn gin experience. This gives you 1-hour access to a magic wand. This wand enables you to pour glittery pink gin from a mystical unicorn’s head. If you want to mix it up between gins you can also purchase additional potions from their cocktail menu.
The second cocktail experience on offer is a magical potion experience. You are given a full wizard/witches outfit (including wand) and have almost 2 hours to cast spells and make potions (cocktails).
Moonshine Saloon
Location
28-30 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7DB
Price
£35.99
Includes your Saloon pack for the duration of the experience, 4/5 cocktails from your smuggled liquor of choice and 1hr 45 mins inside the saloon.
Theme
Moonshine Saloon is from the same creators of Alcotraz so has a similar setup. This time, however, the experience takes you to the Wild West. The premise here is to smuggle Moonshine (your spirit of choice) into the saloon without being caught by the sheriff and of course, you will be given a Wild West Costume to help you blend in and avoid being caught. Again there will be some extra surprises along the way.
So the question is what one will you try?
If you know of any more immersive cocktail experiences in London that you think should be added to the list then let me know!
If you are looking for more city adventures check out my guide to Copenhagen.
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