The best places to go out for cocktails in Sheffield

As we are half way through the Autumn semester, and drowning in deadlines, what better way to take your mind off the stress and avoid all the work you should be doing, than treating yourself to an evening of cocktails in one of Sheffield’s many fine bars and cocktail establishments? You deserve it.

The Wick at Both Ends

Tucked away amongst the many bars and bright lights of West Street, The Wick at Both Ends is a super stylish and alternative drinking spot. The Wick’s main feature is their cocktails, and their unique menu offers a wide selection of concoctions, straying away from your standard Mojitos and Pina coladas. They even have their own Absinthe cocktail menu. There is a real cosy feel inside, where you can chill on one of the sofas, or sit tucked away in a little window booth, surrounded by fairy-lights and cool artwork.

Best cocktail: Rhubarb and Custard

Deals: £2 off all cocktails Monday-Friday 4-9pm Sunday 10pm-2am

Bloo 88

Just up from The Wick on West Street is Bloo 88, a large venue with an industrial, bare brick contemporary style interior, famous for their fab cocktails, pizza and salsa nights. They always have a range of deals on offer on their cocktail menu, which is a solid mix of your classic Margarita’s and a range of Long and Short drinks, but if you want to mix things up and stray away from what you know, try a cocktail from their Bar Tenders choice menu.

Best cocktail: Elderflower Collins

Deals: Happy hour 4.30-9.30pm, 2 for £9 on selected cocktails, 241 Cocktails on Thursday from 5pm

The Great Gatsby

This unmissable bright blue corner building on Division Street is right up there in being one of the best places to eat and drink in Sheffield. Renowned for it’s amazing ShyBoy Cantina Mexican street food and diverse cocktail menu, this intimate bar serves an array of colourful, vibrant cocktails with three different menus to choose from – Classic, ShyBoy and Bold as Brass, with many drinks serving up a a true taste of Mexico.

Best cocktail: Pale Rider

Deals: certain marked cocktails are only £4.50 Sunday-Thursday until 10pm

The Forum

Just up the road on Division Street is The Forum, a large bar and restaurant, with a great outside seating area backing on to Devonshire Green – ideal for summer, but alas, for now, you can take a seat inside and enjoy the spacious and chic interior with a cocktail from their brand new menu.

Best cocktail: Polish Expresso Martini

Deals: Any two for £9 all week 3-7pm

Revolution / Revolucion de Cuba

It would be silly not to go to at least one of these on a cocktail night out. With its huge selection of cocktails and often great 241 deals, it’s a right of passage to gossip over a few hefty pitchers of Strawberry Woo Woo in Revs with your pals. In Revolucion de Cuba you can surround yourself with an array of rum-based, exotic cocktails to the sounds of live Cuban music and really “lose yourself in Sheffield’s own little corner of Cuba”.  As amazing as these two bars are, try to go during the week, as you do not want to be swamped by the mass of locals that want to party on a Friday and Saturday night.

Best cocktail: Revs: Rumble, OR for sharing, Double Dutch Kettle.  Cuba Revs: Passionfruit Caipirinha OR for sharing, Man’s Ruin teapot

Deals: Revs – 241 on certain cocktails Monday-Friday 5-7

Deals: Cuba Revs – Happy hour Monday-Friday 3-7pm Saturday 5-7pm

Graze Inn

A bit further afield on Ecclessall Road is Graze Inn, with a huge bar and large seating areas inside and outside, it’s an ideal spot if you want to go out with a large group of friends.  It has a classy, four-paged cocktail menu with a variety of mixes and a specialised Martini section – it also has an amazing Gin menu and selection.

Best cocktail: Banoffee Martini

Deals: Happy hour Sunday-Friday 5-7pm

Picture House Social

This ultra cool sister venue to The Great Gatsby, situated on Abbeydale Road, takes its cocktails very seriously. With a small but selective  menu, serving only the most deluxe and unique cocktail mixes, this is definitely a place to go if you want classy yet edgy evening. It has an amazing games room with three huge ping-pong tables for you to enjoy – or miserably fail at . It has also just recently been named a runner-up in the Observer Food Monthly Awards, as well as being named one of the best places to drink in the UK for a the second year in a row, so if that hasn’t sold it to you, I don’t know what will.

Best cocktail: Blackberry Royale

 Bar & Beyond

In the building on West Street that was boarded up advertising it was going to be turned into a Lola Lo’s for what seemed like an eternity, it has finally been turned into, actually, not a bad place for a bite to eat and some cheap cocktails. Its cocktail menu includes all your classic favourites with a few specialities, such as cocktail milkshakes. The main attraction however, and what makes this bar an absolute must for students, is the fact that it’s 50% off ALL drinks Sunday-Friday 5-8, a pretty sweet deal.

Best cocktail: June Bug

Deals: 50% off all drinks (amazing) Sunday-Friday 5-8pm

The Botanist

Having recently opened in a Grade II listed building in the classy setting of Leopold square, The Botanist is definitely the most dreamy place to go for cocktails. It has a huge selection of world-famous botanical themed cocktails, with many being served up in watering cans and plant pots, because who want’s a boring glass anymore? Inside you are surrounded by flowers, plants hanging from the ceiling, fairy-lights, grand chandeliers and super chic furniture – it is honestly one of the prettiest places you will ever sip on a cocktail and you’ll be sure to get an amazing Instagram post.

Best cocktail: Apricot and Mint Daiquiri