There’s a whole lot more to Liverpool than just music and football. With 800 years of history it boasts architecture, art, literature, landmarks, parks and nightlife. It’s also inextricably linked with gin. And today there’s a thriving cocktail bar scene too. Local bar manager and gin expert, Kate Meehan, shares her favourite five.
Buyers Club
This is a wine, cocktail and food focused venue that is one of the city’s very best hidden gems. And it does it all to a backdrop of disco played on vinyl by the bartenders. It’s also got it’s own botanical garden that the bartenders and chefs use for their creations, a bar that merges into a table and a dream of a Sunday roast dinner.
24 Hardman St Liverpool L1 9AX buyers-club.co.uk
El Bandito
Housed in an old corner shop, this is an after hours, tequila and mezcal haunt. The team exposed the bare brick walls and covered them with the world’s top agave spirits. It’s one of the rare places you can go after 1am for top class service, cocktails and tunes.
41b Slater St, Liverpool L1 4BX facebook.com/ElBanditoTequila
Filter & Fox
A tiny coffee shop by day and a cocktail bar by night. Whether it’s a flat white, spritz or martini that you desire, you can be sure it will arrive with a side of conversation and a soundtrack that will have you forgetting you’ve been there since 10 o’clock in the morning.
27 Duke St Liverpool L1 5AP filterandfox.co.uk
Furnival’s Well
A smart cocktail bar situated in a 19th century prison (above) with a cocktail menu and back bar that reflects the drinking styles of when the building was erected. The cells have been converted to cocktail booths, your drink is garnished at your table and the service is filled with tales of Dickens, prisoners and the shenanigans of Victorian Liverpool.
1 Campbell Square Liverpool L1 5FB twitter.com/furnivalswell
Jenny’s Bar
A disco den in the heart of the financial district, housed in a former seafood restaurant. Find the old 50’s restaurant sign, walk down the stairs, open the door and you’ll be greeted by a smiley face, disco / soulful house and a cocktail menu that celebrates the 80’s in Manhattan.
Fenwick St, Liverpool L2 7NT twitter.com/jennys_bar
Hear more from Kate Meehan about the Liverpool story, and discover the city’s very own gin with Head Distiller Lora Hemy, in the new issue of The Cocktail Lovers magazine.
