The Best Cocktail Bars in the North East and Yorkshire
Paint the town red this winter!
Flight
188a Heaton Road, High Heaton Newcastle NE6 5HP
From the team behind local restaurants Nest and Hide, Flight is a welcoming, no-nonsense neighbourhood cocktail bar with plenty of cosy corners to tuck yourself into. The drinks list here is extensive and the team behind the bar love to play with flavours so there’s always something new. Their recent creation, the Violet Beauregard, combining gin, violet and blueberry, is just perfect for cold winter nights.
Dr. Inks
3 Coniscliffe Road, Darlington DL3 7EE
Inside this beautiful townhouse in Darlington you’ll find a wonderfully quirky cocktail bar, with cosy corners, chic interiors and (of course) an excellent range of cocktails. Totally Instagrammable, the team go to lengths to make each visit memorable and there’s a great range of mocktails too for any designated drivers.
Adam and Eve
3 Clayport Street, Alnwick NE66 1LA
A relaxed neighbourhood haunt in Alnwick, the cocktails here are always creative and use locally-sourced sprits wherever possible. Whether you stop by for a pre-dinner tipple or are finishing your evening with a night cap you’ll find something to love on the seasonal drinks menu. Our recommendation? The Charm, made with Ad Gefrin Tácnbora whisky, elderflower and white peach and jasmine soda.
Canteen and Cocktails
1 Norton High Street, Norton TS20 1AH
Vibrant and lively, Canteen and Cocktails is open every Friday and Saturday evening. This bar takes care of the classics, whether you’re sipping on a cosmopolitan or a margarita, but they also love to get inventive and have their own in-house infused spirits to try, as well as more creative options like the Smoky Paloma (made with tequila mezcal, agave and Ting), or a pear and honey margarita.
The Nuthatch
9–11 Bedford Street, Middlesbrough TS1 2LL
Stocked with more than 100 spirits from around the world, the cocktails at The Nuthatch are all carefully hand-crafted so you can watch the magic happen. The team here are passionate about what they do, so whether they’re showcasing a signature cocktail, refreshing the menu, or experimenting with new ingredients, you’ll be well taken care of.
Square & Compass Bar
207 Park View, Whitley Bay NE26 3RD
With an enviable spot on Whitley Bay’s thriving independent shopping street Park View, Square & Compass has a well-stocked bar filled with a good range of ales, wine, gins and whiskies, as well as an excellent choice of cocktails. Try their cocktail of the month for something different, with past combinations including autumnal spiced martinis, spiked pumpkin and pineapple tea, and a blackberry fizz.
Mirage
8 Wednesday Market, Beverley HU17 0DG
A thriving creative hub in Beverley, Mirage is known for its vibrant live music nights and exceptional cocktails. Their interior has a distinct industrial vibe and there is also a great outdoor seating area which is only a stone’s throw from the Minster. On their cocktail menu, the Mirage specials are stand outs, with drinks like the Miss Yorkshire (raspberry vodka, lemon, sugar and rose water), and the Adam’s Apple (pear vodka with lime, syrup and apple juice).
Below Stairs
The Basement, 12 South Parade, Leeds LS1 5QS
Easy to miss and yet well worth a visit, the award-winning Below Stairs in Leeds loves to experiment with ingredients, and its menu is split between sugar, salt, acid and fat, with a classic cocktail exemplifying each ingredient, and a number of extra creations showing how far it can be taken – the Barmalade (from ‘sugar’) uses vodka, marmalade, bergamot soda and whiskey.
The Maven
1 Call Lane, Leeds LS1 7DH
Hidden away like a true speakeasy should be, this den in Leeds is the perfect escape. An award-winning cocktail bar, it takes its drinks seriously, and they’re always seasonal so you can be sure of the freshest ingredients. This winter, take a sip of their Figroni made with pear and fig gin, Campari, and ginger and plum bitters.
Fossgate Social
25 Fossgate, York YO1 9TA
This cocktail bar may be small but with a reputation going back more than 10 years, it has a loyal following (and an excellent menu to boot). There is a regular cocktail of the week and recent creations have included a Goldwyn Follies (made using orange gin, black tea, cranberry juice and cinnamon).
The Ticket Office
11 Station Plaza, Station Road, Ilkley LS29 8HF
Quirky and quaint, this cocktail bar in Ilkley can be found within the town’s historic railway station, and has plenty of vintage features to match. The outdoor platform terrace is great for warmer weather, or relax into plush leather seats inside. Ask the friendly staff for the cocktail of the week, or tuck into a delicious staple like their Electric Amber Old Fashioned (made with bourbon whiskey and maple syrup).
The Rhubarb Bar
1 Clifton, York YO30 6AA
Tucked inside the luxurious No 1 Guesthouse in York, The Rhubarb Bar is open to all and is the perfect retreat for a cheeky cocktail or two. A model steam train runs along the ceiling cornice, and the menu is packed full of delights like the Utter Shambles (made with vodka, vanilla, camomile, passion fruit and lemon), and the Yorkshire Iced Tea (a spin on a classic).
Bacchus
90 Station Parade, Harrogate HG1 1HQ
A staple of Harrogate’s food and drink scene, as well as cocktails, at Bacchus you can expect more than 40 wines served by the glass, craft beers and plenty of nibbles besides. Their signature spritz always goes down a treat and the cocktail menu has a great range of options.
GEO
20 Sandside, Scarborough YO11 1PE
Head to the seaside – specifically to GEO in Scarborough for a laidback bar and grill known for its fabulous cocktails and great views of the water. They offer a good blend of both signature and seasonal cocktails – for the cold weather we would recommend the Wishing Hour, a heady blend of spiced rum, ruby port, quince, grapefruit and orange.
Assembly Bar & Bistro
Mill Lee Road, Low Bradfield, Sheffield S6 6LB
Sleek, stylish and super cosy, Assembly Bar & Bistro is the late-night neighbourhood spot you need to know about. As well as exceptional food, happy hour is from 5pm from Wednesday to Sunday, with a great blend of classic and contemporary cocktails. Our pick would be the Floradora – a blend of gin, raspberry syrup, lime and ginger ale.
Public
Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 2LG
Tucked below the Grade I-listed Victoria Hall in Sheffield, Public is a tiny haven for cocktail lovers. No detail here has been overlooked – from the warm lighting and eclectic colour palette, to inscribed ice cubes and even a selection of their cruellest reviews printed in the menu – and the cocktail list is just as carefully thought out. Each cocktail is given its own moment to shine, with a detailed explanation of its ingredients and the story behind the drink.
Kelu
294 Shalesmoor, Sheffield S3 8UL
Sardinian for ‘sky’, Kelu is a paradise for cocktail-lovers high up in the sky at the entrance to Kelham Island. Everything here oozes the warmth and culture of Sardinia, from the interiors to the small plates on offer and, of course, the cocktails. The tradition of the aperitif is taken seriously here, with plenty of classic spritz cocktails to match, but they also have an excellent selection of signature cocktails to browse too, like the Luce d’Inverno (an exotic mix of port and pineapple).
The Brain Jar
Trinity House Lane, Old Town, Hull HU1 2JA
A fun and vibrant spot in Hull, the team behind the bar at The Brain Jar love to experiment, and head bartender Matt Smith recently made it to the final 20 of the World Class GB competition with his whacky creations. As well as wings, pizza and classic bar food, tuck into a range of regularly changing cocktails. Our pick for the season is the Fignog, made with rum, sherry, fig and cinnamon.
