News.
The Summer Cocktail Experience Week
24th April 2018
Celebrating the magic of mixology in 22 of Leeds’ hippest hotspots
Not one to rest on their laurels, leading PR gurus Pink Gorilla have upped their game and decided to shake things up in 2018 with a new spin on their winning Cocktail Experience formula. Between 21-27th May, get ready to embrace the festival season with The Summer Cocktail Experience Week, which will see 22 of the city’s best nightlife hotspots creating bespoke, cocktail-centric, in-house events to showcase their talents for mixology and culinary know-how.
The sky’s the limit
Designed to reflect how far bar and drinking culture has progressed over the last 5 years in Leeds, The Summer Cocktail Experience Week will celebrate the city’s best in class bars, restaurants and the people that make them what they are.
These unique experiences will take place within the confines of each participating bar, and range from cocktail-based brunch, lunch or supper offerings, food and cocktail pairing events, and cocktail masterclasses with a twist. The full calendar of events will be revealed on www.thecocktailexperience.co.uk on Friday 27th April; however, each venue is limited only by their imagination, and promise to deliver something fresh and exclusive.
With some of Leeds’ biggest players already signed up, the week promises to be unmissable for any self-respecting hedonist. Names so far confirmed include The Alchemist, who have smashed the awards circuit in the last 12 months.
Fit for the A-list
Luke Downing and the Vice & Virtue team cleaned up at the 2018 YEP Oliver Awards, sauntering off with the Best Chef and Best Fine Dining, which guarantees you’re in for a treat with their extraordinary experience.
Iconic champagne bar Epernay will lead the charge for those that like the finer things in life, whilst the celebrity magnet that is Malmaison are currently crafting an offer fit for their A-list guests (which includes the likes of Beyoncé, Drake and Cheryl Cole to name just three).
It’s game on for Victoria Gate Casino too, as they promise to entice you with an offer that’s well worth taking a punt on. The newly crowned super casino of the north has transformed the industry in the city, offering high-end cocktails in a Vegas-worthy setting.
Cocktail kings
The cocktail kings from Leeds worst kept secret, The Maven, are currently in their underground lab, concocting a tempting tipple that will dial things up a notch or four. What else would you expect?
The mighty Blackhouse are also in, and if anyone knows how to throw a memorable event, it’s them. Their Great British Beef Off was a huge success last year, raising a stack of cash for the Tim Bacon Foundation and showcased their passion for fine food and drink.
Director of Pink Gorilla Jordan Odu had this to say about the forthcoming project:
“The Summer Cocktail Experience aims to celebrate the city’s diverse bar scene and allows the discerning party people of Yorkshire to experience a range of bespoke cocktail-centric events within the confines of some of Leeds most iconic hotspots.”
“The cocktail scene has come a long way in the past decade, and we want to showcase the creativity and raw talent demonstrated by some of the city’s best-loved bars and mixologists. Gone are the days when you could rustle up a standard five cocktail classics menu and get away with it; the people of Leeds expect more now, so it’s go hard or go home, and the bars we’ve chosen are among the city’s best when it comes to the art of cocktail-making.”
So, who’s in? Keep up to date with the news as it comes by following The Leeds Cocktail Experience on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, where dates and details will be revealed very soon.
Participants so far includes The Alchemist, Banyan, Be At One, Blackhouse, The Botanist, Epernay, Lost & Found, Malmaison, Manahatta, The Maven, Oracle, Revolucion de Cuba, The Liquorist, Thewlis, Vice, Victoria Gate Casino, Chida Cantina, Blind Tyger and Angelica’s.
If your bar or restaurant mixes up a mean cocktail and you’d like to get in on the action, contact [email protected] or call 0113 2346969
