Winchester Cocktail Week is returning for a sixth round from 2-8 June 2025
This is Hampshire's biggest festival of spirits and mixed drinks with a whole week of discounts and offers at some of Winchester's top venues to raise everyone’s spirits.
What is Winchester Cocktail Week?
Winchester’s annual cocktail festival was originally started in 2016 by the team behind the city’s award-winning café-bar, the Cabinet Rooms. After a pause of five years due to the pandemic and Cabinet Rooms’ expansion into neighbouring premises, the team decided to start stirring and shaking up the city once more with Winchester Cocktail Week returning last summer.
This June sees the sixth round of Winchester Cocktail Week, including old favourites and exciting new venues. What hasn’t changed is the aim to encourage cocktail lovers to explore the city and discover delicious signature cocktails, mocktails and refreshing G&Ts, while supporting local along the way.
The all indie line-up of venues includes Cabinet Rooms, Kyoto Kitchen, Lucky Lychee, Overdraft, Piecaramba!, St James Tavern, The Mucky Duck, The King Alfred, The Winchester Hotel & Spa, The Winchester Orangery and Turkuaz.
To get involved, simply buy a ticket from the Cabinet Rooms on Jewry Street or online here. Pop into the Cabinet Rooms in the run up to the event to exchange your ticket for a wristband and map. Show your wristband at official venues to access great deals on cocktails and special offers during Winchester Cocktail Week, 2-8 June.
"A fun way to support local"
Gary Whiter from Cabinet Rooms says: “This year we’ve shaken up and refreshed the festival. All venues taking part are independent businesses – they are a really nice mix, and all offering something different. This event is an opportunity to visit a range of venues, try a variety of cocktails and find out which ones you like. The Winchester Cocktail Week ticket costs £10, however with cocktails on offer to wristband wearers for around £6, the cost is covered if you buy just two cocktails.
“We have new sponsors on board: Buffalo Trace Distillery crafts award-winning whiskey, and ‘seasn’ is a choice of exceptional bitters to create a range of non-alcoholic cocktails from margaritas to negronis. We also have a special Fever-tree trail so those taking part can discover their favourite G&T.
“In addition, we appreciate the support from Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care who are getting into the spirit of the week. Wristband holders popping through their door will not only be given a themed Winchester Cocktail Week goodie bag, they will also be entered into a special prize draw to win a Cocktail Making Hamper.”
Gary continues: “This is not simply happy hour! This is happy week with a focus on craft, classic and contemporary cocktails, delicious mocktails, and refreshing G&Ts. Come on the Cocktail trail this June. It’s such a fun way to support local. Cheers!”
