Edinburgh Cocktail Week returns in October even bigger in size

Edinburgh Cocktail Week announces New Cocktail Forest, Rooftop Cocktail Domes, Expanded Cocktail Village and 70 Participating Bars for this Year’s Festival.

Article Source: Lanyard Media
Last Updated: 11 June 2019 11:33

Edinburgh Cocktail Week returns this autumn, Monday 14th – Sunday 20th October, with another fun-filled week of cocktail festivities across the capital including a new Cocktail Forest, Rooftop Cocktail Domes at The Glasshouse Hotel, an expanded Cocktail Village at Festival Square and 70 of Edinburgh’s finest cocktail bars.

Following its successful introduction to the festival last year, the Cocktail Village returns to Festival Square, expanding in size and experience with a new Forest themed extension. The Cocktail Forest is a dark enchanted space featuring a wigwam, fire pit, forest floor & canopy, pop-up bars, giant toadstools, twinkling star sky and mythical forest creatures - inviting festivalgoers to escape the city and go ‘camping with cocktails’.

The Cocktail Village will again act as the social epicentre of the week-long festival, bursting with 19 pop-up bars, masterclasses, live music and entertainment. It is beautifully decorated in the style of an autumn garden with grass flooring, a clear rooftop, swings, picnic tables and floral installations by Dobbies Garden Centres – making guests feel like they are at an outdoor festival while being in the comfort of an enclosed marquee. Entry to both the Cocktail Village and Forest is free with an ECW wristband (£6 weekday / £8 weekend) and all cocktails inside are just £4 each. Pop-up bars this year include Edinburgh Gin with Brewhemia, Belvedere Vodka, Patron Tequila with 4042, Johnnie Walker, Highland Park, Eden Mill with The Raging Bull, Lindores Abbey, the Herringbone Horsebox and a special ‘Temple of Rum’ bar from The Pop Up Geeks and Don Q rum, with more to be announced over the coming months. In addition to cocktails, there will also be a beer and soft drinks offering as well as a new outdoor street food area covered by a stretch tent, creating a hangout space to enjoy some tasty eats.

Another very exciting addition to this year’s festival is the installation of Cocktail Domes on the rooftop garden of The Glasshouse Hotel (next to the Omni Centre) creating a second pop-up site for wristband-holders to visit throughout the week. This is the first time these fully transparent domes will appear in Edinburgh, offering festivalgoers a unique opportunity to enjoy views of the city’s iconic skyline while snapping Instagram-worthy pictured and sipping on a menu of £4 cocktails (gin, rum, vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky). Each dome comfortably seats 8-10 people and will be styled with sofas, cushions, blankets, rugs and fairy lights to create a super-cute and cosy setting for guests to relax in. Demand for the Cocktail Domes is expected to be high, so a reservation system will be in place to secure private domes for groups of friends, while a number of domes will be kept available for walk-ins.

Between visiting the Cocktail Village, Forest and Rootop Domes, wristband-holders can also take a cocktail adventure around the city enjoying £4 signature cocktails from 70 of Edinburgh’s finest cocktail bars. New bars this year include Cold Town House in the Grassmarket, The Raging Bull, Smoke & Mirrors, The Barologist, Camera, Damm 27, The Garden, Brewdog, Heads & Tales and Scott’s on Princes Street, along with returning favourites The Refinery, Harvey Nichols, Tigerlily, Tonic, Copper Blossom, The Voyage of Buck and Brewhemia. This year’s printed ECW Guide will also include a handy map to help festivalgoers navigate between bars and pop-up spaces.

Organiser, Gary Anderson commented… "We’re excited to be expanding Edinburgh Cocktail Week across the city this year and further develop the experience for wristband-holders with the introduction of new features and pop-up spaces. The forest and street food areas are both exciting additions to the Cocktail Village and we’re delighted to be the first festival to bring cocktail domes to Edinburgh. The rooftop garden at The Glasshouse Hotel is the perfect setting for these and we’re working with fantastic partners to make the pods a really special space to enjoy cocktails and time with friends."

The Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian Hotel will also be joining in the festivities this year by serving a special cocktail themed Afternoon Tea throughout the week for £29.50 per person (normally £57) in their stunning Peacock Alley. Afternoon tea includes two cocktails each and a selection of savoury finger sandwiches, homemade scones, decadent treats and over thirty fine loose-leaf teas and herbal infusions to choose from, with vegan and gluten-free options also available. Bookings can be made via the ECW website.

Throughout the week there will also be a programme of events and parties across the capital as brands and bars collaborate to host bartender takeovers, educational masterclasses and tastings, parties and cocktail-making competitions. The full programme of events and experiences will be published in September, with those who have pre-booked wristbands online being given priority access to tickets.

With cocktail-enthusiasts travelling from as far as Australia and São Paula to experience Edinburgh Cocktail Week, the festival has partnered with Apex Hotels in Edinburgh to offer 10% off stays at any of their four city centre hotels (two are located at the Grassmarket, one at Waterloo Place and one at Haymarket). Festivalgoers can take advantage of this offer by using promo code ECW2019 when booking online at www.apexhotels.co.uk/ecw. See the website for full T&Cs. Apex Waterloo Place and Apex Grassmarket Hotels will be serving a £4 signature cocktail to wristband-holders. What’s more, 2019 is a special year for Apex Hotels, as they mark the 200th anniversary of Apex Waterloo Place Hotel – Edinburgh’s first ever large-scale hotel. And what better way to mark the anniversary than with a tipple! The team at the hotel have collaborated with Eden Mill to craft a bespoke gin, aptly named ‘The 1819’.

Wristbands are on sale now at www.edinburghcocktailweek.co.uk priced at £6 for a weekday wristband (valid Monday – Friday), £8 for a weekend wristband (valid Saturday & Sunday) and £13.50 for a week-long wristband.

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Edinburgh News

Edinburgh Christmas Parties & Activities 2025

With Christmas just around the corner, there's never been a better time to start thinking about your Edinburgh festive celebrations.

Bongos Bingo Christmas Cracker and Big Fat Bingo of the Year

This festive season at The O2 Academy, Bongo’s Bingo is transporting everyone back to the time when coloured tree lights and flammable tinsel ruled supreme.

Casting for MAMMA MIA! Announced

Full casting is announced for the sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! which comes to the Edinburgh Playhouse for the festive season playing from Tue 9 Dec 2025 - Sun 4 Jan 2026.

Women lead the way in the National Galleries of Scotland 2026 programme

National Galleries of Scotland announces an unmissable programme of free and ticketed exhibitions set to take over the National, Portrait and Modern galleries in Edinburgh throughout 2026.

Flight Club is giving out hundreds of prizes on the streets of Edinburgh in October

The team behind the home of Social Darts is embarking on a nationwide charity tour in celebration of its 10th birthday and dishing out treats to its fans along the way!

Scottish Building Society brings communities together for largest walking rugby event in Scotland

Scottish Building Society hosted Scotland’s largest walking rugby festival last month, bringing together players of all abilities for a celebration of sport, community, and accessible active living.

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined Sir Tom Hunter to lead out Edinburgh Kiltwalk

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter to lead out 8,500 Kiltwalkers at the Edinburgh Kiltwalk (Sunday September 14) raising £1.5 million for 800 charities.

Edinburgh school kids team up with Kabin Crew to create a new rap song in Irish and Scottish Gaelic

Young musicians from Edinburgh and Cork are breaking new grounds with a unique hybrid international hip-hop collaboration led by Cork’s Kabin Crew.

Capitals Bartenders Cast Their Vote As Edinburgh Bar Awards Reveal Finalists

Edinburgh’s top bartenders have had their say, as the Edinburgh Bar Awards today (Thursday, 11th September) reveal the 2025 finalists across 11 categories.

Take to the skies with Daredevil Photographer Alfred Buckham at the National Galleries of Scotland

This autumn at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh, take to the skies and see the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer.

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.

Scottish International Storytelling Festival Programme Announced

With support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival launched its 36th festival programme.

Mindroom Fundraising Heroes Drive Charity Support Forward

Mindroom is celebrating a series of extraordinary fundraising activities, led by charity co-founder 81-year-old Robin Dow, living with stage 4 cancer, as his 25-mile walk raised a huge £70,000.

Fresh deals for freshers

Calling all students in Edinburgh! Britain’s biggest craft brewer, BrewDog, has announced some fresh new deals for freshers and returning students to toast the new academic year.

Carol Main MBE FRC appointed Chair of National Centre for Music

The development of a new National Centre for Music has reached another key milestone, with the appointment of Carol Main MBE FRC as Chair.

Eat Spain Drink Spain returns for a Culinary Fiesta across Edinburgh

Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as the "Eat Spain Drink Spain" campaign makes its much-anticipated return to Edinburgh.

Haggis the pygmy hippo to say goodbye to Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo has announced that Haggis the pygmy hippo will be moving to another zoo as part of the breeding programme for the Endangered species.

Spooky Season Arrives at Dynamic Earth this October

This October, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, Dynamic Earth invites visitors of all ages to step into the shadows and uncover the science behind the spookiest stories ever told.

Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025

Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!

Edinburgh bridal expert shares her top trend prediction for Taylor Swift wedding

Now is the time to shop for that perfect dress, as Rachel Scott Couture has announced it will be hosting a one-off, three-week long sample sale at its Queensferry Street boutique.

Marcos unveils first of its kind interactive karaoke room

Whatever kind of music you’re into, the brand-new interactive karaoke room at Marco's is the place for uninhibited singing, selfies and self-expression.

Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on

Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.

Divino Enoteca launches September tasting menu and free wine tastings

This September, Edinburgh’s Italian wine bar Divino Enoteca, is offering plenty for food and wine lovers to explore.

September offers for Freshers Week at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh is giving students an extra reason to head out this semester with 20% off food, non-alcoholic drinks and merchandise when they show a valid student ID.

Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie

Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.

Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour

Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.

Dynamic Earth partners with Scottish Water to deliver Water Cycle Workshops

Dynamic Earth is to join Science Centres across Scotland to deliver Water Cycle Workshops as part of Scottish Water's Generation H2O education programme.

Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2025 programme announced

The Edinburgh Cocktail Week programme for 2025 has been announced, reaffirming its status as the UK’s leading cocktail festival.

Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland

Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.

20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show

The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall

Edinburgh Cocktail Week returns in October even bigger in size

Edinburgh Cocktail Week announces New Cocktail Forest, Rooftop Cocktail Domes, Expanded Cocktail Village and 70 Participating Bars for this Year’s Festival.

Sponsored Links

Latest Edinburgh News

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Popular Listings