The annual rankings of the UK's top 50 cocktail bars has been unveiled with 25 of the venues located in London, but it was Manchester's Schofield's Bar that took top honours. Last year's winner, Satan's Whiskers, located in London's Bethnal Green, dropped to second place ahead of Birmingham's Passing Fancies.
Schofield's Bar is led by the experienced sibling pairing of Joe and Daniel Schofield, located on the corner of the iconic, art deco Sunlight House. The menu features an impressive list of classic cocktails alongside a number of their own creations, as well as a range of beers, wines, Champagne and a selection of food too. One of the quirks of the bar is the range of books available to read inside, some of the favourite reads of the brothers, which have also been paired with unique cocktails.
Second place Satan's Whiskers has been serving up award winning cocktails since 2013 on a daily changing menu with an interior of exposed brickwork and eye-catching taxidermy, plus a hip-hop background soundtrack. In third, Digbeth-based Passing Fancies offers a touch of luxury in this area of growing popularity in the city. Founders Matt Arnold and Eve Green have curated a regularly changing menu of just 12 cocktails paired with some tasty plates too.
The top 10 list is as follows:
1. Schofield's Bar, Manchester
2. Satan's Whiskers, London
3. Passing Fancies, Birmingham
4. Couch, Stirchley, West Mids
5. Hey Palu, Edinburgh
6. Blinker, Manchester
7. Swift Soho, London
8. Amaro Bar, London
9. Panda and Sons, Edinbugh
10. Tayer + Elementary, London
Alongside the glut of London venues, Edinburgh plays host to five bars and Manchester saw four feature, whilst Leeds has two on the list as well.