A new event is all set to mix up the scene in Sunderland as city bars prepare for a week of action.
The first Sunderland Cocktail Week will be under way from Friday with 33 venues signed up to showcase their top tipples over the next seven days. And as staff get busy mixing and shaking, cocktail fans can cash in on their creations which will be selling for just £5.
Among those taking part in the debut event, which all will be offering signature cocktails for a fiver, are popular bars The Botanist, Wild Fire, Six, Bar Justice and 808 Bar & Kitchen. There will be discounts available on food too at a selection of other venues – including Port of Call, Spent Grain, Tarantino’s and Otto – which are also joining in the initiative whose aim is to show off the city’s nightlife and support the hospitality trade.
Various cities host Cocktail Weeks – Newcastle has one coming up in March – and Alice Christison of M.AD marketing and events agency – who is director of Sunderland’s event which is running in partnership with Sunderland BID – said: “It’s amazing to be bringing Cocktail Week to Sunderland. The 10-day event is looking to be a huge success and there is an amazing buzz around the city for this Friday.
“The cocktail line-up is incredible.” The drink and food deals at participating venues, which also include restaurants and hotels, are available to all those who buy a Cocktail Week wristband.
And Alice hopes that lots of people will do just that, to take advantage of the deals and help bring about a much-needed boost to trade. She said: “I’ve worked in hospitality and marketing my whole career and I’ve never known the whole trade to be so scared about the future.
“So, we really want to help our friends and colleagues in the trade – and the feedback from the other nationwide Cocktail Week events, like Newcastle, has been phenomenal. I hope people will get behind this and use the chance to sample some new outlets as well as their favourites – that’s the whole idea, bringing fresh faces to new places.”
Those wanting to buy a wristband to take part in the January 31-February 9 week of cocktail and food deals can buy them online here. They cost £9.95 plus a £1.50 handling fee – with final release ones set to cost £12.95 – and offer access to all the venues and deals.
After purchase, the wristband can be picked up any time between 11am and 9pm daily at a collection point in The Botanist, which itself is out to tempt Cocktail Week customers with the likes of a strawberry and elderflower mojito. Alice added: “We cannot wait to show off everything Sunderland has to offer and grow this event year by year.”
Newcastle Cocktail Week will follow from March 21-30.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/sunderland-cocktail-week-set-make-30887516
