East London’s Satan’s Whiskers was named number one in the list of the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars, thanks to its ever-changing cocktail lineup and embodiment of “the ideal neighbourhood bar”.
At a bustling ceremony last night in live events space Omeara, Satan’s Whiskers in Bethnal Green was named the number one cocktail bar in the UK.
Satan’s Whiskers jumped up to number one from the number five spot last year, in a list dominated by bars in the nation’s capital. Some 23 of the top 50 bars were based in London.
The ceremony was hosted by Aidy Smith, the drinks and lifestyle communicator and host of Amazon Prime TV show The Three Drinkers.
Smith said of the awards:
“It was my absolute honour to join the Top 50 Cocktail Bars family last year and present an awards programme which sits at the beating heart of our industry. It’s been a rough couple of years and these people have fought relentlessly to keep the nations spirits high in so many wonderful ways – it’s time to pay a nod to that. I’m raring to go and couldn’t be more excited to announce the liquid pioneers of 2023. From the Northern coast of Scotland and the valleys of Wales to the southern tip of England, this Isle is home to some of the best mixology and bar-team talent on the planet and it’s my pride and honour to read each and every name on the list.”
Chris Lowe, publisher of Top 50 Cocktail Bars, added, “Whilst London continues to dominate this year’s list, it is very exciting to see other major cities across the UK make their mark. The ever-growing interest in cocktails and bartending within the UK means we are spoilt for choice on where to go, and this list allows for the best of the UK bar scene to have a spotlight placed on them – and for consumers to find these hidden gems.”
The list of the top 50 cocktail bars in the UK in full is as follows:
| 1 | Satan’s Whiskers, Bethnal Green, London |
| 2 | Lab 22, Cardiff |
| 3 | Tayēr + Elementary, Shoreditch, London |
| 4 | SCHOFIELD’S BAR, Manchester |
| 5 | Swift, Soho, London |
| 6 | Panda & Sons, Edinburgh |
| 7 | Three Sheets, Dalston, London |
| 8 | Speak in Code, Manchester |
| 9 | Bar with Shapes for a Name, Hackney, London |
| 10 | The Connaught, Mayfair, London |
| 11 | Little Mercies, Crouch End, London |
| 12 | Couch, Birmingham |
| 13 | Bramble, Edinburgh |
| 14 | The Pineapple Club, Birmingham |
| 15 | Ojo Rojo, Bournemouth |
| 16 | Disrepute, Soho, London |
| 17 | Artesian, Oxford Circus, London |
| 18 | Hideout, Bath |
| 19 | Nightjar, Shoreditch, London |
| 20 | Present Company, Liverpool |
| 21 | Publiq, South Kensington, London |
| 22 | Scarfes Bar, Holborn, London |
| 23 | Lyaness, South Bank, London |
| 24 | Opium Cocktail & Dim Sum, Chinatown, London |
| 25 | The Absent Ear, Glasgow |
| 26 | Happiness Forgets, Hoxton, London |
| 27 | Hey Palu, Edinburgh |
| 28 | Filthy XIII, Bristol |
| 29 | Homeboy, Islington, London |
| 30 | Soma, Soho, London |
| 31 | Coupette, Bethnal Green, London |
| 32 | Passing Fancies, Birmingham |
| 33 | Bar Termini, Soho, London |
| 34 | Seed Library, Shoreditch, London |
| 35 | Murder Inc, Soho, London |
| 36 | Penny Royal, Cardiff |
| 37 | Callooh Callay, Shoreditch, London |
| 38 | Silverleaf, Liverpool St, London |
| 39 | Public, Sheffield |
| 40 | Fox & Chance, Birmingham |
| 41 | Blinker, Manchester |
| 42 | Below Stairs, Leeds |
| 43 | Milk Thistle, Bristol |
| 44 | Gungho!, Brighton |
| 45 | Hedonist, Leeds |
| 46 | Amaro, Kensington, London |
| 47 | Cottonmouth, Nottingham |
| 48 | Tabula Rasa, Leeds |
| 49 | Lunar, Glasgow |
| 50 | Bench, Sheffield |
This article was originally published by the drinks business and has been shared with permission.
