Edinburgh Cocktail Week – which actually runs for 10 days – is returning this autumn, with over 100 bars across the city offering £5 cocktails to wristband holders.
Running from Friday, 3rd October to Sunday, 12th October, the ECW is expecting to attract over 25,000 visitors to both its participating bars and its pop-up Cocktail Village on Festival Square.
That Cocktail Village aims to be ‘the spirited social hub’ of the festival, featuring a new design inside and out, and a record 24 bars, with each offering a minimum of two £5 cocktails on their menu, plus street food trucks and live music from local bands, artists and DJs.
New features for the Cocktail Village this year include a Village Pub themed area operated by Seamus’s, where festivalgoers can enjoy a pint and traditional serves with fireside trad music, darts and board games.
Other new elements include 60% more seating and an outdoor drinks terrace with castle views, and the introduction of dog-friendly weekdays.
Open daily from 12 noon to 11pm (except for an 8pm close on Sundays), the Cocktail Village will showcase cocktail creations from brands and local bars including Copper Blossom, Hendrick’s Gin, Bumbu Rum, Au Vodka, 818 Tequila, Manahatta, official mixer partner Schweppes, The Herringbone Horsebox, Dutch Barn Vodka, Buck’s Bar, Lonkero, Boston Bar, Tito’s Vodka, Dead Man’s Fingers, Funkin, Mixtons, 4042, Licor 43, Martin Miller’s Gin, Casamigos, Bevanda, The Prosecco Bar, West Side Rodeo, Sips Tequila Cantina, Four Roses Bourbon, Blur 69 Vodka, Shetland Reel Gin, Island Slice Rum, Holy Grass Vodka, Pa Todos Tequila, Five Ways Whisky Liqueur, Madri, Asahi, XIX Vodka, Casa Staibano and more.
The new Street Food Market will include offerings from Dough La La, Truck Sri and The Wee Taqueria.
Beyond that Festival Square encampment, the 100+ bars offering £5 cocktails as part of the promotion include returning favourites such as The Dome, Tigerlily and The Alchemist, alongside new additions including BABA, Bar 1819, Bar Uno, Boston Bar, Brunswick Book Club, Crybaby, Edinburgh Gin Distillery Bar, Fazenda Rodizio Bar and Grill, Le Petit Beef Bar, Little Picardy, Luckenbooths, Manahatta, Mara, Paradise Palms, Pizza Pilgrims, Roxy Lane, Ryan’s Bar, Seamus’s Bar, The Earl of Marchmont, The Pilgrim, The Spanish Butcher, The Volley, Vessel and West Port Oracle.
Festival-goers can also indulge themselves in a selection of Prestige Cocktails, elevated serves crafted by the city’s most talented mixologists and award-winning venues, including Panda & Sons, The Hoxton, Lucky Liquor, Nor’ Loft, The Wildcat, Joao’s Place in W Hotel Edinburgh, The Register Club, Devil’s Advocate, Harrods Champagne Bar, the Commons Club and Lady Libertine.
These Prestige Cocktails can be enjoyed for £9 on presentation of a wristband.
Managing director of Edinburgh Cocktail Week, Gary Anderson, said: “It’s a particularly thrilling year for us with all the exciting changes to our Cocktail Village – attendees can look forward to lots of new experiences and a great day out.
“It is genuinely heartwarming to see so many familiar faces during the festival and in our comments on social media throughout the year. For many of our wristband holders, our festival has become an annual tradition for meeting up with friends, from near and afar, which is joyous to see.
“For the last nine years, our small team has focused on creating an experience that is inclusive, unique, fun and memorable for our customers, while at the same time giving back to our bar community upon which our festival is built,” said Anderson.
“We believe this approach has propelled us to become the country’s leading cocktail festival, all thanks to our customers’ continued support. We look forward to welcoming everyone next month.”
Roddy Smith, CEO of Essential Edinburgh, added: “Edinburgh Cocktail Week is a highlight of the year for many of our bars and Essential Edinburgh is delighted to continue our investment for the fifth year, supporting ECW’s continued growth and development.
“We have more city centre bars participating in ECW 2025 than ever before and are immensely proud to call Edinburgh City Centre home to the UK’s largest cocktail festival.”
A full list of the brands and bars taking part can be found on the Edinburgh Cocktail Week website.
