Birmingham cocktail festival review!

I often come across articles and posts sharing the beauty that lies within the UK, delightfully cosy towns off the beaten path and log cabins overlooking views surreal enough to be mistaken for Switzerland or Spain, but one destination I don't often stumble across as a 'must see in UK travel' is .... Birmingham.

There are probably numerous reasons why you've just laughed a little, maybe it's because it isn't the most aesthetically pleasing city you've ever passed, perhaps it's the stories that cross the news that put you off and for a fair few, I'm going to take a guess that you simply don't enjoy the brummie accent. So for a change, I'm going to share my review of one of the many reasons Birmingham should make your list for a quick weekend away.

As England's second city, Birmingham hosts the perfect place for every type of getaway. If you head to the likes of New Hall Hotel & Spa in the suberbial Birmingham town of Sutton Coldfield you can indulge in an all relaxing stay, but if chaos is your preferred choice then sticking to the centre will offer everything you need ... and what better way to plan for chaos than to time it with one of Birmingham's cocktail festivals.

Just incase you've never heard of the boozy event, cocktail festival is a seasonal event that sees numerous bars across the city partake in a bar crawl , offering £5 specialty cocktails tailored to the season to all with wristbands between 12pm and 8pm, Thursday to Sunday. Your initial ticket costs around £12 per person and their is no limit on how many you have in any one place, so if you find one you like you can enjoy 8 hours of uninterrupted £5 favourites!

We checked in to the Clayton hotel just a short walk from New Street Station and head straight for the mailbox where we were welcomed with a quick shot of whisky, a wrist band and a booklet with all the information we need for a successful bargain bar crawl. With approximately 40 bars across Birmingham partaking, there's no best direction to begin, so we simply went with the closest... Gas Street Social.

GAS STREET SOCIAL - Tiramisu cocktail - -50/10

I didn't get off to the best start in Gas Street Social with their handcrafted Tiramisu cocktail, but then again it came with a chocolate wafer so bonus points for the inclusion of a snack. As it was the closest to the starting point it was also extremely busy, personally if you're planning a trip to the city for any reason that isn't the festival, I would consider the weekend after to guarantee being a priority.

Within a small proximity of the mailbox, you will also find Aluna (a personal fav of mine for bottomless brunch), Marco Pierre White and the Mayon, which is where we head straight after.

MAYON - Strawberry Aperol Spritz - 8/10

If you can't decide where to begin and your tastebuds sway towards a more traditional summery cocktail, then Mayon is the way to go. Their Strawberry Spritz was like juice with a twang, the perfect drink and with extra outdoor seating, we were able to enjoy our cocktails comfortably. I'd say 20 minutes in, 2 bars and 2 cocktails down isn't bad going! Although, as someone who enjoys sticking with what I know is good, it was too soon to settle in, so onto the next.

With so many options the next move was crucial, back towards the centre and trinity street or a brisk stroll along the cannel towards broad street for some festive flavours .. Broad street it was. Having been to Birmingham more times than I care to count over the past few years, I think this was only the second time I had wondered the waters so all in all it was actually a lovely walk, passing hen doo's in full swing onboard party boats and drawling over creamy carbonara in the cutest little Italian, there's definitely worse areas of the city!

Along the way we chose to miss out on the Botanist and Walk About, two places we thoroughly enjoy on any standard Saturday visit but for the sakes of clock watching with bargain cocktails at risk, we decided to use the festival to test out a few of the places we hadn't ventures to before. Starting with The Box...

The Box ... Grape spritz - 7/10

FOOD ... 10/10

All in all, no complains. We managed to get a table with ease, the cocktail was definitely a lot larger than the rest we had tried but best of all, the food! Some may say it was the combination of drinking on an empty stomach, but I would prefer to commend the kitchen, either way it was much needed. Starting off strong with a sharer nachos, covered in guac, and not the paste type from a tub, mushed and peppered avocado!! a healthy blob of salsa and of course soured cream, cheese and jalapenos. Second up we had our halloumi dippers with sweet chili sauce and last but certainly not least, Korean cauliflower bites. A very rogue choice from me but definitely one of the best I made throughout the entire weekend. Crunchy and sticky, the perfect spice, heavenly.

Unfortunately, on a true food baby high, it was time to bid farewell to the cally wings and move on to our next bar, all bar one, which to be honest was an experience in itself. I think although it is a great way to drive extra business and welcome new faces, some venues who already have a sizeable customer base without the capacity to hold nay extra should potentially reconsider, though the specialty cocktail itself was rather nice so at least there's that. Next stop, the Alchemist, a firm favourite amongst most cities around the UK and a particularly popular choice with the students at Birmingham University celebrating their graduation. After tasting their specialty drink I can confirm they don't drop the ball for a bargain! At this point noting down what we had had and where came to a complete halt and this judgement is made with a foggy mind and a half blurred picture. Never the less, it was a nice cocktail, topped with a flame, crème Brule style, making it a toasty, creamy drink and certainly in my top three of the festival.

All bar One - Raspberry Bramble - 8/10

Alchemist - Toasted Tikki vibes - 9/10

The next few hours a bit of a haze, although what else would you expect from a festival designed to drive you into bars across the city for hours?! So forgive me if I've missed a few stops in-between, but the next place I want to share our experience in is Birmingham's F1 Arcade bar... the concept I get, the perfect combination of games and drinks, a great place to start a night out, but what I can't wrap my head around is the ungodly combination of ingredients in their specialty cocktail. Starting with a strong foundation of tequila and progressively being hit with ginger, something spicy, followed by something sharp... and topped with a nut? Perhaps something those with slightly more acquired tastebuds would enjoy, but for is it was a very big NO. Which unfortunately leads me on to Dishooms.

Dishooms is an Indian street food inspired restaurant/ bar that also chooses a strange concoction of ingredients to mix together and call a cocktail ... A queue at the door and tables filled with happy looking customers, we entered with such high hopes of a cocktail comeback, but left to sit for almost 10 minutes before offering and another 15 before receiving our drink was not ideal when the deal has an expiration time coming up soon. Though staff were lovely, and I'm sure the food is great too, I would stir clear during Birmingham's next festival, perhaps secure your table for a bite to eat the night before or the day after to experience a true reflection on them as opposed to a manic afternoon!

Arcade Bar - Tequila ginger? - o/10

Dishoom - Another Tequila concoction? - 1/10

On a slightly deflated note we began the trek back toward trinity street for the last few bars on our list for the afternoon, I don't have the name of I believe three in-between, but I can describe their location ... One street away from The Grand Hotel and there is a bar on the corner opposite the Malmaison Hotel, who we also paid a visit too, which turned out to be slightly off track. Absolute credit to the bar man working Saturday night, firstly, for allowing us to taste test your specialty cocktail before buying one each, secondly for not being offended when I pulled a face that represented absolute disgust and finally for pouring me a pint that topped every drink of the day. An experience from top to bottom. After two drinks in his company, we made it back to trinity street, where we started with Aphrodite Bar at the Oyster Club.

Bar on the corner - warm ginger & cider cocktail - 2/10

Hotel Malmaison - NO COCKTAIL - top tier pint - 10/10

Wow did I feel bougee, welcomed with a lack of chaos we forgot existed throughout the day, offered seats by a lovely couple upon arrival and drink orders taken right away without having to wave our wristbands in the air. Their specialty cocktail resembled a strawberry spritz and has to take the cake as my personal fav drink of the festival and I want to go as far as saying the bar I am most glad we discovered and will be adding to the list for future visits.

https://www.the-oyster-club.co.uk/

Aphrodite Bar at the Oyster Club - Strawberry Spritz - 10/10

To complete the festival we had a few drinks in Manahatta and The Botanist and finished with a cocktail in be at one before heading straight for Wing Stop!

Whether this blog has been the nudge you need to spend the weekend in Birmingham centre, or maybe the reason you've decided to stick to somewhere rural, I appreciate you giving me the chance to share my experience! I would love to hear what your fav thing to do in Birmingham is and which city you'd like to read about next!