Now in its 10th year, London Cocktail Week (LCW) is preparing to take over bars and venues across the UK capital. Here’s our pick of the top events worth checking out during the bumper 10-day festival.

London Cocktail Week runs from 4-13 October

Running from 4-13 October, the 10th anniversary of LCW will see brands and bar teams from around the world descend on London for a week celebrating everything the on-trade has to offer.

This year, the LCW village will return to the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane from 9-13 October, where 40 pop-up bars will be serving cocktails.

Outside the cocktail village, imbibers will be able to attend workshops, seminars, tastings and a host of bar takeovers in venues spanning the breadth of London.

Passes for LCW are priced at £10 (US$12), giving holders access to £6 cocktails from leading bars across the city, as well as into the Cocktail Village – not to mention all the events and masterclasses that have also been lined up.

With so many events and takeovers happening throughout the 10 days, we’ve rounded up the top venues to visit and masterclasses that should not be missed.

Click through our gallery to see the top events taking place at London Cocktail Week 2019.

Bar Swift

1 October

Swift, 12 Old Compton St, Soho, London, W1D 4TQ

Renowned London cocktail bar Swift will welcome Jesse Vida, head bartender at Atlas in Singapore, behind its bar to serve cocktails from the bar’s Interbellum menu. Vida will takeover the bar on 1 October to showcase drinks from Atlas, which was named Best International Cocktail Bar at this year’s Spirited Awards.

Artesian

1-6 October

Artesian, 1C Portland Pl, Marylebone, London W1B 1JA

During this year’s LCW, Artesian at The Langham hotel is welcoming the teams from some of the world’s best bars. Bartenders from Crown Shy, New York; Manhattan Bar, Singapore; Shanghai-based bartender Shingo Gokan; The Clumsies, Athens; and Quinary, Hong Kong. Each bartender will serve up signature cocktails from their bars alongside cocktails from Artesian’s latest menu.

Lyaness x Fancy Free

2-3 October

Lyaness, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London, SE1 9PD

For two nights, Ryan Chetiyawardana’s recently-opened Lyaness will host the team from Melbourne bar Fancy Free. The Melbourne bar, which closed its doors earlier this year, will be temporarily resurrected at Lyaness as part of the bar’s House Party series in collaboration with Dewar’s Whisky.

Homeboy

2-6 October

Homeboy, 108 Essex Rd, Islington, London, N1 8LX

It’s a busy week for London Irish bar Homeboy, which will be welcoming some of the UK’s top bartenders to Angel for a series of takeovers. On 2 October, the team from Edinburgh’s panda & Sons will grace the bar, slinging signature serves from their Scottish home. On 6 October, Homeboy will transform into Homegirl, as the bar welcomes The Savoy’s Pippa Guy and Jo Last, who will serve up their best Roe & Co Whiskey cocktails.

London Essence Company The Essence House

3-5 October

The White Space, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JB

Tonic water maker London Essence will open the doors to its Essence House activation at LCW. Curated by flavour expert Dr Rachel Edwards-Stuart, the interactive pop-up will take guests on a journey of discovery to understand their individual palate profile.

Hendrick’s Tini Martini Townhouse

4-6 October

One Room, 9 French Pl, London, E1 6JB

The Hendrick’s Gin Tini Martini Townhouse will be a chance to sample some of the smallest cocktails from the world’s biggest bars. With tipples created by the teams at Nomad, Manhattan, Super Lyan, Two Schmucks, Little Red Door and Panda and Sons, the Townhouse will offer an immersive journey through the world of Hendrick’s Gin.

Supermarket Sweep

4-13 October

London Cocktail Club Shoreditch, Unit 12, 29 Sclater Street, London, E1 6HR

Festival pass holders will be able to whizz around the aisles of the London Cocktail Club convenience store as part of this experience inspired by the cult TV show. During the experience, guests will be challenged to collect ingredients that they will then use to make imaginative cocktails.

 

 

Franklin & Sons Flavour Discovery Maze

4-13 October

Rockwell At The Trafalgar St James, 2 Spring Gardens, London, SW1A 2TS

Tonic water brand Franklin & Sons will open its Flavour Discovery Maze during LCW this year. Running from 4 October, the experience will immerse guests in the world of Franklin & Sons while they craft their perfect G&T using the brand’s range.

Discarded x Trash Tiki

10 October

Cub, 153 Hoxton St, Hoxton, London, N1 6PJ

William Grant & Sons-owned Discarded has collaborated with anti-waste pop-up Trash Tiki to create six sustainable cocktails that will be served up alongside a six-course dinner at London restaurant Cub. Discarded and Trash Tiki will also release the recipes for the six drinks, which includes the coffee-infused Lost & Found and the gin-based Aim High.

Let The World Breathe Again

13 October

Laki Kane, 144-145 Upper St, Islington, London, N1 1QY

Closing out this year’s LCW, botanically-brewed mixer brand Fentimans will head to London tiki bar Laki Kane for its Let the World Breathe Again fundraiser. While raising funds for The Rainforest Alliance, the event will feature a special cocktail menu designed by bartenders Luca Cinalli and Georgi Radev, as well as a charity raffle.